It’s my own silly fault I left BBC
Dropped Top Gear star admits blame is on him
PRESENTER Jeremy Clarkson yesterday said being dropped by Top Gear was his “own silly fault”.
He was speaking to Radio 2’s Chris Evans in his first interview since losing his job for hitting a producer.
Clarkson said he had “no idea” what his future held but hinted he would like to go back to the BBC.
When Evans suggested that Top Gear co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond still had a door open for a return, Clarkson insisted: “Well, so can I. I’m not sacked, remember.”
In a far cry from earlier disparaging remarks about the corporation, he said: “I like the BBC.
“There are some dreadful people in it but there are also some really talented and brilliant people.
“It is a great organisation, I’ll never complain about it. I thank them for giving me such a long time there.”
The comments were in stark contrast to his rant in March when he branded Beeb executives “f***ing b*******” for planning to sack him.
His contract was not renewed after he attacked producer Oisin Tymon because there was no hot food after a shoot.
Clarkson said: “It’s my own silly fault so I can hardly complain. I was at the BBC for 27 years, in the current incarnation for 12, and Top Gear was very much my baby.
“Then suddenly you are not asked to do that any more and you do feel there’s a big hole that needs to be filled.”
Clarkson, 54, insisted he had not had any meetings about what he could do next, despite going to the house of ITV boss Peter Fincham earlier this month and reports of talks with Netflix. He said he had only been “listening”.
Clarkson left for the first date of the show’s live tour yesterday. It has been renamed Clarkson, Hammond and May Live.