.Jeremy Clarkson sacked after sending Oisin Tymon to A&E over a steak
- .Lord Hall, Director General of BBC, said star's contract not being renewed
- .He said: 'It's not decision I've taken lightly. I take no pleasure in doing so'
- .BBC report says he verbally abused producer for 20 minutes and hit him
- .Lord Hall said Tymon suffered 'verbal abuse no-one should endure'
- .North Yorkshire Police want report and say action taken 'where necessary'
- .BBC contracts of Clarkson, May and Hammond were to expire next week
- .James May said the trio 'come as a package' - spelling end of BBC careers
- .Richard Hammond calls it 'sad end to an era' in hint they may all leave
- .Chris Evans rules himself out of top job and says 'that's end of the matter'
- .One million people signed petition demanding Clarkson be reinstated
- .Sky, ITV and Netflix all said to be vying to sign up millionaire after sacking
The corporation's internal investigation concluded the star, 54, launched an 'unprovoked' 30-second physical attack on Oisin Tymon because he was offered a plate of cold cuts instead of steak and chips.
North Yorkshire Police today said it had asked the BBC for its report into the 'fracas' in a luxury hotel in the county and said action will be taken against Clarkson 'where necessary'.
Revealing the sacking, Lord Hall, the Director General of the BBC, said: 'It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract. It is not a decision I have taken lightly. For me a line has been crossed'.
The star this afternoon changed his Twitter biography to say he 'used to be a presenter on Top Gear'
Co-star James May called the decision a 'tragedy' and said he, Clarkson and Richard Hammond 'come as a package', suggesting that all three are now likely to leave the BBC.
Hammond tweeted shortly afterwards: 'Gutted at such a sad end to an era. We're all three of us idiots in our different ways but it's been an incredible ride together'.
Sacked: The BBC said today it had not renewed Jeremy Clarkson's contract for his 'unprovoked' attack on Top Gear producer Oison Tymon, who was forced to go to A&E after being punched in the mouth
Announcement: Lord Hall recorded a video message where he said Clarkson had to go - while at the same time the star changed his Twitter biography to say he 'used to be a presenter on Top Gear'
Support: Richard Hammond tweeted that it was a 'sad end to an era' in hint that all three will leave the BBC
Expensive decision: Top Gear makes the BBC around £67million a year in sales, shows and other add-ons, an income now under threat after today's sacking
The Director General, who has spoken to Clarkson and Mr Tymon since the fracas, said the producer was subjected to 'sustained verbal abuse that no-one should have to endure'.
The sacking is likely to spark a bidding war for Clarkson's services, with ITV, Sky and Netflix all said to be willing to pay Clarkson millions to present a motoring show for them.
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, tweeted on March 20: 'Jeremy Clarkson will start his own show syndicated worldwide and own the rights and make a billion dollars. You heard it here first.'
Top Gear is the BBC's most successful show, sold in more than than 200 countries, bringing in at least £50million a year, but this funding stream may be under threat after the sacking.
THE BBC MONEY-SPINNER: HOW TOP GEAR MAKES THEM £67M A YEAR
The BBC could lose as much as £67million a year now Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been sacked.
The star helped relaunch the ailing show in 2002, turning it into a worldwide hit.
Now the corporation's commercial arm rakes in an estimated £50million a year from selling the rights to Top Gear overseas, with the show watched in 214 countries around the world.
On top of that, BBC Worldwide makes millions more from Top Gear Magazine and live shows in the UK and abroad, as well as sales of DVDs.
The BBC could lose tens of millions of pounds in annual profit after giving Clarkson his marching orders, with the sale of the show overseas making £50million alone.
Top Gear Magazine has a global circulation of 1.7 million, bringing in another estimated £7.4million - not including profit from advertising, as well as the costs of producing and shipping the magazine.
The motoring programme was also set to make around £7.35million in sales of tickets to its 14 live shows in the UK this year.
The BBC's loss could be another broadcaster's gain, with rivals Sky, ITV and Netflix all set to compete for Clarkson's signature.
Clarkson was suspended two weeks ago for punching Oisin Tymon in the face when he was offered a plate of cold cuts instead of steak and chips after a long day of filming.
The BBC found Clarkson spent 20 minutes verbally abusing the producer in a luxury North Yorkshire hotel before launching a 30-second physical assault that led to another member of staff dragging him away.
Mr Tymon said today after the sacking: 'He is a unique talent and I am well aware that many will be sorry his involvement in the show should end in this way'.
The corporation's two-week investigation into the incident found:
- Jeremy Clarkson punched Oisin Tymon in the the mouth in 30-second attack before he was dragged way by a bystander. Oisin Tymon did not hit him
- Star then spent 20 minutes using 'prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature directed at Mr Tymon. The star said he would have him sacked. The abuse was so loud it was heard throughout the hotel, including in its bedrooms.
- Following the attack Oisin Tymon drove to a nearby A&E department for examination
- Jeremy Clarkson has made a number of attempts to apologise to Oisin Tymon by way of text, email and in person
- Jeremy Clarkson reported the incident to BBC management himself
Police said today they may act after the report revealed Tymon was punched.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: '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 information will be assessed appropriately and action will be taken by North Yorkshire Police where necessary'.
Tony Hall said today he had met and spoken to both men before publishing the findings of the BBC's internal investigation.
He said: 'I cannot condone what has happened on this occasion. A member of staff - who is a completely innocent party - took himself to Accident and Emergency after a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature.
'For me a line has been crossed. There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations.'
The BBC investigation found that Mr Tymon was 'subject to an unprovoked physical and verbal attack by Jeremy Clarkson'. It said the attack lasted around 30 seconds and only stopped when a witness intervened.
The report said 'verbal abuse was directed at Oisin Tymon on more than one occasion - both during the attack and subsequently inside the hotel - and contained the strongest expletives and threats to sack him. The abuse was at such volume as to be heard in the dining room, and the shouting was audible in a hotel bedroom.'
Mr Hall said 'no blame' was attached to Mr Tymon, who, he said, 'behaved with huge integrity throughout'.
Responding to Jeremy Clarkson's sacking, Downing Street said that Prime Minister David Cameron believes that 'if you do something wrong at work there can be consequences' and that 'aggressive and abusive behaviour is not acceptable in the workplace'.
Earlier this week the Prime Minister backed calls for Mr Clarkson to be reinstated and added that his daughter had threatened to go on hunger strike unless he was reinstated.
Upset: James May was the first of the Top Gear stars to speak out and called the decision to sack Clarkson a 'tragedy', adding: 'I'm sorry that what ought to have been a small incident has turned into something big'
The Top Gear host (pictured) had been left in limbo for two weeks since the BBC announced his suspension
Row: Jeremy Clarkson struck producer Oisin Tymon (pictured) in the row over a hot dinner and he said today all he wanted was to get back to work
Clarkson and his co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond, were scheduled to take part in four live Top Gear shows in Norway this week, but it was announced on Sunday that they had been postponed.
'CLARKSON CROSSED THE LINE': TONY HALL'S STATEMENT IN FULL
It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract. It is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have done so only after a very careful consideration of the facts and after personally meeting both Jeremy and Oisin Tymon.
I am grateful to Ken MacQuarrie for the thorough way he has conducted an investigation of the incident on 4th March. Given the obvious and very genuine public interest in this I am publishing the findings of his report. I take no pleasure in doing so. I am only making them public so people can better understand the background. I know how popular the programme is and I also know that this decision will divide opinion. The main facts are not disputed by those involved.
I want to make three points.
First – The BBC is a broad church. Our strength in many ways lies in that diversity. We need distinctive and different voices but they cannot come at any price. Common to all at the BBC have to be standards of decency and respect. I cannot condone what has happened on this occasion. A member of staff – who is a completely innocent party – took himself to Accident and Emergency after a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature. For me a line has been crossed. There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations.
Second – This has obviously been difficult for everyone involved but in particular for Oisin. I want to make clear that no blame attaches to him for this incident. He has behaved with huge integrity throughout. As a senior producer at the BBC he will continue to have an important role within the organisation in the future.
Third – Obviously none of us wanted to find ourselves in this position. This decision should in no way detract from the extraordinary contribution that Jeremy Clarkson has made to the BBC. I have always personally been a great fan of his work and Top Gear. Jeremy is a huge talent. He may be leaving the BBC but I am sure he will continue to entertain, challenge and amuse audiences for many years to come.
The BBC must now look to renew Top Gear for 2016. This will be a big challenge and there is no point in pretending otherwise. I have asked Kim Shillinglaw to look at how best we might take this forward over the coming months. I have also asked her to look at how we put out the last programmes in the current series.
All three men's contracts run out at the end of this month but the futures of Hammond and May are still unclear.
They were all offered new three year deals but these were put on hold after the 'fracas'.
But in a clear hint, speaking outside his home in west London, James May said Clarkson's departure is a 'tragedy'.
He said: 'Well apparently they have shot him. I've only found this out by prising the information out of various BBC sources, nobody has actually told me officially until a few moments ago when they emailed.
'I don't really have anything to say about it. It's a tragedy. I'm sorry that what ought to have been a small incident sorted out easily has turned into something big.
'I don't really want to say anything more than that at the moment, I have only known for the past few minutes and if you excuse me I have to write the eBay listing for my Ferrari.'
Asked if he thought the decision was fair, May said: 'It is probably within the law and their hands were tied.'
He added: 'I'm sure Top Gear will continue in some way. It existed before us and it has been reformatted several times.'
Asked if he will stay at Top Gear, May said: 'Erm, well I don't want to talk about that too much but I think we are very much the three of us as a package. It works for very complicated reasons that a lot of people don't fully understand. So that will require a lot of careful thought.'
Asked about a possible replacement for Clarkson and who he would like to work with, he said: 'Much as I think he's a k*** I quite like working with Jeremy.'
Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was 'gutted' Jeremy Clarkson has been sacked.
He said all three presenters were 'idiots in our different ways' but they had 'an incredible ride.'
He tweeted: 'Gutted at such a sad end to an era. We're all three of us idiots in our different ways but it's been an incredible ride together.'
Clarkson's sacking will lead to fury among Top Gear fans and more than a million people signed a petition demanding the BBC reinstate Clarkson and hundreds have said that they will withhold their licence fee payments if he is sacked.
Among the many protesters, Nakulraj Vijeyarajah, from Glasgow, wrote: 'Bring back Clarkson. Top Gear is the only reason I watch BBC. I will stop paying my licence fee if Clarkson is not rehired'.
Chris Evans, from the West Midlands added: 'No Top Gear, no licence fee as far as I am concerned'.
If they all leave the trio are unlikely to be out of work for long.
In what could be a hint, Sky owner Rupert Murdoch said last night: 'How stupid can BBC be in firing Jeremy Clarkson? Funny man with great expertise and huge following.'
Sources have told MailOnline that ITV are prepared to offer him £10million to sign for them, Clarkson's executive producer, and schoolfriend Andy Wilman having reportedly met with them.
Keeping quiet: James May said that he, Clarkson and Richard Hammond 'come as a package', suggesting all three will now leave the BBC
Message: Mr Clarkson tweeted today: 'Just to keep everyone up to date, I haven't heard a thing' even though the BBC had clearly decided they were going to sack him
It comes less than a day after the presenter said he had heard 'nothing, not a sausage' regarding his future with the broadcaster.
PUNCHED PRODUCER SAYS HE WANTS TO GET BACK TO WORK AFTER 'FRACAS NIGHTMARE'
Oisin Tymon, the man 'smacked' by Jeremy Clarkson, has spoken for the first time since the 'fracas'.
He said he was 'grateful' for the 'thorough and swift investigation into this very regrettable incident'.
He said: 'I've worked on Top Gear for almost a decade, a programme I love. Over that time Jeremy and I had a positive and successful working relationship, making some landmark projects together. He is a unique talent and I am well aware that many will be sorry his involvement in the show should end in this way.'
Paul Daniels, from law firm Slater Gordon which represents Mr Tymon, said the last month had 'been a nightmare' for him.
He said: 'He now simply wishes to return to the job he loves at the BBC. He does not intend to make any further media comment and kindly asks that his privacy is respected.'
He said outside his home yesterday: 'I'm really sorry, but I don't think you're going to find anything out today'.
He is yet to comment on his sacking.
The Top Gear host, 54, had been left in limbo for two weeks since the BBC announced his suspension following what it described as 'a fracas' with Mr Tymon.
For days it was reported that Lord Hall would Clarkson after the organisation's internal investigation concluded he did in fact attack Mr Tymon following a verbal tirade, but it was not confirmed until today.
However, last night the BBC insisted a final decision had not been made. A spokesman said: 'When we have an outcome, we will announce it.'
Clarkson has reportedly told friends that the BBC's management have been 'out to get' him, abd sources at the BBC have suggested that its director of TV, Danny Cohen, has seized on the incident as the reason he needs to oust the controversial figure.
Late yesterday afternoon, Clarkson told reporters outside his home that he had heard 'nothing, not a sausage'.
Friends have reportedly said that if he is fired Clarkson has said he will 'not go quietly'.
Fans and critics of Jeremy Clarkson have spoken up following the BBC's decision not to renew his contract after a fracas with producer Oisin Tymon.
The presenter's surname trended worldwide on Twitter following the announcement by director general Tony Hall.
Former tabloid newspaper editor Piers Morgan, Clarkson's long-time sparring partner, had earlier jokingly hinted in a series of tweets he might be Top Gear's new presenter.
Before the Clarkson announcement, he wrote: 'In ten minutes, I will be announced as the temporary replacement for a very popular TV presenter in the UK.
'No, no, it's 100% true. I really am standing in for a popular male TV presenter on a big UK show. Start filming in 3 weeks.
'I suspect the announcement, at 2pm UK time, will shock, delight & dismay everyone in equal measure. But that's showbiz.'
Big decision: Sacking Clarkson could mean the end of Top Gear, which makes the BBC millions every year
Last night Rupert Murdoch weighed in on the debate, claiming the BBC would be 'stupid' to fire Clarkson
He later revealed that he will be guest-presenting ITV's Good Morning Britain for a week next month, before adding: 'This doesn't prevent me doing Top Gear as well, obviously.'
He subsequently wrote: 'If he'd stuck to just punching me, he'd have been fine. £Clarkson.'
The Guido Fawkes political blog, operated by Paul Staines, ran a campaign which garnered a million-plus petition calling on the BBC to reinstate Clarkson after he was suspended and used a tank to deliver it to New Broadcasting House.
Today it wrote: 'Sad day for Top Gear fans, BBC licence fee payers and the 1,033,933 who signed the petition to reinstate Jeremy. No doubt his enemies within the BBC will be cheering that they have finally found an excuse to get rid of him. Lentils all round.'
Former BBC chairman Christopher Bland told BBC News: 'Its quite clear from the facts he (Lord Hall) had no choice. He paid a fulsome and appropriate tribute to Jeremy Clarkson, but verbal abuse on the scale that seems to have taken place is bad enough, and if you then should bash somebody, you have no choice, he had to go.
'He's a licensed jester, he was able to make remarks about slopes on bridges and got away with that. This is absolutely of a different order of magnitude. Half an hour of abuse and then hitting someone in the face is something else altogether. It was a brave but absolutely correct decision.'
Clarkson, pictured with co ho-hosts James May and Richard Hammond at a Top Gear Live show in Prague, will not be performing at the four events in Norway as they have been cancelled
Furious Jeremy Clarkson supporters have demanded that tickets to the Top Gear Live shows are refunded now their favourite host has been given the boot.
KIM SHILLINGLAW: WOMAN IN CHARGE OF TOP GEAR FUTURE
The decision over what to do with Top Gear now falls to Kim Shillinglaw, the Oxford-educated controller of BBC 2.
Shillinglaw, who took on the £217,800-a-year job last April and now controls the channel’s £588m budget, has previously claimed to be a fan of Top Gear.
In an interview in January, she said: ‘It is by and large a very professionally made programme, a very complex one that has been running for many years and has pulled off jaw-dropping sequences time and time again.’
However, she refused to outline what her plan for the show was past the current series, insisting: ‘Decisions for next year are decisions for next year.’
She told media news website Broadcast: ‘BBC2 must be full of programmes that make you think: “If that wasn’t on the telly, we’d be poorer for it”.
'There’s always a lot of competing forces. But I get out of bed and say to myself: “It’s the programmes, stupid”. '
A clue as the sort of programmes she likes came when she told the website she likes watching Homeland, Made In Chelsea and The Big Bang Theory.
The news sent Twitter into a frenzy with hundreds lambasting the BBC for pulling their favourite host on the multi-million viewer show.
And many disappointed fans, who have already bought tickets for upcoming live shows, are demanding their money back.
One angry Twitter user, Chris W said: 'If it's true that the BBC pc, lefty, lily livered two faced sh*** have sacked Clarkson then I want a full refund for Top Gear Live Show.'
Another user, Hannah, tweeted the Ticketmaster Twitter account and said: 'Hi, I have been told to contact you to get a refund for Top Gear live as Jeremy Clarkson is no longer doing it.'
Live Nation, the company in charge of Top Gear Live, refused to comment.
Star Trek actor William Shatner weighed into the debate, tweeting: 'Clarkson will be fine. Sponsors would be silly not to pick him up and establish a competitor show and the viewers will probably follow him.'
He added: 'What Clarkson did was wrong and I'm sure he regrets it.'
Will Wyatt, a former director of BBC Television, told the broadcaster that part of Clarkson's appeal with viewers was that he was a 'naughty boy', but added: 'This is different, this isn't about did he say too much or overstepped the mark in what's allowable for a BBC presenter to say, it's to do with behaviour between human beings working together.
'Jeremy, I'm sure, will have a successful future doing one thing or another and I think Top Gear will have a successful future.'
'WE WON'T PAY THE LICENCE FEE WITHOUT CLARKSON': PROTESTERS SAY THEY WILL HIT BBC IN THE POCKET OVER TOP GEAR SACKING
Hundreds of Top Gear fans have started a campaign to stop paying the licence fee and are willing to face prosecution after the BBC sacked Jeremy Clarkson.
There is a growing campaign for to withhold the corporation's annual subscription fee over their decision to fire the 54-year-old for the 'fracas' with Oisin Tymon.
More than a million have signed a petition to have the star reinstated, and this was delivered to Broadcasting House by tank on Friday.
Hundreds of those Top Gear supporters have now urged others to join them in cancelling or withholding their licence fee.
Among the many protesters, Nakulraj Vijeyarajah, from Glasgow, wrote: 'Bring back Clarkson. Top Gear is the only reason I watch BBC. I will stop paying my licence fee if Clarkson is not rehired'.
Chris Evans, from the West Midlands added: 'No Top Gear, no licence fee as far as I am concerned'.
@CreativeGuy74 tweeted: 'Should @JeremyClarkson be sacked by the BBC, I'll never watch any new episodes of @BBC_TopGear again, let alone pay the rip off licence fee.
Marcus Pedley wrote: 'If the @BBC do sack @JeremyClarkson I will make it my mission to find a loop hole to not pay my Licence Fee
Harriet Maltby said: 'Well I am never paying my licence fee ever again #Clarkson'.
Robert Fry: 'No more clarkson , no more licence fee , only thing that's any good on BBC. I want a rebate'.
Cameron Singh Claire said: 'Sacking Jeremy Clarkson will cost the BBC millions a year in Global Revenue.I won't pay my licence fee without Top Gear. Starve the beast'.
@ZiggySawdust said: 'Just had the sudden urge to stop paying @bbc the licence fee and spend the money on a Netflix subscription. Wonder why? #Clarkson
Sean Thomas Knox tweeted: 'If Jeremy Clarkson has been sacked, I will stop paying my licence fee' and Ronald Cross said: 'If Clarkson is sacked I will hold my licence fee back!'
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