Jeremy Clarkson met with co-star James May and Top Gear boss Andy Wilman in a secret meeting, as the trio continue to plot their next career move.

Clarkson, 54, is said to be weighing up his options after being dropped from the BBC yesterday for punching producer Oisin Tymon.

Mr May and fellow co-star Richard Hammond are both expected to leave the show with him, after claiming the trio ‘come as a package’.

However, in a hint that the Top Gear contingent may be planning to work together again, they were spotted together – minus Mr Hammond who lives in Herefordshire – following a secret meeting in London.

It came as it emerged DIY SOS star Nick Knowles may be in the driving seat to be the next presenter of Top Gear because the BBC believe he is a 'safe pair of hands'.

Scroll down for video

Jeremy Clarkson, 54, who was dropped from the BBC yesterday for punching Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, was spotted on his bike in west London today following a meeting with James May and Andy Wilman

Clarkson was dropped back to his bicycle by driver Andy Wilman - the executive producer of Top Gear - and co-star James May (together above) today. The trio had a secret meeting, perhaps to plot their next move

Top Gear boss Andy Wilman was spotted leaving Clarkson's west London flat last night following the announcement that the TV presenter had been unceremoniously dropped from the BBC over the 'fracas'

Clarkson has been spotted out and about on his bike several time since the news of his sacking emerged

Clarkson was spotted being dropped back to his trusty bicycle in west London by driver Mr Wilman and passenger Mr May following the meet-up.

It is not yet known where they met to discuss their plans, but Mr May gave the biggest hint yet that he has no plans to return to Top Gear after suggesting he is to ‘go back to normal life.’

Speaking outside his home today, the presenter admitted he was already considering what to do next with his life - and suggested he might even ditch cars to become a teacher.

He said: 'I might want to do something completely different with my life, I'm quite old now. (I might do) something outside of cars, I always wanted to be a teacher.'

He also seemed to confirm speculation that he would leave the top-rating programme.

Hinting that the show had reached the end of the road, he said: 'We always knew it wasn't going to last forever'.

The apparent show of solidarity comes after insiders revealed that Mr Wilman, the executive producer who created the show's format with Clarkson, and Hammond will also refuse to make any further episodes without the former frontman.

Last night, following the announcement that Clarkson had been dropped by the corporation, Mr Wilman could be seen leaving his close friend's apartment.

Mr May added today that he would 'not necessarily' be returning to Top Gear.

He said: 'I always said that on the day it ends for me I'll have to be magnanimous and look back and say "well that was a stroke of luck, now back to normal life", and that seems to have happened.

'We did it for 12 years. It's a very big moment in our lives, but nothing was going to last forever. We always knew it wasn't going to last forever. We just didn't know how it was going to end.

'So here I go, I'm about to eat some beans and go back to my normal life.'

James May, pictured today outside his west London home on his way to the cash point, said he might quit Top Gear to become a teacher

The show's co-presenter, pictured today as he went to buy cigarettes, said the team knew the show 'wouldn't last forever' and that he was preparing to return to 'normal life'

May (left) has hinted he will quit the show while insiders say Richard Hammond (right) is also due to leave

Speaking about the sacking decision, he added: 'It was a very harsh one, but I think they were probably forced.

'I don't actually know the entire story. A lot of people are making judgements about it, but they don't know the full story either so I don't know.

'This only happened yesterday. We have to spend a lot of time thinking about what we do next.'

Clarkson was dropped by the BBC after an internal investigation found he had launched an 'unprovoked' 30-second physical attack on producer Oisin Tymon because he was offered a plate of cold cuts instead of steak and chips.

Yesterday, Lord Hall, the director-general of the corporation, publicly announced that the BBC would not be renewing Clarkson's contract, saying he had 'crossed the line'.

North Yorkshire Police today revealed it had spoken to 'potential witnesses' over the Clarkson 'fracas' saying it had 'a duty to investigate where we believe an offence might have been committed'.

Following the sacking, the BBC's creative director Alan Yentob last night made it clear he wanted May and Hammond to continue presenting the show without Clarkson.

But both co-stars - who could even be offered Clarkson's role - have now separately hinted that they could leave the show behind.

Keeping quiet: James May said that he, Clarkson and Richard Hammond 'come as a package', suggesting all three will now leave the BBC show

BBC's creative director Alan Yentob said it was 'perfectly natural' for Hammond and May to have reservations about continuing Top Gear without their co-star Jeremy Clarkson

Mr May said yesterday that the trio 'came as a package', while Hammond - not ruling out a return - said the move marked 'the end of an era'.

The Times also reports that the duo, along with Mr Wilman, will refuse to make any further episodes now that Clarkson has been scrapped.

The news has put the future of the show into doubt, prompting mounting speculation about who could take over the reins.

The BBC has said Top Gear will return in 2016, but recognises that it will be a ‘big challenge’ to find Clarkson’s replacement.

We always knew it wasn't going to last forever. We just didn't know how it was going to end James May

All three men had been offered new three-year deals with the BBC, which were due to start at the end of this month. But after news emerged of the 'fracas', the renewal of all the contracts was put on hold pending an investigation.

Last night, Mr Yentob said that, although he hoped the pair would stay on the show, he admitted the trio were 'very attached'.

He also told the Media Show that it was 'perfectly natural' for the pair to have reservations about continuing Top Gear without Clarkson.

He said: 'It's perfectly natural for them. They are a team they have worked together for a very long time, they are all very attached.

'If Jeremy is not in it and Richard and James are, that needs to be a conversation with them as well. They need to be happy about what's going on and where they think the programme needs to be.'

He added: 'The question of what happens next for Top Gear is a conversation which must go on between the controller of BBC2 Kim Shillinglaw, between Andy (Wilman - producer of Top Gear) and the team.'

Support: Richard Hammond tweeted that it was a 'sad end to an era' in hint that all three will leave the BBC

End of an era: James May hinted he could leave the BBC show after changing his to say he was a 'former TV presenter'. Clarkson also changed his Twitter biography to say he 'used to be a presenter on Top Gear'

And asked outright whether the pair would stay working for the show, he said: 'I hope so'.

But speaking to reporters yesterday, May appeared to suggest he would follow Clarkson out of the BBC.

Asked if he will stay at Top Gear, May said: 'Erm, well I don't want to talk about that too much but I think we are very much the three of us as a package.

'It works for very complicated reasons that a lot of people don't fully understand. So that will require a lot of careful thought.'

Alan Yentob, BBC's creative director, has insisted Top Gear has a future and says he wants May and Hammond to continue working with the show

He added: 'I'm sure Top Gear will continue in some way. It existed before us and it has been reformatted several times.'

Asked about a possible replacement for Clarkson and who he would like to work with, he said: 'Much as I think he's a k**b I quite like working with Jeremy.'

He also commented: 'I don't really have anything to say about it. It's a tragedy. I'm sorry that what ought to have been a small incident sorted out easily has turned into something big.'

May also changed his Twitter biography to describe himself as a 'former TV presenter.'

An official statement from his agent later added that May's involvement in the show reuiqres 'much thought and deliberation'.

They said: 'James was disappointed to hear that the BBC will not be renewing Jeremy's contract, however understands that it will have been a difficult deliberation all round and respects the decision.

'As to the future of Top Gear, it existed before its current format and will no doubt continue to do so. James' involvement in that future requires much thought, deliberation and conversation between many people, and at this moment further speculation on that is not useful.

'James will be making no further comment at this time.'

Meanwhile, Hammond - who has otherwise remained silent on the issue - also commented that all three presenters were 'idiots in our different ways' but they had had 'an incredible ride.'

He tweeted: 'Gutted at such a sad end to an era. We're all three of us idiots in our different ways but it's been an incredible ride together.'

Today, Hammond's website, which gives details of his career and which was working earlier this week, could not be accessed.

May fronts several other TV programmes, including the popular James May's Toy Stories, James May's Man Lab and Oz and James' Big Wine Adventure with wine expert Oz Clarke.

Hammond has a successful career as a children’s television host, fronting the second series of National Geographic's Science of Stupid. He also hosted BBC1’s physical game show Total Wipeout and the CBBC series Blast Lab before they were axed.

Clarkson, May and Hammond were scheduled to take part in four live Top Gear shows in Norway this week, but it was announced on Sunday that they had been postponed.

Lord Hall also added yesterday that the BBC wanted to 'bring Top Gear back in good shape'

A spokesman for the BBC declined to comment on the future of May and Hammond.