LONDON—Jeremy Clarkson, the irascible British television presenter whose suspension as host of popular automotive series “Top Gear” led to street protests and mass petitions for his reinstatement, has been fired.

Mr. Clarkson’s employer, the British Broadcasting Corp., said Wednesday that it had decided to drop the star following an investigation into a physical and verbal altercation with producer Oisin Tymon after a day’s filming earlier this month.

“It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract,” said Tony Hall, the BBC’s director general.

In a report accompanying its investigation, the BBC said that Mr. Clarkson had struck Mr. Tymon after subjecting him to a sustained verbal attack.

Mr. Clarkson couldn’t be reached for comment, but he has updated his Twitter bio to read: “I used to be a presenter on the BBC2 motoring show, Top Gear.”