

The fate of Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson could be decided imminently according to one of the corporation’s senior executives who said the allegations had to be “dealt with in a very serious way”.

Clarkson has been left in limbo for two weeks since the BBC announced his suspension following what it described as “a fracas” with producer Oisin Tymon.

Clarkson and Tymon have given evidence to an internal BBC investigation, led by Ken MacQuarrie, into what happened and the star’s future is expected to be decided this week.

Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper said: “I think if my son or daughter went to a place of work where they were shouted at, abused and someone threw a punch at them, I would want there to be an inquiry and for that to be dealt with in a very serious way and that’s what the BBC is currently doing.”

Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said he thought a decision was “about 24 hours away”.

Clarkson, alongside co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond, was scheduled to take part in four live Top Gear shows in Norway this week, but it was announced on Sunday they had been postponed.

On the same day, Clarkson described his week as “turbulent” and claimed he was joking when he appeared to criticise BBC bosses during an expletive-laden rant at a charity event.

The presenter had appeared to suggest he may be sacked from the BBC2 show and criticised the corporation’s executives.

Clarkson said that he was told off by his lawyer after his on-stage speech at a charity gala in north London was captured on video.

But he said in the Sunday Times that it had all been in good humour, writing: “It was all meant in jest and anyway it worked.

“By being brief, controversial and a bit sweary I woke the room up and the auction prize I was offering – one last lap of the Top Gear test track – raised 100,000.”

Clarkson had told those gathered at the charity event: “To be in the audience of Top Gear there was an 18-year waiting list. You know the BBC has fucked themselves, and so who gives a fuck?

“It was a great show and they fucked it up.”

He is reported to be considering new shows, including a programme about a novice trying to run a farm.

Clarkson tweeted his thanks to supporters of a petition, delivered by tank to BBC headquarters in London on Friday, but declared in his column in the Sun that “protest never works”.

Meanwhile, with money-spinning show Top Gear off air during the internal investigation, May has been tweeting about getting to grips with life without work to distract him.

He wrote at the weekend: “Woodwork tasks today. Being jobless allows you to revisit old interests, learn new things, and listen to the radio more. Sold the telly.”

May had previously told his fans: “I’ve been given some heavy gardening work today. Temptation to cut my own head off with the chainsaw may prove too strong. StillUnemployed.”

The corporation’s internal investigation into Clarkson’s conduct is being handed over to the director-general, and could be resolved as early as tomorrow.

The BBC has not commented on when the investigation will be completed but it is understood that they want it finished as soon as possible.