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Jeremy Clarkson’s House Of Cars, anyone?

LONDON — Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, who was unceremoniously sacked by the BBC after a “fracas” with a producer, is said to be planning a reunion with James May and Richard Hammond for a new, online-only programme. It was reported that Clarkson and his co-presenters have dubbed their new motoring series House Of Cars and hope to stream it exclusively on Netflix. The title is a nod to the online service’s wildly successful House Of Cards drama series, starring Kevin Spacey.

TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, seen here at the UEFA Champions League match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, has been dropped by the BBC. Photo: Getty Images

TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson, seen here at the UEFA Champions League match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, has been dropped by the BBC. Photo: Getty Images

LONDON — Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, who was unceremoniously sacked by the BBC after a “fracas” with a producer, is said to be planning a reunion with James May and Richard Hammond for a new, online-only programme. It was reported that Clarkson and his co-presenters have dubbed their new motoring series House Of Cars and hope to stream it exclusively on Netflix. The title is a nod to the online service’s wildly successful House Of Cards drama series, starring Kevin Spacey.

The trio have stuck together in the wake of Clarkson’s dismissal from Top Gear, which is said to be one of the BBC’s most lucrative exports. They will be joined by friend and former Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman, who also quit the BBC last month.

The men are reportedly in talks with both Netflix and ITV with hopes to replicate the BBC programme’s success on a rival platform. But a potential conflict of interest with advertisers could make the programme a “headache” for the latter, said one source.

“What would they do if Jaguar or Volvo had a sponsorship deal but they wanted to berate its latest new car?” the Daily Mirror reported. “Jeremy doesn’t like being told what to do. It could cause huge arguments.”

Meanwhile, the BBC has already confirmed plans to relaunch Top Gear, meaning that Clarkson, Hammond and May are unable to use the brand name in their new programme. It has forced the threesome to rebrand their upcoming Top Gear road tour as Clarkson, Hammond and May Live.

In an interview to promote the tour, which opens in Belfast next week, Clarkson said: “After many years of practice, it’s a good show now.”

He said the trio were going on the road to make their fans happy — a reminder that the BBC infuriated viewers by sacking Clarkson and pulling the show from the air, prompting one million people to sign a protest petition.

“People are appreciative of (the live show) and when it’s over say, ‘That was good fun’,” he said, adding with tongue in cheek: “All those people who want to come genuinely go away with hope in their hearts. We’re uplifting. It’s almost spiritual.”

Clarkson will still be paid by the BBC for his role in the show, which will feature exclusive video footage of supercars and stunts shot by the threesome earlier this year.

BBC executives are now searching for a new presenting line-up to keep Top Gear going. Favourites to host include Jodie Kidd, a former model; Philip Glenister, the Life On Mars actor; and Guy Martin, the motorbike racer and television presenter. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

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