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BBC bosses are desperately trying to get Richard Hammond and James May to motor ahead with Top Gear after Jeremy Clarkson’s sacking.

The station has launched a charm offensive in a bid to keep the presenters, who chiefs think would encourage fans to stick with the embattled show.

Clarkson was the main man on Top Gear before he was axed over a clash with his producer. Now bosses are begging May and Hammond to take the wheel.

A source said: “Richard is a TV presenter and this could be his chance to become top dog – he’s been on the show a bit longer than James. That is a big opportunity to pass over.”

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Executives are giving Hammond, 45, and May, 52, some “calm time”.

When Clarkson, 54, was fired last month, May declared: “The three of us come as a package.”

But he and Hammond have since tweeted about being “unemployed” and “bored”.

And the fact they did not immediately resign has given bosses hope.

The source said: “It would be a great shame to lose all the talent in one go – re-booting it from scratch would be a far harder task than replacing one.”

Another insider said: “James and Richard are popular, everyone has their fingers crossed. Their roles would alter because of Jeremy’s absence but that’s not to say it couldn’t work. Far from it.”

Some believe they are remaining silent while waiting for bids from rival channels which may want to hire them as a trio.

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The three will be reunited for the first time in public next month, for the Top Gear Live shows.

As a result of Clarkson’s firing, the gigs are being renamed and will no longer carry BBC branding.

Filming on the next series of the BBC Two hit, which has a huge global following, would normally start shortly after.

Hammond and May’s Top Gear contracts expired at the end of last month, although prior to Clarkson’s “fracas” both had been close to clinching new three-year deals.

Clarkson hit producer Oisin Tymon on March 4, after arriving late to a hotel for work. He was furious that the kitchen had closed and he could not get a hot meal.