If true, it would mean Hammond and May are moving away from a two-year deal with the BBC said to be worth 4.6 million pounds each. That deal, it is understood, would have seen May and Hammond remaining with the show and working alongside a weekly guest presenter.

New reports suggests the three Top Gear hosts will relaunch the show on Netflix.

According to the Mirror's source, the three hosts are "all very excited at the prospect of having total editorial control over their new show, to make it and get it distributed"

"It would be groundbreaking and also incredible [sic] lucrative. They would stand to earn much, much more than they would with the BBC."

The BBC announced in March that it would not be renewing Clarkson's contract after 12 years with Top Gear following the presenter's attack on producer Oisin Tymon.