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| Jeremy Clarkson could quit the BBC over the Top Gear fracas, it has been claimed. |
There are three episodes left in the show's 22nd season. BBC news special correspondent Lucy Manning speculated that none of the remaining episodes, scheduled for March 15, March 22, and March 29, will be broadcast.
In fact, the episode of "Top Gear" that aired on Sunday, March 8, may turn out to be the last of Clarkson's BBC career. The Radio Times reports, citing a source close to the presenter, that he is "considering quitting."
The Radio Times reported that Clarkson may quit the motoring show even if he is cleared of the allegations, putting an end to a BBC career that started back in 1998. Clarkson has only taken a break from "Top Gear" when the BBC was working on a new version of the show between 2000 and 2002.
If Clarkson does quit "Top Gear," it would be a big financial blow for the BBC. "Top Gear" is one of the network's most popular shows and is broadcast abroad to 350 million people every week. Most importantly, "Top Gear" brings about £150 million in global sales the BBC and, according to The Telegraph, Clarkson is simply too valuable to be sacked.
The Radio Times also gave further insight into exactly what happened on Tuesday: Clarkson allegedly started throwing punches after he found out there was no food available after a day's filming.
The article also names Clarkson's alleged victim, BBC presenter Oisin Tymon. As soon as Tymon's name was reported, Clarkson fans took to Twitter to express their support for Clarkson.
Clarkson told his friends he did not punch Tymon, the Radio Times said, although he admitted there were some "handbags and pushing" over the incident.
A petition to ask the BBC to bring Clarkson back to work, meanwhile, reached more than 300,000 signatures on Change.org.