James May and Richard Hammond put the brakes on hosting Top Gear without Jeremy Clarkson
Top Gear co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May have reportedly refused to continue filming the show in the absence of suspended chief presenter Jeremy Clarkson.
Amid speculation the BBC was looking for a new host, May and Hammond have reportedly stated they will not continue making the show if Clarkson leaves following his alleged bust up with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon.
A BBC producer asked the duo if they could consider hosting the show, however the future of the show remains in doubt after Clarkson earlier this week attacked the corporation for likening his behaviour to that of serial sex offender Jimmy Saville.
A BBC source told the Mirror: “They didn’t want to do it without Jeremy so the talks didn’t get off the ground. There is a feeling that it is all of them or none of them.
“We must play everything with a straight bat but it is very frustrating while Clarkson’s friends continue to pour pressure on the BBC. Danny [Cohen BBC director] is getting on with his job as best he can but it is not easy.”
The organisation, which is currently hosting an internal investigation into the incident, saw Clarkson and allegedly assaulted producer Tymon give their accounts to Ken MacQuarrie, head of BBC Scotland, who is running the investigation, earlier this week.