Jeremy Clarkson’s final scenes in Top Gear will be screened later this year, according to the boss of BBC2.

Kim Shillinglaw said the scenes filmed before Clarkson was suspended were likely to air this summer. She said: “They simply weren’t able to shoot enough material,” but added: “No way would I want the available material not to be seen by viewers.”

Asked about drafting in a woman to replace him, she said: “I worked a lot with female presenters and when I used to work in science that was something across the piste that I really wanted to tackle, but I don’t think I’ve ever approached an individual show thinking that was the way I want to cast it, so I think it’s an open book on that.”

The star was suspended by the BBC last month when he became the subject of an internal investig-ation after he attacked Top Gear producer Tymon, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him.

Clarkson has said he is already thinking about his next television project.

''I have lost my baby but I shall create another.”