The “Top Gear” host was suspended indefinitely and two of the three remaining editions of the current series were pulled from the schedules after he reportedly got into a fight with a producer and tried to punch him in the face. According to multiple reports, the fracas occurred because Clarkson became enraged with producer Oisin Tymon when no hot food was available after a day’s filming.
The 54-year-old host had already received a “final warning” from the BBC for using a racist slur during filming last year.
Now the BBC could be liable for penalty payments — likely to run into millions of dollars — for failing to deliver the final episodes of the series on time, as well as having to renegotiate the original deal price for a full series, according to the Guardian.
“Top Gear” is one of the BBC’s biggest money spinners, generating an estimated $75 million a year and spawning merchandise, magazines, DVDs, live events and locally-produced versions in the U.S. and China.
“We are working on supplying international broadcast partners with alternative content,” said a spokesman for BBC Worldwide. The network will reportedly offer foreign broadcasters “Top Gear” programming that has not been aired before in their respective markets as a consolation.
Since it first aired in the U.K. in 2002, “Top Gear” has grown from a straightforward show about cars into a global phenomena watched by 350 million viewers in 170 countries. According to the New York Times, Clarkson is paid about $1.5 million a year to present the show, making him one of the BBC’s most highly-paid employees.
His latest transgression has caused ripple effects in England and the U.S., where “Top Gear” airs on BBC America and is one of the cable network’s highest-rated shows, with an average audience of 823,000 viewers in Nielsen’s live-plus-three ratings. It has also sparked a Change.org campaign, which already has 750,000 signatures.
Clarkson could walk away from the show when his contract runs out at the end of this month whatever the verdict of the BBC’s inquiry into the affair, and rival U.K. broadcasters are expected to swoop in to sign the controversial but popular host.
The politically incorrect presenter’s latest outburst came just days before Clarkson and co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond, were due to sign their new contracts for the new three years, negotiations of which have now been called off.
11 TV Shows Canceled by Controversy -- From 'Honey Boo Boo' to 'Politically Incorrect' (Photos)
Paula Deen’s Food Network shows - After admitting to using racial slurs, The Food Network severed their relationship with Deen and canceled her shows “Paula’s Home Cooking,” “Paula’s Best Dishes,” and “Paula’s Party.”
Food Network
“Politically Incorrect” – ABC pulled the plug on Bill Maher’s talk show after the host disagreed with President Bush calling the terrorists behind the September 11th attacks cowards. Maher asserted that the U.S. military response in the Middle East was cowardly, saying: “We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."
“Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” – TLC abruptly canceled the reality show after reports that June Shannon, mother to the young star of the series, was dating a convicted child molester.
TLC
“Ford Nation” – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s talk show, co-hosted by his brother Doug, lasted only one episode. The program premiered on the same day the Toronto City Council voted to strip Ford of most of his powers and budget.
Getty Images
“The Good Life” – CeeLo Green’s reality show was canned by TBS days after the musician pleaded no contest to a felony charge of giving a woman the drug ecstasy. He then tweeted: “People who have really been raped REMEMBER!!!”
Getty Images
“7th Heaven,” in syndication – Reruns of The WB series were pulled from UP TV after audio tapes surfaced of the show’s patriarchal star Stephen Collins admitting to child molestation.
The WB
CNN’s Hillary Clinton documentary – Director Charles Ferguson pulled out of the project after Democrats, Republicans and the Clintons themselves criticized the film. CNN Films then canceled their plans to move forward with the documentary.
Getty Images
“All My Babies' Mamas” – Oxygen was in the midst of developing a special featuring rapper Shawty Lo and his family of 11 children from 10 different women. An online petition to cancel the show led the cable channel to shelve the project.
Oxygen
“Buckwild” – MTV suspended production on the reality series following the death of cast member Shain Gandee. The 21-year-old was found dead of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
MTV
"Flip It Forward" – Twin brothers Jason and David Benham were set to star in their own HGTV series, but the network shut down those plans after learning about homophobic, anti-Muslim and anti-abortion statements they’d made in the past.
HGTV
1 of 11
All of these series had the plug pulled on them under less than ideal circumstances
Paula Deen’s Food Network shows - After admitting to using racial slurs, The Food Network severed their relationship with Deen and canceled her shows “Paula’s Home Cooking,” “Paula’s Best Dishes,” and “Paula’s Party.”