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Top Gear: BBC in multimillion-pound James May and Richard Hammond bid Top Gear: BBC in multimillion-pound James May and Richard Hammond bid
(about 1 hour later)
The BBC has made a multimillion-pound bid to keep James May and Richard Hammond on Top Gear following the axing of Jeremy Clarkson.The BBC has made a multimillion-pound bid to keep James May and Richard Hammond on Top Gear following the axing of Jeremy Clarkson.
BBC2 chiefs are understood to want May and Hammond to remain on the show alongside a different guest presenter each week.BBC2 chiefs are understood to want May and Hammond to remain on the show alongside a different guest presenter each week.
Such a move would scupper the three presenters reuniting on a rival motoring show on another channel, but could pave the way for Clarkson to return as a presenter on a future series.Such a move would scupper the three presenters reuniting on a rival motoring show on another channel, but could pave the way for Clarkson to return as a presenter on a future series.
Both BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw and the BBC’s creative director, Alan Yentob, have repeatedly stressed that the door was always open for Clarkson to return to the corporation at some point in the future.Both BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw and the BBC’s creative director, Alan Yentob, have repeatedly stressed that the door was always open for Clarkson to return to the corporation at some point in the future.
“Jeremy will be back on the BBC,” Shillinglaw said in April. “It is serious and unfortunate what happened but there is no ban on Jeremy being on the BBC. Jeremy … needs some time out.”“Jeremy will be back on the BBC,” Shillinglaw said in April. “It is serious and unfortunate what happened but there is no ban on Jeremy being on the BBC. Jeremy … needs some time out.”
She also refused to rule out a return for Hammond and May.She also refused to rule out a return for Hammond and May.
Related: Top Gear return for May and Hammond not ruled out by BBC2 chiefRelated: Top Gear return for May and Hammond not ruled out by BBC2 chief
“Conversations are ongoing with James and Richard about a whole variety of projects at the BBC. While those conversations are on-going, they have to remain private,” she said. “Conversations are ongoing with James and Richard about a whole variety of projects at the BBC. While those conversations are ongoing, they have to remain private,” she said.
The BBC is thought to have offered May and Hammond about £1m each to return to the show, about double what they previously earned. The BBC is thought to have offered May and Hammond about £1m each to return to the show, double what they previously earned.
It would catapult the pair into the corporation’s biggest earners, including Graham Norton, Gary Lineker and Radio 2 breakfast presenter, Chris Evans at a time when the BBC is under pressure to further cut talent costs. It would catapult the pair into the corporation’s biggest earners, who also include Graham Norton, Gary Lineker and Radio 2 breakfast presenter, Chris Evans, at a time when the BBC is under pressure to further cut talent costs.
Retaining May and Hammond on the show alongside a guest presenter would enable the programme to return with its format intact.Retaining May and Hammond on the show alongside a guest presenter would enable the programme to return with its format intact.
Clarkson could then return to the show on a future series, taking his old job back from the guest presenters.Clarkson could then return to the show on a future series, taking his old job back from the guest presenters.
Clarkson’s contract was not renewed after his “fracas” with a member of the production team, but he was not fired by the BBC as the presenter pointed out when he appeared on Chris Evans’s Radio 2 show last month. Clarkson’s contract was not renewed after his “fracas” with a member of the production team, but he was not fired by the BBC, as the presenter pointed out when he appeared on Chris Evans’s Radio 2 show last month.
When Evans said Hammond and May had an “open door” to work at the BBC, Clarkson replied: “Well so can I. I’m not sacked, remember.”When Evans said Hammond and May had an “open door” to work at the BBC, Clarkson replied: “Well so can I. I’m not sacked, remember.”
It remains to be seen if a series-long absence from the show would be regarded as sufficient punishment by corporation chiefs or viewers, many of whom would welcome Clarkson back with open arms.It remains to be seen if a series-long absence from the show would be regarded as sufficient punishment by corporation chiefs or viewers, many of whom would welcome Clarkson back with open arms.
Top Gear is one of the BBC’s most popular and valuable shows. As well as attracting 6 million viewers on BBC2 each week, it generates around £50m a year for the corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide.Top Gear is one of the BBC’s most popular and valuable shows. As well as attracting 6 million viewers on BBC2 each week, it generates around £50m a year for the corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide.
The trio reunited for the Top Gear live show, rebranded as Clarkson, Hammond and May Live.The trio reunited for the Top Gear live show, rebranded as Clarkson, Hammond and May Live.
The “guest presenter” role would echo the set-up on BBC1’s panel show Have I Got News For You, which has had a different presenter each week after the departure of Angus Deayton in 2002. The guest presenter role would echo the set-up on BBC1’s panel show Have I Got News For You, which has had a different presenter each week after the departure of Angus Deayton in 2002.
However, the guest presenting role on Top Gear appears on the surface to be rather more complicated, with the team shooting films over a period of several months rather than a one-off recording like Have I Got News For You. However, the role on Top Gear would appear to be rather more complicated, with the team shooting films over a period of several months rather than a one-off recording like Have I Got News For You.
Speculation has surrounded where the three would end up next after May appeared to rule out returning to the BBC2 show without Clarkson, saying it would be “lame” to do it with a “surrogate Jeremy”.Speculation has surrounded where the three would end up next after May appeared to rule out returning to the BBC2 show without Clarkson, saying it would be “lame” to do it with a “surrogate Jeremy”.
Related: Top Gear: James May rules out returning without Jeremy ClarksonRelated: Top Gear: James May rules out returning without Jeremy Clarkson
However, neither May or Hammond have said they were quitting the BBC. Although their contracts ran out in March at the same time as Clarkson, both men have various projects in the pipeline on BBC1 or BBC2. However, neither May nor Hammond have said they are quitting the BBC. Although their contracts ran out in March, at the same time as Clarkson, both men have various projects in the pipeline on BBC1 or BBC2.
The three men have been linked with a move to ITV, having met with the broadcaster’s director of television Peter Fincham last month, along with the programme’s former executive producer Andy Wilman, as well as a possible switch to US on-demand service Netflix.The three men have been linked with a move to ITV, having met with the broadcaster’s director of television Peter Fincham last month, along with the programme’s former executive producer Andy Wilman, as well as a possible switch to US on-demand service Netflix.
But any new show away from the BBC would not be able to use the Top Gear brand, which remains the property of the corporation.But any new show away from the BBC would not be able to use the Top Gear brand, which remains the property of the corporation.
There has also been speculation that Clarkson has a non-compete clause in his contract that would could put the brakes on a rival show.There has also been speculation that Clarkson has a non-compete clause in his contract that would could put the brakes on a rival show.
Asked if Clarkson could return to the BBC, the BBC’s creative director Alan Yentob said in March: “Of course I wouldn’t rule that out, but that’s not for now.” And on the possibility that Hammond and May would stay, he said: “I hope so.”Asked if Clarkson could return to the BBC, the BBC’s creative director Alan Yentob said in March: “Of course I wouldn’t rule that out, but that’s not for now.” And on the possibility that Hammond and May would stay, he said: “I hope so.”
A spokeswoman for Top Gear said the corporation did not comment on speculation.A spokeswoman for Top Gear said the corporation did not comment on speculation.