Jeremy Clarkson agrees to 'keep quiet' about sacking

Jeremy Clarkson will still host re-branded Top Gear Live shows. Photo/Getty

Jeremy Clarkson has agreed to keep quiet about his sacking from the BBC so the Top Gear Live shows can go ahead 'in good spirit'.

The global tour of the motoring show looked like it may face the axe following Clarkson's hotel fracas with a producer over a steak dinner.

The BBC decided not to renew his contract and cancelled what remained of the latest series of Top Gear, but the corporation and the presenter have reached an agreement over the remaining live shows.

BBC Worldwide, which shares ownership rights of Top Gear, feared Clarson would vent his anger at his sacking during the live shows, the Sunday People reported.

But he has agreed to keep quiet on his sacking so the shows can go ahead, meaning fans who have already booked tickets, thought to number almost 100,000, will not be disappointed.

However the shows have been rebranded from Top Gear Live to Clarkson, Hammond and May Live.

They will not feature any Top Gear branding, show any footage from the programmes or feature The Stig.

A source said: 'Jeremy, James and Richard agreed to the terms put to them to let the shows go ahead in a good spirit. They were desperate not to let the fans down.

'Part of the deal was that neither the BBC nor the Top Gear brand would be brought into disrepute.

'Effectively this meant gagging Jeremy from mentioning what had gone on. But he agreed to comply.'

Clarkson, 54, is said to be 'champing at the bit' to get back on stage, with the next show taking place in Belfast in May.

The tour will also see him travel to South Africa, Australia and Norway - where shows were cancelled while the BBC was deciding whether or not to sack the presenter.

It will come to a close on November 29 at the O2 in London, with the futures of co-stars Richard Hammond and James May unclear.

The pair's faces, along with Clarkson's, have both been removed from the top of Top Gear website.

Meanwhile the two final episodes of Top Gear - which were canned after the hotel bust-up - could be made from footage shot before the controversial presenter left, but insiders say they can never be screened.

The programmes are thought to show the presenters racing limousines and driving classic convertibles, but are not likely to ever see the light of day.

BBC Worldwide did not comment.

- Daily Mail