If Jeremy Clarkson's sacking on Top Gear (it's OK to like that show, honest) and the subsequent unfathomable defence of him by a series of high profile figures including the prime minister and a million other people has got you down in the doldrums, then we have the perfect tonic.

The BBC has announced that instead of a direct replacement for Clarkson and co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond, a series of guest presenters will feature in a new series, with the first episode to be presented by none other than... Alan Partridge.

Yes, the wishes of tens of thousands of signatories have somehow been realised, with the Beeb finally granting Partridge's brilliant work on Crash! Bang! Wallop! (What a video) the recognition it deserves.

Filming on a new series begins today, and other guest presenters are due to be announced in due course. Other fictional characters on the BBC's radar include Jim Davidson and Mr Bean.

Did we fool you? As much as we would like it to be true, this was just an hilarious April Fools' Day joke. Sorry to everyone involved.