London Evening Standard/London

Jeremy Clarkson yesterday admitted that it was his “own silly fault” he was axed from Top Gear and denied that he was working on plans for a new motoring show.
In his first interview since the attack on producer Oisin Tymon that led to his sacking, a remorseful Clarkson said his departure “has left a big hole that needs to be filled”.
Speaking to Radio 2’s Chris Evans — who was an early favourite to succeed Clarkson on the show — he said: “I was very sad. It was my own silly fault so I can hardly complain. I was at the BBC for 27 years and with Top Gear in its present incarnation for 12.
“It was very much my baby, I absolutely adored it. I worked all through the night and paid attention to every tiny bit and then suddenly you are not asked to do that any more.”
Clarkson, 55, revealed he has “been listening” to proposals but has “not had a single meeting” that could settle his long-term future. He added “it could be weeks, months maybe a year” before he made a decision.
Clarkson, who has been linked to ITV and Netflix, said “you’d be a fool” to jump into a new project after so long working at the BBC, adding: “When you emerge after 27 years, you find the world is changed. When you learn how the world works, you can start to work out what to do. In the meantime I’m getting really good at tennis. My forehand has improved immeasurably.”  Clarkson was yesterday due to fly to Belfast to meet former co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May for the start of “the most badly organised world tour in history”.
They will appear in a series of “high octane” shows called “Clarkson Hammond and May Live” in Britain, South Africa, Australia, Poland and Norway, but will not be able to use any Top Gear or BBC branding.

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