Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has pulled out of his planned appearance hosting BBC1’s news quiz show Have I Got News For You.

The star was due to appear later this month in what would have been his first BBC appearance since the corporation decided not to renew his contract after he attacked a colleague on the motoring show.

Jimmy Mulville, managing director of Hat Trick Productions, which makes Have I Got News For You, said Clarkson had decided not to appear as host on this occasion.

“We fully expect him to resume his hosting duties later in the year,” he said.

It was reported on Wednesday that Clarkson had been cleared to present the programme, despite the BBC axe over what was initially termed a “fracas”.

The corporation said: “Jeremy’s contract has not been renewed on Top Gear but he isn’t banned from appearing on the BBC.”



North Yorkshire police said on Tuesday that Clarkson would face no further action over the incident after taking into consideration the views of other witnesses who “had been affected”.

An internal BBC report found that Clarkson subjected Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon to a sustained period of verbal and physical abuse after learning that there was no hot food available at the end of a day’s shoot.