Jeremy Clarkson joked with reporters outside his London home today that he was 'just off to the job centre'. Photo / Getty
Jeremy Clarkson joked with reporters outside his London home today that he was 'just off to the job centre'. Photo / Getty
Jeremy Clarkson is reportedly considering quitting the BBC, even if he is cleared of allegations he punched a Top Gear producer.
Clarkson, who is currently suspended from the corporation after allegedly punching producer Oisin Tymon, is understood to be considering quitting the corporation, even if he is cleared of the charges.
His relationship with key BBC executives has sunk so low that he is unsure it can be salvaged, a source close to the presenter told RadioTimes.com.
"I'm having a nice cold pint and waiting for this to blow over," the 54-year-old was quoted as saying in The Sun daily.
The "fracas" between Clarkson and Tymon took place while filming on location last week. Clarkson, who is already on his "final warning" at the BBC, is alleged to have swung a punch at Tymon after being told there was no hot food available after a day's filming.
Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended by the BBC for allegedly throwing a punch at a producer. Photo/Getty
The BBC has since postponed the final three episodes of the series and is refusing to be drawn on whether the programme -a serious commercial boon for the BBC - can survive this incident, with or without Clarkson.
"The last three episodes of this series have been pulled. Can I see him going back to film another BBC series? I don't think so. But he'll be fine. The other broadcasters will bite his arm off," the source said.
Clarkson is understood to have told friends that he did not punch Tymon, but that there had been some "handbags and pushing" over the incident.
The development comes as a petition to reinstate Clarkson passed 330,000 signatures, with Top Gear fans rushing to support the presenter.
"We the undersigned petition the BBC to reinstate Jeremy Clarkson. Freedom to fracas," said the online appeal at Change.org, which had gained more than 380,000 signatures.
"I'm signing because Clarkson is a superb presenter," wrote one supporter named Peter Maxwell.
A petition for the BBC to sack him had just 2000 supporters.
"Clarkson has got away with his bigoted rantings for far too long whilst others have been sacked for less. Why do the BBC let him get away with it?" said one signatory, Caryne Pearce.
Clarkson joined Top Gear in 1988. The outspoken presenter has helped Top Gear become one of the BBC's biggest shows, drawing 350 million viewers a week in 170 countries.
He's been embroiled in controversy after controversy in the time he has appeared on the car show, and marked himself out as a challenger of political correctness.
Top Gear hosts (from left) Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May. Photo / supplied
Last year alone, he apologised for using a racial slur in an un-aired Top Gear segment, and almost sparked a riot in Argentina after he drove a Porsche with the number plate H982 FKL, which was regarded as a deliberate reference to the Falklands War of 1982.
However, his departure from the programme would pose huge challenges for the BBC. It is also not yet clear whether the presenter has any non-compete clauses in his contract, which would restrict him entering into agreements with other broadcasters.
The BBC has still not finalised the arrangements for Clarkson's disciplinary hearing, but it is understood to want to move quickly.
The corporation is expected to set the wheels in motion before the weekend, as the presenter has a weekly column in the Sunday Times, which he has used to address previous Top Gear controversies.
Clarkson in February indicated he might have been unhappy with the show by tweeting: "Wanted: new presenter for Top Gear. Applicant should be old, badly dressed and pedantic but capable of getting to work on time."
Clarkson's controversies over the years:
2003: Jeremy Clarkson drives a pick-up into a horse chestnut tree in a car park in Somerset, to test the strength of a Toyota. The BBC apologised to the parish council.
2008: Clarkson makes a joke during an episode about lorry drivers murdering prostitutes, which attracts more than 1000 complaints to the BBC.
2010: Jokes made during the show about Mexicans, which included them being branded "lazy", "feckless" and "flatulent", spark controversy and prompt an apology from the BBC to the Mexican ambassador.
2011: During a 90-minute India special a car fitted with a toilet in the boot is described by Clarkson as "perfect for India because everyone who comes here gets the trots".
2012: Clarkson is found to have breached BBC guidelines by comparing a Japanese car to people with growths on their faces.
2014: Clarkson was embroiled in controversy when it was claimed he used the N-word while reciting the nursery rhyme Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe during filming.
2014:Top Gear is ruled to have breached broadcasting rules after Clarkson used the word "slope" to describe an Asian man.
2014:Top Gear crew is forced to flee Argentina after trouble erupted when it emerged they were using a Porsche with the registration number H982 FKL, which some suggested could refer to the Falklands conflict of 1982.
