Jeremy Clarkson will appear on stage with his former Top Gear colleagues later this year to fulfil a series of gigs planned before the BBC sacked him for an attack on one of the show’s producers.
The gigs will be stripped of all BBC branding and content and billed as Clarkson, Hammond and May Live.
That means the shows, which will take in venues as far afield as Australia, Norway, South Africa and the UK, will not be able to use clips from the show or feature The Stig.
A BBC Worldwide spokesman said: “So as not to disappoint the thousands of people around the world who have already purchased tickets, BBC Worldwide has agreed with our joint venture partner Brand Events that the remainder of the tour can continue. These events will not however feature any BBC Top Gear branding or content. We believe this is a sensible approach in the circumstances.”
These events will not however feature any BBC Top Gear branding or content
Some of the dates have already had to be rescheduled and tour organisers believe it may not even make a profit by the time those costs have been taken into account.
The move is likely to spark rumours that the three men intend to team up to continue their careers together after Clarkson’s exit from the corporation, but sources close to the tour say it is just a matter of fulfilling commitments to the fans.
On Tuesday, Top Gear producer Andy Wilman – regarded as central to the show’s success – had to deny reports he has quit the hit show in the wake of Clarkson’s sacking.
Meanwhile, police are still investigating threats to kill BBC director-general Tony Hall, reportedly linked to his decision to axe Clarkson.
Scotland Yard confirmed it was looking into allegations made when Hall confirmed he would not be renewing Clarkson’s contract because of his unprovoked attack on producer Oison Tymon at a North Yorkshire hotel.
The Mail on Sunday reported that the director-general and wife Cynthia had been under 24-hour guard since the threat was received.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police in Westminster are investigating an allegation of threats to kill. The allegation was reported to police on Wednesday, March 25. Inquiries continue. No arrests have been made.”
Hall, former chief executive of the Royal Opera House, took over the £450,000 BBC post in April 2013 to replace George Entwistle, who left the corporation in the wake of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal.
Last Wednesday, he announced that Clarkson, a popular but divisive figure during his time at the hugely successful BBC2 motoring show, would not be retained, saying “a line has been crossed” and “there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another”.
Tymon had his lip split by Clarkson in a 30-second assault on March 4 and took himself to hospital with his injuries. He was also shouted at by the former Top Gear presenter in a torrent of verbal abuse.
Clarkson reported the incident to the BBC five days later and was suspended on March 10.