Jeremy Clarkson suspended over "fracas" with producer

There were also other old formats that died a death. No-one's suggesting reviving any of those. Everything that's been brought back has failed to "recapture".

Yeah like Dr Who and Come Dancing....

You've just made my point for me... both of those examples have been reborn in entirely different formats, redesigned for modern viewers.

If Strictly lost the celebs and the phone in vote, would it be as popular?

Would modern Dr Who have survived as 4-part 25-minute episodes with wobbly sets, low budgets, crap actors and all the rest of the negatives associated with 63-89? Nope.

Dr Who has (just about) survived several recasts since it's reincarnation while Strictly has lost it's front man too with nobody blinking an eye - perhaps Top Gear could do the same. The seemingly irreplaceable are often quite replaceable when they have to be replaced.

Except that the last version of TG died a slow protracted death when Jezza left.

Current TG is intrinsically linked with Jeremy Clarkson - it's his and Wilman's format. People who don't like cars watch it for him. Even Hammond and May couldn't carry it on without him, not that they'd want to.

It's hard to imagine the show without Clarkson. I can't help but imagine Clarkson taking the format to another channel, though even that would be a bit difficult, as Top Gear is a big brand these days with international renown.

Trouble is, for a supposed right-wing individualist blowhard, Clarkson has been infinitely loyal to the BBC. Despite his Murdochite connections he's never once been swayed by Sky or ITV. Everything he's done has been for the BBC.

The Telegraph predicting very confidently that his dismissal will be announced in the morning: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11493270/Jeremy-Clarkson-to-be-sacked-by-the-BBC.html

If true the right decision in these circumstances, but very badly handled by the BBC and they'll come out as the bad guys, not the guy who supposedly thumped someone.

Why can't journalists pay attention now and again? Chris Evans has made it crystal clear on two separate occasions that he wouldn't join TG.

Maybe there will be a difference between being asked when there is no real prospect of it happening and being asked when there is every prospect of it happening.

Excuse my ignorance, but what have the BBC done wrong? I know that's the view that's in vogue whether you support Clarkson or not, but really? All I can see they've done is give him a few warnings then launch this investigation after this incident.