Presenter to make first TV appearance since being dropped from his BBC show, taking part in Channel 4 talkshow’s one-off 20th anniversary celebrations

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Jeremy Clarkson will make his TV return on Chris Evans’ Channel 4 show, TFI Friday – but Evans is not making a film for Top Gear.

Evans sparked an online frenzy on Sunday when he told Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch show that he was making a “secret Top Gear film”, fuelling speculation that the Radio 2 DJ would take over the BBC2 show.

Chris Evans 'making Top Gear film' Read more

But the BBC said on Monday that Evans was not making any film for Top Gear with its future still unclear.

Evans and Clarkson will appear together on TFI Friday when it returns to Channel 4 for a one-off 20th anniversary special this Friday that will also feature Liam Gallagher and Roger Daltrey in a TFI “supergroup”.



Evans, a petrolhead who has been among the favourites to take over from Clarkson on the BBC2 show, told Sunday Brunch presenter Tim Lovejoy: “Not started yet, but we are doing a secret Top Gear film on Tuesday.”



Lovejoy replied: “It’s not so secret now.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Chris Evans reveals ‘secret Top Gear film’ on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch

Evans went on: “It still will be, because nobody knows where it’s going to be. We’re making a Top Gear – we’re doing a Top Gear sequence with an independent production company and we’re going to see how it goes.”

Top Gear return may stall over how to replace Jeremy Clarkson Read more

But it is thought to be a Top Gear sequence only in the sense that it will feature Clarkson, axed from the show earlier this year after his assault on a producer.

Top Gear is made by the BBC’s in-house production team, and that is not expected to change when it returns next year.



It remains to be seen who will be at its helm, with presenters Richard Hammond and James May tipped not to return despite multi-million overtures from the BBC for them to present it alongside a different guest presenter each week.



The BBC confirmed that Evans was not making a film for Top Gear, but refused to comment further. A spokeswoman for Channel 4 declined to comment.



Evans’ comments prompted both Clarkson, May and Hammond to respond on Twitter with their own take on his remarks.



Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) Next week, I'm doing a pilot Radio 2 breakfast show with an independent production company. We'll see how it goes.

James May (@MrJamesMay) I'm working on a new TV idea, with an independent production company, called TFI Thursday. We'll see how it goes.

Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) Next week I'm doing a pilot of The Two Show on Fridays with an independent production company. We'll see how it goes

All three men’s contracts ran out earlier this year and the BBC refused to renew Clarkson’s after his much-publicised attack.



Andy Wilman, Top Gear’s former executive producer – and an old school friend of Clarkson – has left the show, which sparked rumours he was joining up with all three men to make an alternative programme, with Netflix and ITV among the broadcasters rumoured to be in the running to screen it.



Clarkson’s appearance on TFI Friday will be his first TV appearance since he was dropped from the show.



He has appeared on Evans’ Radio 2 breakfast show, but dropped out of a planned appearance on BBC1’s Have I Got News For You just weeks after the BBC decided not to renew his contract.

