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(Image: Splash)

ITV bosses have swooped in for Top Gear, with all three presenters attending a secret rendezvous at the home of channel director Peter Fincham this week.

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May arrived for the meeting at Fincham’s house in west London on Wednesday evening.

Also present were the show’s executive producer Andy Wilman – a long-term friend of Clarkson’s who quit the BBC last month – and ITV entertainment boss Elaine Bedell, a former colleague of Clarkson.

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The move comes after ITV insiders previously insisted there were “no plans” to enter into negotiations with Clarkson.

The channel’s position is believed to have shifted once it became clear that both Hammond and May would be leaving Top Gear too, along with Wilman.

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The former Top Gear team are believed to also be negotiating with a streaming service, such as Netflix or Amazon.

But a move to ITV would be good news for viewers, because it would mean the show – which would have to be renamed – would be free rather than part of a subscription service.

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ITV has struggled with audience share and ratings this year and Top Gear has built up a loyal audience of 6 million. Like Clarkson, Fincham used to work at the BBC but lost his job after a gaffe.

In his case he was blamed for a programme teaser which appeared to show the Queen storming out of a meeting with a photographer, when she hadn’t.

BBC bosses have made it clear that they plan to relaunch Top Gear with new presenters. They were keen to retain Hammond and May in the wake of Clarkson’s dismissal, but the pair have opted to leave, with Hammond stating: “I’m not quitting my mates.”

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The ITV meeting this week is believed to be the first involving the trio of presenters – prior to this discussions had involved just Wilman.

Bedell joined ITV in 2009 having previously worked as head of factual entertainment at the BBC – where Top Gear fell under her remit.

She has known the controversial TV star a long time, having been the producer of his BBC2 interview show, entitled simply Clarkson, which ran for three series from 1998.

(Image: BBC)

The pair were pictured sharing a kiss in a car in 2000 and were then photographed in a late night embrace again a few years later.

Clarkson lost his job at the BBC in March, three weeks after he punched Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon during a so-called “fracas” about a hot meal.

Last night an ITV spokesman said: "We haven't commented, and aren't planning to comment, on the continual Top Gear speculation which is swirling around the television industry."