Clarkson drives new BBC deal to stay at Top Gear

Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have signed a new commercial deal that effectively ensures they will stay on the show for at least three more years.

They, along with the show’s executive producer Andy Wilman, have agreed new deals with BBC Worldwide, the corporation’s commercial wing, for undisclosed sums.

The new arrangements see Worldwide taking full control of a joint venture it had with Clarkson and Wilman, for which the duo previously had a 50 per cent stake between them. When the pair held their share of the venture, they received annual dividends. Clarkson’s most recent was £2.7 million, leading to speculation that he will be heavily compensated for giving up such a large payout.