While Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear are now two separate entities, the BBC is not yet ready to let the audience appeal of its former lead presenter dwindle from its horizon before the crucial festive period as it plans to run a two part Christmas special.

Narrated by comedian John Bishop, 'Top Gear: From A to Z' will go through the show’s top moments from the Clarkson years with each letter being introduced by an unnamed Top Gear fan. It will also have celebrity appearance from those who have previously raced round the test track.

As well as tapping into the huge Christmas audiences that come during the period the BBC will hope the move will help build momentum for its prized brand ahead of Chris Evans’ entry to the fold in 2016.

A statement released by the BBC said: “With Chris Evans soon to get behind the wheel for the new series of Top Gear, this two-part extravaganza celebrates the best and brightest from the Clarkson, Hammond and May years.”

It has been reported that the specials were commissioned during the tenure of former director of television Danny Cohen’s and that Clarkson and his former co-hosts will not receive royalties from the episodes.

Other festive highlights in the BBC’s pipeline include a BBC1 penguin documentary, ‘Snow Chick’ narrated by Kate Winslet and a new series titled Dickensian which uses Scrooge, Fagin and Miss Havisham. It will also show an adaptation of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, starring Poldark actor Aidan Turner.