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Jeremy Clarkson is on the verge of completing a very tricky manoeuvre – bagging a new deal to host Top Gear despite a storm of controversy.

The star and co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May are close to agreeing a three-year contract renewal with the BBC.

Their current deal ends in April.

High-profile gaffes last year led to demands for Jeremy and the long-running BBC2 show to be axed.

But a source said: “All indications are that the contract with BBC Worldwide will be renewed shortly and is likely to run for three years.”

It comes as BBC Director-General Lord Hall backed the show today.

Asked if he should pull the plug on the “embarrassment”, he told the Radio Times: “It’s a programme loads of people love and it’s important the BBC doesn’t have just one voice.”

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The 22nd season of the show began on Sunday with bumper ratings.

Jeremy, who receives £1million to host the series, plus a seven-figure fee from BBC Worldwide, was in hot water last year during the “eeny, meeny, miny, moe” disaster, in which he muttered the N-word.

Ofcom later found the BBC broke broadcasting rules by showing Jeremy, 54, making a racial slur – referring to an Asian man as a “slope”.

Top Gear then sparked a riot in Argentina over a number plate that locals believed was a Falklands War jibe.

Series producer Andy Wilman admitted this month that it had been a “horrible year” for the show.

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