Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond today held talks with Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman - just hours before it was sensationally announced he had quit the BBC.

The resignation marks another blow for the hugely-popular show, which has been marred by uncertainty since Clarkson was axed last month following a 'fracas' with a producer.

It means Mr Wilman, a childhood friend of Clarkson who helped revamp Top Gear into the Corporation's most successful programme, is now free to reunite with the team on a rival channel.

There is widespread speculation that the men are working on a new motoring series to be aired by Netflix, Amazon or another British broadcaster - in what would be a nightmare scenario for the BBC.

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Back together: Jeremy Clarkson (left) is seen with his Top Gear colleagues James May (centre) and Richard Hammond (right) outside his west London flat, in their first public appearance since he was sacked

Discussions: Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman (front centre) was also present at the meeting today, just hours before it was sensationally announced he had quit the BBC, in what is another blow for the show

Presenters: May had earlier said the BBC would be 'stupid' to try a version of the hit motoring show with 'a surrogate Jeremy', Richard Hammond and himself - adding that the idea was a ‘non-starter’

Something to smile about? The presenter looked in high spirits as he left the property with Mr Wilman. A BBC spokesman would not comment on the producer's resignation other than to confirm it

Put it there: Hammond and Clarkson shake hands as they part ways on a west London street

The men were photographed today outside Clarkson's home in west London - their first public appearance together since the presenter was dropped from Top Gear - before moving on to a pub.

Earlier today, May ruled out returning to Top Gear without Clarkson, insisting it would be 'lame' with a new presenter in place of his sacked co-host.

The 52-year-old said the BBC would be ‘stupid’ to try a version of the programme with 'a surrogate Jeremy', Hammond and himself - adding that the idea was a ‘non-starter’.

His comments mean that if the show does return next year, it will likely be with an entirely new presenting team. Both May and Hammond saw their contracts finish last month.

Casual: Speaking today, May, pictured tonight, said he had just been 'having a pint' with his co-stars

May told The Guardian: ‘Me and Hammond with a surrogate Jeremy is a non-starter, it just wouldn’t work. That would be lame, or “awks” as young people say.

‘It has to be the three of us. You can’t just put a surrogate Jeremy in and expect it to carry on. It would be forced. I don’t believe they would be stupid enough to try that.

‘It doesn’t mean I won’t go back - we may all go back in the future. It might just be we have a break from it. I don’t know. It would be a bloody tough call to do Top Gear without Jeremy.’

Former X Factor host Dermot O'Leary, model Jodie Kidd and Great British Bake Off host Sue Perkins have all been named as possible replacements for Clarkson.

Speaking after the meeting today, May said he had just been 'having a pint' with his co-stars and Mr Wilman, adding that he still didn't know what he would do in the future.

This evening, a BBC spokeswoman confirmed that Mr Wilman, Top Gear's longstanding executive producer and Clarkson's right-hand man, had handed bosses his resignation.

She would not say whether or not the decision was related to the outspoken presenter.

It comes just weeks after an email from Mr Wilman to colleagues titled 'au revoir' was leaked.

In the email, the 52-year-old, who has made millions from the show, congratulated staff on making 'one of the most iconic programmes in TV history'.

'At least we left 'em wanting more. And that alone, when you think about it, is quite an achievement for a show that started 13 years ago,' he wrote.

After the email was leaked, Mr Wilman announced publicly that it had not been a resignation.

The revelations today come after BBC2 boss Kim Shillinglaw, who has been tasked with finding a replacement for Clarkson on Top Gear, said the presenter ‘will be back on the BBC’ at some point.

Leaving: Hammond arrived at the flat first, before May came in a BMW car - followed by Mr Wilman's arrival

Waving: It comes a day after BBC2 boss Kim Shillinglaw, who has been tasked with finding a replacement for Clarkson (left) on Top Gear, said the 55-year-old presenter ‘will be back on the BBC’ at some point

Keeping mum: The group has not yet revealed whether it will work together on another car programme

Miss Shillinglaw also confirmed Clarkson's final Top Gear scenes will be screened later this year and she was not thinking of his replacement ‘in terms of gender’.

Clarkson was sacked by the BBC after an ‘unprovoked physical and verbal’ attack in North Yorkshire that left his victim, Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, in need of hospital treatment.

The star was suspended last month when he became the subject of an internal BBC investigation after he attacked Mr Tymon, 36, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him.

Clarkson's contract was not renewed, with director-general Tony Hall saying at the time 'a line has been crossed' and 'there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another'.

Hosts: Clarkson (centre - with fellow presenters Richard Hammond, left, and May, right) was sacked by the BBC after an ‘unprovoked physical and verbal’ attack that left his victim in need of hospital treatment

Victim: Clarkson was suspended last month when he became the subject of an internal BBC investigation after he attacked Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon (pictured), 36, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him

Clarkson said he considered turning his back on presenting altogether in the immediate fall-out from the incident, but has since stated that he expects to present another TV show on cars in the future.

Earlier this month, North Yorkshire Police said that following an investigation Clarkson would face no further police action over his attack on the producer at a hotel in Hawes.

Meanwhile, Clarkson revealed in a newspaper column earlier this month that he was told by a doctor that he might have cancer, two days before assaulting Mr Tymon.

Top Gear - which is said to generate about £50million a year for BBC Worldwide - is viewed by more than six million viewers on BBC2 and watched in more than 200 countries.