It's a tricky one for the BBC, as Top Gear is a commercially successful programme and Clarkson is a key figure of that programme. However if he did punch a producer as alleged then I can't see him keeping his job. If anyone else punched someone at work they'd get a warning, possibly even the sack, and Clarkson was already on a 'final' warning.
In theory they could have recorded the air-hanger pieces without Clarkson, though that would probably rely on the co-operation of Hammond & May. If the BBC don't sack him I imagine they might follow the Jonathon Ross route of suspending him for several months without pay. If they do sack him they'd probably be best replacing him with a female presenter, as any male replacing him would be compared to him.
On a lighter note...
After @JeremyClarkson is suspended, BBC taken off air for being politically unbalanced.
— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) March 10, 2015
What counts is Andy Wilmans opinion. As exec producer he makes the programme what it is. You have to wonder in what context 'Producer' (who has been allegedly thumped by Mr Clarkson) What he (hopefully not she) a BBC suit who was interfering in the programme winding people up - there are plenty of them - or someone on the show.
What is certain is that the BBC HR machine will grind into action uncovering - or not - what ever stones they are told to by upstairs.
Maybe they should put James and Richard on for this week, in order to avoid the massive bill. Just cover the next 2 weeks, cancel the final episode. Fire Jeremy, then work on the show's future afterwards. At least 2 more seasons.
There is the possibility though Richard and James refused to do it without him. As usual the BBC in a no-win situation and seem to be handling this in the worst possible way, but had they not suspended them they'd be facing criticism too.
With so much money at stake it baffles me how the BBC could not just postpone any internal disciplinary until after the series run has completed. After all, Clarkson hasnt been arrested for assault which makes me think this isnt all that serious.
By cancelling the programmes now, not only have the morons at the BBC opened themselves up to a massive financial loss, but foreign broadcasters may think twice before buying a programme that could be pulled with less than a weeks notice.
I just don't get how they can put out a statement saying Clarkson is the only one suspended then at the same time suspend the entire series. We don't know what happened here - I get the impression that it's something and nothing made out to be something more than it is (that happens a lot with Clarkson doesn't it), but at the end of the day regardless of who he is and what he may or may not have done in the past if you punch a fellow employee (especially if unprovoked) that is surely a sackable offence - and better Clarkson gets sacked for something he actually did rather than for somebody taking offence to something he said.
Not sure whether it's a good thing or not 400k have signed a petition to reinstate him - on the one hand it's licence fee payers backing presenters with personality, which the BBC and television in general desperately need more of, but on the other it's sad that this petition has gathered more signatures in 24 hours than the Save BBC3 petition did in months.
:-(
A former member
Maybe the producer who was hit has refused to do the last one and there is some union rule to stop anyone else doing it?