Jeremy Clarkson dropped from Top Gear, BBC confirms

Jeremy Clarkson’s contract will not be renewed after a physical altercation with a producer, the BBC’s director general Tony Hall has said.

Lord Hall said he had “not taken this decision lightly” and recognised it would “divide opinion”.

However, he added “a line has been crossed” and he “cannot condone what has happened on this occasion”.

Clarkson was suspended on 10 March, following what was called a “fracas” with Oisin Tymon in a Yorkshire hotel.

The row was said to have occurred because no hot food was provided for him following a day’s filming.

An internal investigation began last week, led by Ken MacQuarrie, the director of BBC Scotland.

Tymon did not file a formal complaint and it is understood Clarkson reported himself to BBC bosses.

After that, the BBC’s director of television, Danny Cohen, felt he had no choice but to suspend the presenter pending an investigation.

The decision caused an outpouring of support from Top Gear fans, with more than a million people signing an online petition to reinstate him.