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Top Gear return: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May reportedly attend 'secret rendezvous' at ITV director's home

Fans are eager for the presenting trio to reboot the motoring banter soon

Jess Denham
Friday 08 May 2015 06:27 EDT
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Former Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are rumoured to be talking to rival broadcasters
Former Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are rumoured to be talking to rival broadcasters (Getty Images)

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The futures of both Top Gear and its former presenters remain unknown, much to the frustration of fans, but new reports suggest that Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have been holding “secret rendezvous” with rival broadcasters.

Rumours have tipped the trio for a move to Netflix or Amazon, which viewers would have to pay to watch as subscribers. But now, The Mirror has thrown ITV into the mix, with the men allegedly seen at director Peter Fincham’s home earlier this week.

Ex-Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman was also reported to have been there, along with ITV entertainment boss and former colleague of Clarkson, Elaine Bedell.

BBC director general Tony Hall decided against renewing Clarkson’s contract with the BBC in March, after a “fracas” over a lack of hot food left a Top Gear producer in A&E.

Hammond, May and Wilman opted not to return to the hit motoring show soon afterwards, with May refusing to work with a “surrogate Jeremy”.

ITV is yet to respond to our request for comment, but has reportedly said there are “no plans” to discuss a new programme with the presenters.

Clarkson, meanwhile, seems hopeful of a new job soon. The 55-year-old posted a picture of a yellow Chevrolet Corvette Stingray on his Twitter profile with a caption reading: “I took this today…”.

Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans hinted on his show last week that the presenters had been talking with Brand Events, the company behind Top Gear Live, at Goodwood Motor Circuit, but this has not been confirmed and was denied by a spokesperson for the racing venue.

The Top Gear Live tour, rebranded as Clarkson, Hammond and May Live after the BBC scandal, begins in Belfast on 22 May.

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