‘It Is Not A Decision I Have Taken Lightly’ – BBC Confirm They Have Sacked Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy Clarkson has been fired by the BBC following an altercation with a Top Gear producer. Speculation grew last night that the popular presenter's future with the British broadcaster was hanging in the balance, after he was suspended due to a row over catering with Irish producer Oisín Tymon. The BBC has now issued a statement confirming that Clarkson's contract will not be renewed, with Director General Tony Hall adding that the decision was made with "great regret". "It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract. It is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have done so only after a very careful consideration of the facts and after personally meeting both Jeremy and Oisin Tymon," he said. "Given the obvious and very genuine public interest in this I am publishing the findings of his report. I take no pleasure in doing so. I am only making them public so people can better understand the background. I know how popular the programme is and I also know that this decision will divide opinion. The main facts are not disputed by those involved." Hall continued to say that after reviewing the evidence and interviewing victims he came to the conclusion that "Oisin Tymon was subject to an unprovoked physical and verbal attack by Jeremy Clarkson". "The physical attack lasted around 30 seconds and was halted by the intervention of a witness," he continued, adding that "the verbal abuse was directed at Oisin Tymon on more than one occasion" and "contained the strongest expletives and threats to sack him." The investigation also found that "The abuse was at such a volume as to be heard in the dining room", with Tymon "shocked and distressed and believed he had lost his job" The full findings of the investigation have been published online. Hall added that while the BBC needed "distinctive and different voices", they "cannot come at any price" and paid tribute to Clarkson's contribution to the insitution. "I cannot condone what has happened on this occasion. A member of staff – who is a completely innocent party – took himself to Accident and Emergency after a physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature. For me a line has been crossed. "Obviously none of us wanted to find ourselves in this position. This decision should in no way detract from the extraordinary contribution that Jeremy Clarkson has made to the BBC. I have always personally been a great fan of his work and Top Gear. Jeremy is a huge talent. He may be leaving the BBC but I am sure he will continue to entertain, challenge and amuse audiences for many years to come." The BBC is now looking to renew Top Gear for 2016, which Hall admitted "will be a big challenge and there is no point in pretending otherwise".