Jeremy Clarkson may return to BBC after all with reports that the controversial host is in negotiations to front the Top Gear Live world tour.
Just last week, Jeremy Clarkson was given the pink slip after being involved in a highly publicized fracas with one of the show's producers, Oisin Tymon after an issue over a hot meal. After some internal investigations, it was confirmed that Clarkson had indeed punched Tymon in a 30-second physical assault leading to Clarkson's contract not being renewed.
However BBC finds itself staring at pretty hefty (and possibly disastrous) £10m liability if they were to cancel the Top Gear Live Tour. If that happens, they would be liable in refunding tickets to fans who paid between £35 and £200 for tickets to the said live show.
At the moment, BBC has announced that there are no cancelled shows for now. But they did also add that they are carefully studying the implications of Clarkson's contract not being renewed by the network.
Despite the issue, Live Nation plans to go ahead with the said tour although there could be forced changes. One is to rebrand, meaning that they may have to change the tour's name. But this would only ensue if BBC and Clarkson fail to come to a settlement.
Clarkson has two other co-presenters in James Mays and Richard Hammond. If the tour would be forced to rebrand, the tour could reportedly be renamed to Clarkson, May and Hammond Live or MPH Live, as reported by the Sunday Mirror.
Aside from that, it should be noted that Top Gear has not been officially cancelled. With Clarkson out, there is a big chance that Mays and Hammond could pick off from Clarkson. The two are said to be in talks with BBC for a planned version of Top Gear in 2016.
For Clarkson, his stint with Top Gear is still up in the air. However, he will still be appearing on BBC to host another show, Have I Got News for You.
