After almost a year since Jeremy Clarkson regrettably assaulted producer Oisin Tyman, the former Top Gear can finally put the infamous fracas behind him after settling a racial discrimination and injury claim for a reported $140,000. Back in March 2015, Clarkson threw punches at the producer when he did not receive hot food after an extended day of filming in cold Yorkshire.
"I would like to say sorry, once again, to Oisin Tymon for the incident and its regrettable aftermath," Clarkson said after the settlement announcement. "I want to reiterate that none of this was in any way his fault. I would also like to make it clear that the abuse he has suffered since the incident is unwarranted and I am sorry too that he has had to go through that.
"I am pleased that this matter is now resolved. Oisin was always a creatively exciting part of Top Gear and I wish him every success with his future projects."
Now that both Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC can put the matter to rest, it's time to look ahead. The termination of Jeremy Clarkson also led to the abrupt exit of James May and Richard Hammond, who both elected to quit their jobs to express solidarity with their friend. Genuine chemistry between presenters is difficult to recreate and that's exactly what BBC lost with the exit of the longstanding Top Gear trio.
However, BBC hopes to restore some of that Top Gear secret recipe by hiring a new group of hosts. Earlier this month, BBC announced that actor Matt LeBlanc (Friends) will join Chris Evans to venture into a new era of Top Gear. What's more, filming of a new season of Top Gear has already begun.
It's no surprise that the new duo of a revamped Top Gear is under immense pressure to recreate the success that Clarkson, Hammond and May left behind. Time will tell whether Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc will find traction as reports suggest a new series of Top Gear will finally return later this year.
Meanwhile at the Top Gear rejects camp, Clarkson, Hammond, and May are allegedly slated to air their new Amazon Prime show in 2016 as well. According to a Twitter post from Jezza, filming has already started for them as well.
Filming starts gently tomorrow. Then it goes berserk. See you all in Terminal 5.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) February 10, 2016
While Amazon Prime is a new platform for the trio, we can expect a familiar format of "watching three middle-aged men falling over."
Stay tuned as we learn more about Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc's Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May's new show on Amazon Prime in the months ahead.
