Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson fired after punching a producer

Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson
(Image credit: Mike Flokis/Getty Images)

Following an incident in which Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson reportedly punched producer Oisin Tymon during filming, the BBC has announced that Clarkson will not be invited to return as host after his contract expires at the end of the month.

"It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract," said the BBC's Tony Hall in a statement. "It is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have done so only after a very careful consideration of the facts and after personally meeting both Jeremy and Oisin Tymon."

The BBC's investigation revealed that Tymon was the victim of "an unprovoked verbal and physical attack" by Clarkson. The physical attack was interrupted after 30 seconds by an unspecified witness.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

"I know how popular the program is and I also know that this decision will divide opinion," said Hall. "The main facts are not disputed by those involved."

Explore More

Scott Meslow is the entertainment editor for TheWeek.com. He has written about film and television at publications including The Atlantic, POLITICO Magazine, and Vulture.