Jeremy Clarkson has spoken of how much he will miss hosting Top Gear, and thanked fans for their support after he was axed from the popular motoring programme.
The presenter, released by the BBC after he attacked a producer of the show, has not spoken in detail about being dropped other than to say that “everybody’s upset”.
Jeremy Clarkson has said little in public since he was axed from Top Gear (Steve Parsons/PA)
But in his Sun column today, Jeremy wrote: “Heartfelt thanks to all those who have written to say how much they will miss me on Top Gear. It’s not as much, however, as I’ll miss being there.”
The star was suspended by the broadcaster last month when he became the subject of an internal BBC investigation after he attacked Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him.
BBC director-general Tony Hall received death threats after not renewing Jeremy Clarkson’s contract (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
Jeremy’s contract was not renewed, with director-general Tony Hall saying at the time “a line has been crossed” and “there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another”.
But the star received widespread public support.
Last week, he poked fun at his Top Gear sacking while hosting an annual charity auction, hinting that a version of the show could be back on a different channel.
Acting as auctioneer again for the yearly fundraiser for the lido in Chipping Norton, where he has a home, Jeremy put a Top Gear T-shirt, “signed by a former presenter”, under the hammer.
“Remember in the olden days, there used to be a programme called Top Gear which was on the BBC?” he said. “”We could be back, just somewhere else. Or maybe even not somewhere else…”
Jeremy Clarkson in Chipping Norton for the charity auction (Ben Birchall/PA)
Jeremy also pulled out of his planned appearance hosting BBC satirical show Have I Got News For You, which was due to be filmed next week, and aired a day later.
It would have marked his first BBC appearance since the fracas which led to his departure.
