Following "Top Gear" host Jeremy Clarkson's suspension after a "fracas with a BBC producer," the network is canceling the remaining three episodes in the show's 22nd season.

In fact, the episode of "Top Gear" that aired on Sunday, March 8, may turn out to be the last of Clarkson's BBC career. The Radio Times reports, citing a source close to the presenter, that he is "considering quitting."

The Radio Times reported that Clarkson may quit the motoring show even if he is cleared of the allegations, putting an end to a BBC career that started back in 1998. Clarkson has only taken a break from "Top Gear" when the BBC was working on a new version of the show between 2000 and 2002.

If Clarkson does quit "Top Gear," it would be a big financial blow for the BBC. "Top Gear" is one of the network's most popular shows and is broadcast abroad to 350 million people every week. Most importantly, "Top Gear" brings about $225 million in global sales the BBC and, according to The Telegraph, Clarkson is simply too valuable to be sacked.  

The Radio Times also gave further insight into exactly what happened on Tuesday: Clarkson allegedly started throwing punches after he found out there was no food available after a day's filming.

The article also names Clarkson's alleged victim, BBC presenter Oisin Tymon. As soon as Tymon's name was reported, Clarkson fans took to Twitter to express their support for Clarkson:

Clarkson told his friends he did not punch Tymon, the Radio Times said, although he admitted there were some "handbags and pushing" over the incident. 

A petition to ask the BBC to bring Clarkson back to work, meanwhile, reached more than 300,000 signatures on Change.org.

SEE ALSO: BBC will cancel the rest of the 'Top Gear' season because of Jeremy Clarkson's suspension

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"Top Gear "host Jeremy Clarkson may have been suspended by the BBC, but that doesn't mean he's abandoned his old antics. 

The gregarious television personality seemed to be taking his time on the sidelines in stride. 

In fact, fellow hosts James May and Richard Hammond seem to be equally nonchalant about the situation. 

With the BBC set to scrap the remaining three episodes of the show's 22nd season, "Top Gear's" trio of charismatic hosts took to Twitter to brainstorm ideas of the many shows that could take its Sunday night time slot — effectively trolling the employer that has suspended him.

James May started off the conversation by suggesting a 1964 film about a fictional British World War II fighter-bomber squadron called "633 Squadron" be shown instead.

Clarkson then insists that the 1968 Richard Burton-Clint Eastwood WWII classic, "Where Eagles Dare," is a better option.

Richard Hammond finally made an appearance, suggesting the BBC show an episode of "Last of the Summer Wine"— a British sitcom that ran for 31 seasons, exploring the youthful antics of a group of elderly men. Hammond was referencing a joke the hosts recently made at a press event about "Top Gear" becoming a show about the antics of three old men.

Clarkson has the final word. He'd like the network to show one his war documentaries. Outside of "Top Gear," Clarkson has also presented a series of war documentaries addressing topics such as the history of the Victoria Cross, the 1942 raid on St. Nazaire, and WWII allied supply convoys in the Arctic.

Although, the bombastic host may be in a cheerful mood, his daughter has jokingly taken to Twitter to announce it was time for her father to return to work.

Since news of Clarkson's suspension and the show's removal from the airwaves broke, support from fans has been swift.

Within a day, more than half a million of the show's fans have signed an online petition seeking Clarkson's reinstatement. 

Finally, fellow host James May offered words of support for his colleague when approached for comment by ITV.

SEE ALSO: BBC will cancel the rest of the 'Top Gear' season because of Jeremy Clarkson's suspension

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There is a massive global split right now over whether Jeremy Clarkson should be fired by the BBC from "Top Gear" for allegedly assaulting one of its producers. Fans of the show don't want it to end. But many Brits hate Clarkson and are not-so-secretly cheering for his exit from TV.

Clarkson has his supporters in Britain — Conservatives in particular love his one-man war against political correctness, which has seen him use both the n-word and the term "slope" to describe Asian people, on camera. But globally there are two camps. This is what Americans think about Clarkson (he's awesome and the show is both clever and hilarious, basically). Here is the UK take — rather more negative. Familiarity breeds contempt, it would seem.

A huge contingent of Brits just want him gone. Weirdly, no one in the media is openly saying why he should go.

It has to do with class, wealth, privilege, and lack of accountability.

It's certainly not because of the "controversial" things Clarkson and his colleagues have said. Everyone has one of those embarrassing racist acquaintances who think Mexicans are "lazy, feckless, and flatulent," as "Top Gear" presenter Richard Hammond once said. No one takes them seriously.

Rather, it is because if anyone else — anyone who is not a millionaire whose annual compensation is £14 million — did the things Clarkson does, that person would be fired instantly. (And for 12 years prior to BBC Worldwide's deal to relaunch "Top Gear" in 2002, Clarkson was paid by the BBC, which is funded by the TV license fee tax.)

In the most recent incident, which led to his suspension and the cancellation of the rest of the "Top Gear" season, Clarkson is accused of shoving or punching his producer because he was offered a supper of soup, cold meat, and cheese instead of a hot steak after he arrived two hours late, by helicopter, at a restaurant.

Try punching one of your coworkers if he fails to bring you a hot lunch, and see how long you keep your job.

According to The Australian, Clarkson needs his food to be served to him now, no waiting:

The owner of a restaurant in Newcastle, where the team dined while filming last month, said he had been told in strict terms that food must be ready as soon as the cast arrived. Bob Arora, owner of Sachins, said a woman from the production team "said that it was very important that the food was served on time and that the starters had to be on the table for 9.15pm when they would be coming in. She couldn't emphasise enough how important that was."

It is the same with all these incidents. If you're a worker in the private sector, just try making a video of yourself for YouTube in which you refer to black people with the n-word. It's not advisable — your boss will most likely sack you for bringing your company into disrepute. Here's that video:

But Clarkson began his career being paid by the government. His show exists only because the BBC, a government-funded agency, has a contract with Clarkson. That contract has made him fantastically wealthy, unlike you. And he is friends with the prime minister, also unlike you.

So different rules apply. He is not fired for embarrassing himself and his company. Not fired when he called Asians "slopes." Not fired when he made anti-gay jokes about George Michael. Not fired when the BBC was forced to officially apologise to all of Mexico.

The reason so many Brits want him gone is because this is a story about a wealthy, rude man who made his career from taxpayer's money and now treats working people like crap, and he never seems to be held accountable. 

One rule for him, another for the rest of us. And he's laughing at the situation.

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Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended by the BBC for allegedly getting into a fight with a producer of the award-winning car show "Top Gear." It's the latest in a series of controversies related to Clarkson, who has hosted the wildly popular program for over a decade.

This reminds us the last time Clarkson & Co. ran into a bit of bother and were forced to flee from a shooting location in Argentina by an angry mob last year.

"Top Gear" and its three hosts — Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond — were filming the show's annual Christmas Special episode in the southern Argentine region of Tiera Del Fuego when the license plate on a car driven by Clarkson caused locals to take offense.

The blue Porsche 928's plates — which read "H982 FKL"— were reportedly seen as a reference to the 1982 Falkland conflict between Great Britain and Argentina. (The program later explained that the car came with the plates and that no bellicose references were intended.)

According to the Daily Telegraph, the angry mob confronted the BBC crew at its hotel in the town of Ushuaia. During the confrontation, the show's hosts concealed themselves "under a researcher's mattress." 

After the initial confrontation, the hosts and the female members of the crew were ushered onto a chartered plane and flown to safety in Buenos Aires. However, 29 members of the "Top Gear" crew stayed behind and were forced to escape the mob by driving the convoy of production vehicles to safety in nearby Chile. 

Reports on the size of the mob varied widely. Along the way, the convoy and its police escort were met by roadside crowds hurtling rocks and profanity at the cars. 

The Falklands War is a particularly touchy subject for Ushuaia. The port city was the last port for the Argentine battle cruiser General Belgrano before it was sunk by British torpedo's during the conflict — taking the lives of more than 300 sailors. Controversy over the sinking of the warship and ownership of the Falklands Islands lingers, more than 30 years later. 

Clarkson later confirmed on Twitter that all of the crew had made it out of Argentina. However,the "star cars" driven by the hosts were left behind in South America.  The outspoken host and prolific newspaper columnist took to Twitter to explain the incident:

All TG crew now safely out of Argentina. I just got back to UK. Horrified to see so many newspapers have the story completely wrong.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) October 4, 2014

The number plate WAS a coincidence. When it was pointed out to us, we changed it. As pics in this morning's Mail show.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) October 4, 2014

This was not a jolly jape that went awry. For once, we did nothing wrong.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) October 4, 2014

My profound thanks to all the people who helped. And to the sensible Argentinians who have apologised.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) October 4, 2014

This is my car on its last day in Argentina. Note the plates that everyone says caused offence. pic.twitter.com/mCfncbMa6F

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) October 4, 2014

As everyone is now finding out after Clarkson's latest dustup, the automotive program and its bombastic lead host are no strangers to controversy. Last year, the host was accused of using a racial epithet in a crass joke during an episode set in Myanmar. Over the past decade, "Top Gear" has drawn criticism from numerous groups ranging from truck drivers to Mexicans.  

Take a look at a video of the Argentine mob as it confronts the "Top Gear" convoy:

SEE ALSO: 10 Reasons Why 'Top Gear' Is The Greatest Show On TV

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Jeremy Clarkson, host of the monumentally popular British car show "Top Gear," is once again in trouble.

This time around, the story is that he got into a dustup with a producer, allegedly over what the caterers were serving for dinner.

All England is in an uproar. The Friends of Jeremy have lined up to support their lanky, outspoken champion.

The Enemies of Jeremy have seized the opportunity to take down a very rich and often outspoken media celebrity who stands atop both a pile of money and a broadcasting empire.

As an auto journalist, I'm used to Clarkson's antics. He's a classic buffoon, and the genius of "Top Gear" is that Clarkson and his co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond, realized long ago that transforming themselves into cartoon characters would be both incredibly lucrative and lavishly entertaining. The show has been on forever, and while it's always presenting new cars and ever-more-outlandish spectacles to its legions of avid viewers, the basic shtick has become reliably changeless: three weird looking English dudes doing goofy things with rides both exotic and mundane.

It's said that "Top Gear" is the only show that men watch, but that's not quite right. It's actually the only show that mean watch that can make them feel like little boys again. 

Not surprisingly, kids love the show. 

And that's how "Top Gear" ultimately wound up breaking my heart. 

Father-son bonding over "Top Gear"

The show popped onto my radar about a decade ago. It had an enthusiastic following in the car-blogging realms, and I was a car blogger. Once online video became more prevalent, I was able to watch episodes on YouTube. I did this for a while until my now 9-year-old son, James, was around 3. When his mom was reading a bedtime story to our daughter, now 12 but then 5, James would sit on my lap and we would watch "Top Gear."

James loves cars and was thrilled by every Porsche, powerslide, bright-red Ferrari and madcap stunt Clarkson, May, and Hammond dreamed up.

And of course it was the 6'-5" Clarkson who captured his imagination.

The host, with his boundless desire to allow himself to look stupid, with his rubbery jowls and fluffy nimbus of hair, was like a galumphing clown to James. 

"Let's watch that funny guy!" he would say, when it was "Top Gear" time. "That funny guy" became our shorthand for Jeremy, the cheery jokester.

Gradually, I began to discover how much people in the UK detest Clarkson, due largely to his glibly retrograde political views and tendency to offend the offendable for personal PR reasons. But I also discovered that he was a pretty snappy writer; concluded that as a TV person, he was exceptionally accomplished; and besides, everything about the show was arch and exaggerated — Clarkson wasn't a head of state (although he hangs out with them!), so his offensiveness was generally benign.

But "Top Gear" is still a colossus for the BBC. It brings in hundreds of millions every year, has been called the most successful program of its type in human history, and is viewed around the world. It's much, much more than a show about cars.

And ironically, given the recent bother that's attached to Clarkson, it wasn't the big guy who broke my heart.

Rather, it was what happened with Richard Hammond, in 2006.

The crash

Hammond was nearly killed during season 9 when a jet-powered dragster he was driving blew a tire and flipped over (I'm not linking to the video, for reasons that will become clear in a sec — search for it if you want). He was in an induced coma for two-weeks, missed the rest of the season, but returned in 2007. "Top Gear" welcomed him back in style, with a circus-like extravaganza, but everyone agreed to avoid mentioning the crash thereafter.

For obvious reasons, because as Hammond later revealed, the experience was horrifying and traumatic, leaving him with lasting psychological and emotional scars.

I caught up with all of this after the fact, in 2008, right before the financial crisis and the meltdown of General Motors and Chrysler, when car blogging became more about business than fast, shiny metal. But the Hammond incident meant that James and I stuck to the episodes and segments where the cars were the stars. Any of the edgier stuff involving the hosts, we passed on. 

Ultimately, I decided that Hammond's accident was the result of some exceptionally irresponsible decision-making by "Top Gear" and its producers. His return, I thought, was ghastly spectacle, a grotesque attempt to make a man who had nearly been decapitated seem as right as rain when he clearly wasn't. Even if his co-hosts were very happy that he was back.

And so James and I stopped watching "Top Gear." I'm not sure it was an active parenting choice. It was more like my own discomfort with the show sucking the joy out of what had been a father-son bonding experience that I had formerly looked forward to.

For me, the live-action cartoon show, with three jovial rubes piloting over-the-top machines around a track, complete with their anonymous mascot, the pro driver known only as "The Stig," became for me a moneymaking juggernaut that jumped the shark by nearly doing in the valuable and talented Hammond. The show wasn't serious. But the accident was, and so was its aftermath.

Hard to say goodbye

It was hard to say goodbye. And of course I still watch an episode every now and then, given that "Top Gear" is the Biggest Show in my journalistic world. And I get pretty regular downloads on all things TG, from friends and colleagues. James rediscovered the show on his own about a year and a half ago, and I figured he was qualified to make his own decisions. I didn't ban the program or anything like that. He also keeps me in the loop.

Still, I have a difficult time watching Hammond, knowing what he went through.

The focus of the latest Clarkson controversy has shifted to the ongoing battle between the aging, renegade broadcaster, with his vast power over "Top Gear's" future, and his ostensible employer, the BBC, with its more restrictive notions of what constitutes the proper behavior of rich celebrities who have a history of sketchy conduct.

It doesn't much matter who comes out on top. Minus Clarkson, the BBC will figure out how to keep "Top Gear" going, or wind it down. And with a contrite Clarkson back on the air, "Top Gear" will play out its final years, generating new entertainments and cementing its reputation as the Greatest Car Show Ever — and maybe even the Greatest Show, period.

James might still be watching. But I won't. 

SEE ALSO: BBC will cancel the rest of the 'Top Gear' season because of Jeremy Clarkson's suspension

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Jeremy Clarkson and his Emmy Award-winning car show "Top Gear" are a ratings and financial juggernaut. 

With a broadcast show seen in 212 territories by 350 million viewers, a live stadium tour, 3 million YouTube subscribers, and a magazine with 1.7 million readers, "Top Gear" and its bombastic host reach fans seemingly everywhere. 

In fact, "Top Gear" entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2012 as the world's most watched factual television program. 

However, after the BBC suspended Clarkson for alleged throwing a punch at a producer due to inadequate catering, leading to the cancellation of the show's 22nd season, the gregarious TV personality and his show are more visible than ever.

In the days since his suspension, those who despise him have been loud and determined, while his supporters have been equally vocal. More than three quarters of a million people have signed a online petition asking the BBC to reinstate Clarkson. 

But if you aren't familiar with Clarkson, then you must asking yourself "who is this guy with the weird hair and bad teeth?" or "Why is his face on CNN?" or "Why is he on my news feed!?" or most importantly "Why the heck are people talking about him?"

So here's a brief take on why Jeremy Clarkson is as beloved as he is loathed. 

Clarkson is loud, brash, and doesn't take himself too seriously

Part of what drives Clarkson and "Top Gear's" popularity is the his disregard for "political correctness." His biting humor has certainly ruffled more that a few feathers over the years. Everyone from truck drivers to the German government have logged complaints over jokes that aired on "Top Gear."

But, perhaps the most common subject of his sharp humor is Clarkson himself. He frequently makes fun of everything from his own beer belly to his thinning hair, from his laziness to his lack of male endowment. The guy simply doesn't take himself to seriously. 

Over the years, his look has been frequently ridiculed:

There's the goofy outfit in his Top Gear debut in 1988 ...

... and this monstrosity from 1991. Obviously, he's playing a character for the camera.

On the current incarnation of "Top Gear," Clarkson generally plays the role of the neighborhood buffoon — the less competent, simpleminded foil to his more thoughtful co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond. 

This often leads to strife among the hosts — and for the audience, comedy gold. In one episode Clarkson built a speedboat out of a pickup truck. Not only did he set it on fire during the construction, but he also managed to capsize the vessel, with the shoreline in sight. 

Another time, Clarkson ran into the back of May's SUV while driving down a treacherous mountain road in Bolivia. May responded by confronting Clarkson with a machete. 

Clarkson and "Top Gear" do have actual achievements

In 2007, Clarkson and May became the first people to drive to the North Pole, making the journey in a modified Toyota truck for "Top Gear: Polar Special."

However, even this achievement came with its requisite controversy. During the episode, Clarkson and May can be seen partaking in a gin and tonic while behind the wheel. The hosts' explanation for all of this? Since they were over a frozen ocean, they considered the behavior to be drinking while sailing. 

And in another episode, the trio of hosts sailed across the English Channel in Nissan pickup truck that had been converted into a powerboat. That's right — an actual Channel crossing!

Clarkson is a good writer

For all of his buffoonery, Clarkson's is actually a skillful writer whose skills were honed by decades of practice as a newspaper reporter, automotive journalist, and syndicated columnist. 

Some of Clarkson's columns serve as explainers for his controversial comments, while others fuel his feuds with people like Piers Morgan. But then there are some, such as this one from last June about the death of his mother, that offer a glimpse behind his public facade.

In fact, compilations of Clarkson's weekly Sunday Times column have been turned into a series of books titled "The World According to Clarkson."

Clarkson is a history buff

In addition to "Top Gear," Clarkson has also produced a series of well-received documentaries on inventor Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the story of the Victoria Cross, the 1942 raid on St. Nazaire, and the WWII allied convoys in the Arctic. 

Here, there's no buffoonery or culturally insensitive jokes. Just elegantly shot footage along with effective and eloquent storytelling.

All in all, there's no telling what the future will hold for "Top Gear" and Jeremy Clarkson at the BBC. But his legions of supporters will remain as vocal as his detractors. Love him or hate him, he's likely to be around for ages.

SEE ALSO: Jeremy Clarkson is trolling the BBC on Twitter

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Jeremy Clarkson was falling out with Britain way before his recent fracas with a BBC producer, according to data from YouGov. His approval ratings have halved in the last two years.

YouGov consistently ranks public personalities in terms of popularity. With Clarkson, the data run back to 2011.

In the past four years, Clarkson has consistently been among the most-known TV people on YouGov, with a ranking in the 99th percentile for name recognition.

But Clarkson's approval ratings have waned in the last two years. According to YouGov, back in 2013, eight out of 10 people who knew Clarkson had a positive image of him. 

Last month, (ie: before the current suspension), only 4 out of 10 people viewed him positively.

Here is a graphic from YouGov. The light blue line indicates how many people know Clarkson, while the red one indicates how many of these people have a positive opinion of him.

You can see a big fall in Clarkson's approval ratings in early May 2014: Around that time a video was published showing him chanting a nursery rhyme that featured the n-word.

It is important to point out that Clarkson has always been extremely well-known: the lower ratings aren't due to people who have just recently got to know him and found they don't like him; these are people who changed their opinion of him.

The BBC has started today its investigation over the pub fracas. 

Clarkson is accused of having punched a BBC producer, Oisin Tymon, after he and the Top Gear crew went back to their hotel and were served a platter of cold cheese and meat because the kitchen had already been closed.

Clarkson, who was already on a final warning since the n-word issue last year, is reportedly considering quitting the BBC even if the investigation clears him of the accusations. He admitted the altercation, but claimed he did not punch Tymon. 

The BBC is facing huge pressure over the issue: "Top Gear" is one of the most successful shows at the corporation; it is watched, on average, by 350 million people worldwide every week. The annual revenue the show pulls for the BBC commercial arm is about £150 million, according to The Telegraph.

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Oisin Tymon, the 36-year-old BBC producer who was allegedly punched by Jeremy Clarkson in a "fracas," had to go to hospital after the altercation with the star presenter, the Daily Record reports. 

The incident took place outside the Simostone Hall Hotel in the Yorkshire Dales. James May and Richard Hammond, two other presenters on "Top Gear," had to grab Clarkson and stop him from continuing to hit Tymon, sources told the website. 

Tymon later "went to hospital in Northallerton" to receive medical help as he was "feeling dizzy," the website reports. 

The Friarage hospital in Northallerton was not immediately able to confirm whether Tymon was treated there when Business Insider asked about the story.

According to an insider source quoted by the Daily Record, Clarkson threw a racist slur at Tymon during the scuffle, calling him a "lazy Irish c---."

It's not unexpected behaviour from the outspoken TV host. In 2009, Clarkson called then-British Prime Minister Gordon Brown "a silly c---," triggering bipartisan calls for his resignation.

The producer, who received personal threats from "Top Gear" fans after the story went public, doesn't intend to file assault claims against Clarkson, according to the Mirror, and he is eager to get back to work. 

A source told the Mirror that Tymon doesn't want Clarkson to be sacked. But he does want the star to have some anger management counselling, the source claimed. 

The BBC yesterday started its investigation over the incident. The disciplinary panel is chaired by Ken McQuarrie, the head of BBC Scotland. Clarkson is accused of punching Tymon on the night of Wednesday, March 4.

According to sources, Clarkson got angry when he and the rest of the "Top Gear" crew went back to their hotel after a day of shooting and were served a cold platter of cheese and meat rather than a hot steak for dinner. The incident took place at about 10 p.m. and the chef had already closed the kitchen when the crew arrived to the hotel. 

Clarkson admitted there were some "pushing" with Tymon, but claimed he never punched the producer. "Top Gear" host May said he could not remember what happened very clearly because he was "blind drunk" when the incident took place.

The financial pressure the BBC is facing over the issue is huge. "Top Gear" is one of the most successful shows at the corporation; it is watched, on average, by 350 million people worldwide every week.The shows pulls in an annual revenue of £150 million for the corporation's commercial arm, according to The Telegraph.

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NOW WATCH: Top Gear cast responds to Jeremy Clarkson's suspension

Jeremy Clarkson, the "Top Gear" presenter who remains suspended pending an investigation over an altercation with a BBC producer, may return to television as early as April 24, when he is set to appear as a guest host on the satirical BBC1 panel show "Have I Got News for You," the The Radio Times reports.

Jimmy Mulville, head of Hat Trick, the production company for "Have I Got News for You," said he was in talks with the BBC to figure out whether the suspension would prevent Clarkson from taking part in the show with Ian Hislop and Paul Merton, the usual hosts. 

"The BBC has not told me what to do yet, and it will be an interesting conversation," Mulville said, according to Radio Times.

Mulville also joked about the possibility of having Clarkson back on television for the first time since the incident: "Maybe we will get the producer on so he can hit Jeremy Clarkson live on television," he said. 

Clarkson is accused of punching BBC producer Oisin Tymon in the evening on March 4. The BBC started its investigation into the incident on Monday, and the disciplinary panel is chaired by Ken MacQuarrie, head of BBC Scotland.

According to sources, Clarkson became angry when he and the rest of the "Top Gear" crew went back to their hotel after a day of shooting and were served a cold platter of cheese and meat rather than a hot steak for dinner. The incident took place at about 10 p.m., and the chef had already closed the kitchen when the crew arrived at the hotel. 

Mulville commented on the scandal, saying Clarkson was "a fantastic broadcaster" and he would "concentrate on that."

According to the Financial Times, Clarkson is the highest-paid presenter at the BBC. Revenues from "Top Gear" are supposed to bring £150 million ($221 million) to the commercial arm of the BBC, making it one of the most successful shows at the corporation.

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NOW WATCH: Top Gear cast responds to Jeremy Clarkson's suspension

It's still unclear whether the BBC will issue formal disciplinary action to "Top Gear" presenter Jeremy Clarkson, and his fate remains in the balance. Now, though, the broadcaster has suspended a live show in Norway that was set to take place at the weekend, The Guardian reports, and rapper Snoop Dogg has said he supports Clarkson.

At the same time, sources told The Sunday Mirror that Clarkson would sue the BBC if he loses his job.

The 54-year-old was suspended by the broadcaster after a "fracas" earlier this month. Clarkson allegedly punched a producer for not serving him a steak.

"Top Gear" has an annual worldwide tour in which thousands of fans get to see the popular car show up close. The first event of 2015 had been booked in Stavanger, Norway, on March 27-28, but the BBC has postponed it. The corporation apologised "for the inconvenience" but added the programmes would be rescheduled, according to The Guardian. More than 18,000 fans bought tickets, which cost between £45 and £100.

Clarkson's leadership of "Top Gear" is still undecided. The BBC Media Centre released a statement last week that read: "Following last week's suspension of Jeremy Clarkson, Ken MacQuarrie is now considering the evidence and will report to the Director-General on his findings next week. Once this has been considered, we will set out any further steps. The BBC will not be offering further commentary until then."

A decision on Clarkson's future is expected to be made and announced this week. If he is fired, it is unclear what will happen to the "Top Gear" live shows, or whether the show will continue at all. Some have denounced Clarkson's actions, while others, such as Snoop Dogg, have rallied behind him and told the BBC to keep him on.

On the Andrew Marr show at the weekend, government minister Anna Soubry said she thought Clarkson was a "hugely talented presenter," and she revealed she was a big fan. She also commented that she hoped the allegations were untrue, adding: "But he's just been a bit of a prat, hasn't he?"

Last week, Clarkson went on a sweary public rant and said the BBC had "f----d up." He later announced the abusive comments were "made in jest." On Friday, the political blog Guido Fawkes delivered a petition with 1 million signatures to the BBC by tank to call for Clarkson's reinstatement.

Clarkson also last week tweeted a photo of a stone wall in his garden that had collapsed — perhaps under the weight of his uncertain situation.

He's also thanked fans for their support on Twitter:

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Jeremy Clarkson, the "Top Gear" presenter currently suspended after an altercation with a BBC producer, may find out today if he is being sacked or not, the Guardian reports. 

The BBC suspended Clarkson on March 10, following what it described as a "fracas" with producer Oisin Tymon. Clarkson is accused of having punched Tymon after he and the rest of the Top Gear crew were served a platter of cold meats after a day of shooting. 

The investigation set up by the corporation to clear the issue has heard evidence from both Clarkson and Tymon, and it has concluded its analysis, the Guardian reports. 

Clarkson's fate at the BBC is now in the hands of one person only, BBC chief Tony Hall, as editor-in-chief of the corporation, Radio Times reports.

According to Radio Times, the most probable fallout would be a refusal by the BBC to renew Clarkson's contract, which is expected to expire this month. 

Clarkson is reportedly the highest-paid presenter at the BBC, and "Top Gear" brings about £150 million to the corporation's commercial arm BBC Worldwide. 

But Clarkson may decide to leave the BBC even if he is cleared of the accusations, and he has already started to pitch ideas for new TV shows to replace "Top Gear,"the Independent reports. 

Meanwhile, "Top Gear" fans are making their voices heard to support their favourite presenter. On Friday, a petition to reinstate Clarkson signed by a million fans was delivered to the BBC headquarters in Oxford Circus on a tank. 

While yesterday prime minister David Cameron has revealed his 11 year old daughter has threatened to go on hunger strike if the popular presenter loses his job, the Mirror reports. Cameron, who has expressed his support for Clarkson in the past, has reportedly said: "I told her this is not necessarily a useful intervention. It is not exactly Gandhi."

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NOW WATCH: Top Gear cast responds to Jeremy Clarkson's suspension

The BBC has fired "Top Gear" host Jeremy Clarkson for his involvement in a "fracas" with one of the show's producers.

Here's the BBC's confirmation:

BBC boss Tony Hall says: "It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract."

— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) March 25, 2015

Here is the full statement from BBC director General Tony Hall, as provided by a BBC staffer:

Here is the summary of the BBC's investigation into the event, by Ken MacQuarrie, the director of BBC Scotland.

The highlights include a description of the fight:

The incident makes Clarkson look really bad:

The statement from BBC chief Tony Hall, says that the decision comes with "regret," but is hard-hitting elsewhere.

It notes that Tymon attended a hospital accident and emergency room following the "fracas" (a physical altercation) and that he sustained "prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature." Hall adds that the situation has been "difficult for everyone involved," and also concedes that Clarkson is a "huge talent" and says he's sure the presenter will go on to entertain in the future.

At the time of writing, Clarkson had not reacted to the decision, but had updated his Twitter bio to "I used to be a presenter on the BBC2 motoring show, Top Gear." Before, it read "I am probably a presenter..." 

Earlier Wednesday morning, he tweeted that he had not heard the decision yet:

Just to keep everyone up to date, I haven't heard a thing.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) March 25, 2015

The future of Top Gear, the show that Clarkson helped reel in a global audience of 350 million, now remains in the balance. The BBC statement says that the broadcaster will look to renew Top Gear for 2016, but mentions that it will "be a big challenge and there is no point in pretending otherwise."

The news follows reports from The Telegraph and The Guardian that the host of the wildly popular car show would be sacked for an incident that happened at a hotel after a long day of filming.

The move will at least in its current form end a TV franchise that gathers £50 million ($74.6 million) in revenues for the BBC globally. The BBC will attempt to "reconstruct" the show around the other two presenters, Richard Hammond and James May, The Guardian reports. That move would be a huge surprise, given Clarkson's outsize role and popularity on the show.

The Guardian says BBC director general Lord Tony Hall felt he had "little alternative" but to get rid of Clarkson. The Guardian has this great quote:

... a source close to the inquiry said: "There can't be one rule for talent and one rule for ordinary human beings."

Clarkson had already been suspended from his long-running job hosting "Top Gear." He was sidelined after he reported the incident to BBC Television chief Danny Cohen. 

The fracas took place after the producer failed to secure Clarkson the steak dinner he ordered after a long day of filming, according to various reports. In response, the BBC pulled three yet-to-be-aired episodes of the show's 22nd season from its schedule.

"Top Gear" started on British TV in the late 1970s, but the current incarnation of the program kicked off in 2002. It has since grown into a broadcasting juggernaut, seen weekly in 200 countries by 350 million viewers.

Clarkson has been no stranger to controversy over his long career as both a broadcaster and newspaper columnist. In recent years, he was accused of using a racial slur in a segment of a "Top Gear" broadcast that was edited out, as well as provoking Argentines with a license plate that may have referred to the 1982 Falklands War.

His suspension by the BBC divided fans and critics into two camps. Especially in Britain, where Clarkson is a prominent media celebrity, detractors argued that he should be kicked off "Top Gear."

But his legions of fans worldwide lined up to support the 54-year-old. A million people signed an online petition calling for his reinstatement.

SEE ALSO: 10 reasons BBC's 'Top Gear' is the greatest show on TV

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NOW WATCH: Top Gear cast responds to Jeremy Clarkson's suspension

I got an inkling of BBC director general Tony Hall's decision to get rid of Jeremy Clarkson in advance, when I spoke to him at the Enders Analysis media conference in London last week.

Hall was there with one mission: To NOT answer questions about Clarkson and Top Gear. Yet after he finished his speech from the podium, the very first question from the audience was, basically, "are you going to fire Jeremy Clarkson?"

In a room full of London's most important media execs — CEOs from all the major cable channels and a ton of media buyers and bank analysts — it was the only thing people wanted to hear him talk about.

He demurred.

The host asked that we refrain from asking about Clarkson. Hall's investigation into Clarkson for allegedly punching a BBC producer who failed to give him a hot steak dinner was ongoing, and Hall had not reached a decision yet.

Then the microphone came to me. "My question was also about Clarkson," I said feebly, trying to imply that now that my question had already been asked, the mic should move on to someone else. The host suggested I ask anyway, so I came up with this subterfuge to "not" ask about Clarkson:

"You're the manager of a huge media organisation," I said. "I'm the manager of a small one, about a dozen people. Perhaps I can get some management advice from you: If one of your staff punches another colleague, do you think it is best to keep them or fire them?"

People laughed politely. Hall replied, "You should gather the facts from the people concerned before you make your decision and that's exactly what I'm doing." Frankly, he looked bored of talking about Clarkson.

That was what struck me most. Hall is actually in the middle of a huge defence of the BBC. The government is considering restructuring and perhaps cutting the TV licence fee — the tax on which the BBC's funding depends. The fee raises £3.7 billion a year for the BBC. Once again, he is facing some uncomfortable questions about why it is that one of the world's biggest, best media brands can't stand on its own two feet without the help of the taxpayers who are forced to fund it whether they watch it or not.

That fight could cost Hall and the BBC many, many millions more than the end of Top Gear ever will. (Top Gear is estimated to generate as much as £50 million in global TV rights revenues.)

So from that perspective, Clarkson wasn't helping. Why should we pay a tax to a company that has a lucrative contract with a rich, rude man who employs a camera crew to film him using the n-word? 

Clarkson can only have been a distraction for Hall at a time when he only has one job: Preserve the BBC, and secure its funding. Clarkson's revenue is barely a rounding error in the fight over the TV licence fee. 

The fact that Hall looked bored of the issue, just a few days after the alleged punch, spoke volumes — at least in hindsight. Here was a man who had previously gone to bat to defend Clarkson and keep him in his job. And Clarkson had once again embarrassed him in front of London's media elite. (Clarkson also allegedly managed to add some anti-Irish racism into the fight as well.) 

OK, so my part in Clarkson's downfall was not a huge one. It was trivial. But from Hall's perspective, it was yet another drop in an ever-filling bucket. The most important executive at the BBC had his entire mission derailed for more than a week by a never-ending tidal wave of questions about his least-savvy on-air personality.

You can see, from that perspective, why this decision did not go Clarkson's way.

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James May has hinted in a Sky News interview that he will leave hit television show Top Gear along with Richard Hammond because the pair come "as a package" with Jeremy Clarkson, following the BBC's confirmation that Clarkson has been sacked from Top Gear.

Top Gear's future remains in the balance. When the BBC announced Clarkson's sacking, director-general Tony Hall said that there are plans to renew the programme — but conceded it would be a "challenge." 

If the show does carry on, May's comments cast doubt on the idea it will do so in the same format — and with he and Hammond presenting. May says the whole thing will "require thought" and clearly states that, although he thinks Clarkson is a "nob," he "quite likes working" with the 54-year-old. 

Here's the video:

May also reveals — though he's probably joking — that he'll now need to put his Ferrari on eBay, which highlights the idea that Clarkson was crucial to the show's popularity and success. He says that he's sure "it will continue in some way" but refuses to give a concrete answer on anything. 

Incidentally, May's Twitter bio says that he's a "former TV presenter."However, it's said that for about a week. 

May has now issued a statement on his position, published in The Independent:

James was disappointed to hear that the BBC will not be renewing Jeremy's contract, however understands that it will have been a difficult deliberation all round and respects the decision.

As to the future of Top Gear, it existed before its current format and will no doubt continue to do so. James' involvement in that future requires much thought, deliberation and conversation between many people, and at this moment further speculation on that is not useful.

James will be making no further comment at this time.

Some are speculating that Clarkson will be replaced. Celebrity names such as Alan Partridge, a character of comedian Steve Coogan, radio host Chris Evans, and car nut Jodie Kidd have been bandied around in British media. 

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North Yorkshire Police are investigating former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson over his assault of a BBC producer, Sky News is reporting.

The police force has asked for the BBC's file on the Clarkson "fracas," saying they will take action "where necessary."

Clarkson was suspended from motoring show Top Gear after verbally abusing and assaulting producer Oisin Tymon, and today the BBC announced it would not be renewing Clarkson's contract— effectively firing him.

The attack on Tymon lasted around 30 seconds, ending after a witness intervened. Verbal abuse continued after the alleged assault, the BBC says in its key findings on the incident, "and contained the strongest expletives and threats to sack [Tymon] The abuse was at such volume to be heard in the dining room, and the shouting was audible in a hotel bedroom."

BBC Director-General Tony Hall said in a statement that he"did not take the decision [to sack Clarkson] lightly," but "there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations."

Following today's news, fellow presenter James May has hinted that he may also leave the show, saying that the team comes "as a package."

Here's the full North Yorkshire Police statement, courtesy of Max Foster from CNN:

North Yorkshire Police is liaising with the BBC regarding the alleged incident in North Yorkshire involving Jeremy Clarkson.

We have asked the BBC for the report which details the findings of their internal investigation into the matter.

The action will be assessed appropriately and action will be taken by North Yorkshire Police where necessary.

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The fact that Yorkshire police are investigating Jeremy Clarkson's alleged assault on a BBC producer — which sent the producer to the hospital with a bloody lip — raises an unlikely but tantalising scenario: Jeremy Clarkson could end being banned from working in America because US immigration law prevents convicted criminals from working in the country, according to The Telegraph.

That would hobble his career considerably. The US is the world's biggest TV market.

To be clear, that is an incredibly unlikely scenario. The incident — in which Clarkson is accused of punching producer Oisin Tymon after the latter failed to give him  hot steak dinner — is minor. It's hard to believe that the police would bother bringing charges, or that the prosecution service would take it all the way to trial.

The case will probably go away on its own.

Even if Clarkson could not enter the US again, it probably would not reduce his appeal as a TV star. If Clarkson went to work for ITV, it could raise the value of that company by £2 billion, analysts say. Part of that value may be tied to Clarkson's ability to promote his shows to foreign audiences — and not being able to to go to America, would handicap that. 

The obvious wrinkle here is that Clarkson has already admitted he attacked Tymon and tried to apologize for it, according to the BBC's internal investigation. That admission would make it a lot easier to extract an assault conviction from the presenter, in theory.

And the fact that Clarkson allegedly used anti-Irish language while attacking Tymon ads a little legal icing, too: Assaulting people based on their identity is a hate crime. It could be very difficult to gain a work visa in the US for a person convicted of a hate crime in the UK.

Again, this would be merely the least-likely, worst-case scenario.

In the meantime, Clarkson would be well-advised not to enter the US through Boston or New York, where US law enforcement officials are frequently of Irish-American extraction.

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The long-running executive director of Top Gear denies he is planning to leave the show, the Guardian reports, despite sending an email to staff saying "at least we left 'em wanting more."

The future of the hugely popular BBC motoring show has been plunged into doubt after star presenter Jeremy Clarkson was effectively fired last week following a "fracas" in which he allegedly punched a producer.

Andy Wilman helped relaunch the in 2002 following its cancellation the previous year, and helped build it into the global success it is today. He and Clarkson are also close, having attended school together.

In an email obtained by Jalopnik, Wilman told staff who work on the show that "when you're feeling low in your working day at any point, look around at some of the crap on TV, then have a think about Top Gear, 2002-2015, and say to yourself: 'I made that.'"

However, the executive director denies that this means he's leaving. "The email I wrote yesterday was not a resignation statement, and nor was it meant for public consumption. It was a private note of thanks to 113 people who have worked on the show over the years, but clearly one of those 113 is a bit of a tit, because they shared it with a website," he said.

"I don’t get this modern obsession with sharing, linking, forwarding, re tweeting; whatever happened to a private moment? And if I were to resign, I wouldn’t do it publicly, I’d do it old school by handing in my, er, notice, to someone upstairs in HR."

Similarly, a BBC spokesperson told the Guardian that the email"was intended as a heartfelt message to people who had worked with him and Jeremy, to recognise the fact that with Jeremy leaving it was the end of an era... It was not a farewell but a thank you to people who have been important to the show over the last 12 years. It was bringing down the curtain on the Clarkson era, not announcing his own departure."

Despite this, the tone of the email suggests that the BBC intends to continue running the show — without Wilman's involvement. "Don’t worry, because the BBC will make sure the show continues," he tells staff. "Our stint as guardians of Top Gear was a good one, but we were only part of the show’s history, not the whole of it."

It's currently unclear whether the other presenters, James May and Richard Hammond, will remain on the show now Clarkson has left. May recently launched an "unemployment channel" on YouTube featuring videos of himself playing the recorder while hungover.

Here's the full email that Jalopnik obtained:

Well, at least we left ‘em wanting more. And that alone, when you think about it, is quite an achievement for a show that started 13 years ago. I know none of us wanted it to end this way, but for a moment I’d like us to look back and think about just what an incredible thing you all had a hand in creating. When Jane Root gave us the green light in 2002, the brief was to reinvigorate a car show and get an audience of three million. What you all ended up making was one of the most iconic programmes in TV history, a show about cars that went global, won countless awards, was devoured by non car fans and ended up in the Guinness Book of Records.

We had a lot of laughs, we had a lot of tiffs. We went to amazing places and we went to some shitholes. We nearly killed a presenter, we had to run for the border. We started off with whoever we could get in the Reasonably Priced Car, and ended up with Tom Cruise. Throughout all this we made television that was beautiful to look at and beautiful to listen to. The work ethic never slipped, the desire for everyone in this dysfunctional family to do right by the show never faltered. Jeremy, Richard and James, as the visible tip of the iceberg, got most of the attention and praise, but you all in your own fields had such an immense hand in weaving this unforgettable tapestry. I would love to single out everybody by name to thank them for what they did, but it’s impossible and I’d forget someone I shouldn’t have and that would be crap, so I’ll just say Jim, I’m sorry we never got a bear to drive an automatic.

For those of you who still rely on it for work, don’t worry, because the BBC will make sure the show continues. Our stint as guardians of Top Gear was a good one, but we were only part of the show’s history, not the whole of it. Those two words are bigger than us.

Anyway, when you’re feeling low in your working day at any point, look around at some of the crap on TV, then have a think about Top Gear, 2002- 2015, and say to yourself: “I made that.”

A big, big, big thank you, which will never be enough.

Andy.

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Jeremy Clarkson is returning to TV and to his former home at the BBC. 

But just for one night.

The bombastic TV host and automotive journalist has been hired to guest host an episode of the BBC news quiz show"Have I Got News For You" on April 24. 

"Jeremy's contract has not been renewed on 'Top Gear' but he isn't banned from appearing on the BBC," a network spokesperson told BBC News.

This would mark Clarkson's first appearance on the BBC after the broadcaster announced late last month that it would not renew Clarkson's contract which expired at the end of March.  

The network's decision to part ways with the polarizing TV personality came after an internal BBC inquiry found Clarkson had punched a "Top Gear" producer when he failed to obtain a hot steak dinner after a long day of filming.

In addition, the fracas with the producer came on the heels of a controversy-filled 2014 for Clarkson — which saw the TV host mired in scandal stemming from accusations of racists, sexists, and culturally insensitive comments. 

Prior to his dismissal, Clarkson had spent nearly three decades as a host on "Top Gear" and is credited with being the driving force behind the show's explosive international success.

With more than 350 million weekly viewers, "Top Gear" set the Guinness World record as the most watched factual TV program in the world. In addition to the UK show, the Top Gear brand also includes numerous international spinoffs, a live stadium tour, merchandising, a successful magazine, and website.

"Have I Got News For You" is BBC's comedy quiz show where panels of celebrity guests are grilled on the week's major news stories.  For the past decade, the show has employed a series of guest hosts ranging from hollywood stars such as Benedict Cumberbatch and William Shatner to politicians like London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Clarkson has been a frequent participant in the quiz show, and last served as a guest host on an episode in April 2014. 

See the full episode of Clarkson's 2014 "Have I Got News For You" episode:

SEE ALSO: 10 reasons why BBC's 'Top Gear' is the greatest show on TV

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NOW WATCH: Top Gear cast responds to Jeremy Clarkson's suspension

Jeremy Clarkson is not returning to TV after all.

Clarkson has decided to pull the plug on his turn as the guest host of an episode of the BBC news quiz show"Have I Got News For You."

According to the show's producers, the bombastic TV host and automotive journalist decided against the appearance after a period of reflection.

Clarkson's cancelled appearance on "Have I Got News For You" would have been his first appearance on the BBC and on TV after the network announced late last month that it would not renew Clarkson's contract which expired at the end of March.  

The network's decision to part ways with the polarizing TV personality came after an internal BBC inquiry found Clarkson had punched a "Top Gear" producer when he failed to obtain a hot steak dinner after a long day of filming.

In addition, the fracas with the producer came on the heels of a controversy-filled 2014 for Clarkson — which saw the TV host mired in scandal stemming from accusations of racist, sexist, and culturally insensitive comments. 

Prior to his dismissal, Clarkson had spent nearly three decades as a host on "Top Gear" and is credited with being the driving force behind the show's explosive international success.

With more than 350 million weekly viewers, "Top Gear" set the Guinness World record as the most watched factual TV program in the world. In addition to the UK show, the Top Gear brand also includes numerous international spinoffs, a live stadium tour, merchandising, a successful magazine, and website.

"Have I Got News For You" is the BBC's comedy quiz show where panels of celebrity guests are grilled on the week's major news stories.  For the past decade, the show has employed a series of guest hosts ranging from hollywood stars such as Benedict Cumberbatch and William Shatner to politicians like London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Clarkson has been a frequent participant in the quiz show, and last served as a guest host on an episode in April 2014. 

The Clarkson-helmed episode would have aired on April 24. However, this may not be the end of Jeremy Clarkson involvement with "Have I Got News For You." The show's producers hinted to BBC News that he may guest host on another episode later in the year. 

See the full episode of Clarkson's 2014 "Have I Got News For You" episode:

SEE ALSO: 10 reasons why BBC's 'Top Gear' is the greatest show on TV

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Top Gear cast responds to Jeremy Clarkson's suspension

Jeremy Clarkson could be coming back to television.

And the former "Top Gear" host – banished for punching a producer earlier this year – hinted that that he might create a new car show.

In his weekly column on the Sunday Times, Clarkson chronicled every maudlin detail of his of life since the BBC banished him from the show he built into an entertainment powerhouse. 

The network's decision to part ways with the polarizing TV personality came after an internal BBC inquiry found Clarkson had struck a "Top Gear" producer when the staffer failed to obtain a hot steak dinner after a long day of filming.

"I felt sick because after I’d lost my home and my mother, I’d thrown myself even more vigorously into my job and now, idiotically, I’d managed to lose that too," Clarkson wrote.

The veteran TV personality later concluded that at the age of 55 it was too early for him to hang up the driving gloves but too late for an old dog to learn any new tricks.

"Which is why I have made a decision," Clarkson wrote. "I have lost my baby but I shall create another. I don’t know who the other parent will be or what the baby will be like, but I cannot sit around any more organising my photograph albums." 

In the column, the ex-"Top Gear" host explained that he was also in a poor mental state because of a potential cancer diagnosis. 

"Two days before the “fracas”, I’d been told, sternly, by my doctor that the lump on my tongue was probably cancer and that I must get it checked out immediately." Clarkson wrote. "But I couldn’t do that. We were in the middle of a 'Top Gear' series. And 'Top Gear' always came first."

The fracas with the producer came on the heels of a controversy-filled 2014 for Clarkson — which saw the TV host mired in scandal stemming from accusations of racist, sexist, and culturally insensitive comments. 

Prior to his dismissal, Clarkson had spent nearly three decades as a host on "Top Gear" and is credited with being the force behind the show's explosive international success.With more than 350 million weekly viewers, "Top Gear" set the Guinness World record as the most watched factual TV program. In addition to the UK show, the Top Gear brand also includes numerous international spinoffs, a live stadium tour, merchandising, a successful magazine, and a website.

Recently, Clarkson pulled the plug on his turn as the guest host of an episode of the BBC news quiz show "Have I Got News For You."

According to the show's producers, the bombastic TV host and automotive journalist decided against the appearance after a period of reflection.

Clarkson's cancelled appearance on "Have I Got News For You" would have been his first appearance on the BBC and on TV after the network announced late last month that it would not renew Clarkson's contract which expired at the end of March.  

The Clarkson episode would have aired on April 24. However, this may not be the end of his involvement with "Have I Got News For You." The show's producers hinted to BBC News that he may guest host on another episode later in the year. 

SEE ALSO: 10 reasons why BBC's 'Top Gear' is the greatest show on TV

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Top Gear cast responds to Jeremy Clarkson's suspension