Jeremy Clarkson: Reporters chase presenter after Top Gear sacking

Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson was chased down by reporters as he cycled through a London neighbourhood on 25 March, hours after the BBC announced it dropped him for physically attacking a producer.

The fate of 54-year-old Clarkson, a man who built a global fan base while repeatedly causing offence with strongly worded views, had been the subject of feverish speculation in Britain and beyond since he was suspended on 10 March following what the publicly funded broadcaster initially described as a fracas.

Releasing more details on Wednesday 25 March, the BBC said Clarkson had struck producer Oisin Tymon, resulting in swelling and bleeding to his lip, and also subjected him to prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature. Tymon later went to hospital.

Im um ... Im off out, sorry, Clarkson muttered when a reporter asked him how he was feeling.

Earlier on Wednesday, Tony Hall, the BBCs director-general, had announced the decision in a statement.

It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract.

For me a line has been crossed. There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated either by rank, or public relations and commercial considerations, Hall added.

Top Gear, which is aired in more than 200 countries, is one of the BBCs biggest money spinners with sales worth some £50m ($74.4m) a year for its commercial arm.

Those Clarkson has offended over the years include environmental groups, mental health and disability charities, cyclists, truck drivers, Indians, Germans, Mexicans and Argentinians. Many supporters see him as victim of a politically correct culture too eager to take offence.

Police in North Yorkshire, where the incident took place, said they had asked the BBC for its detailed findings. Police would then assess the information and take action where necessary, a statement said.

Speculation has already appeared in British media that Clarkson could be snapped up by a rival broadcaster or by an Internet television network such as Netflix.