A series of live events featuring sacked Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson will go ahead without the show's branding, the BBC announced on Tuesday (March 31).
The worldwide tour, previously known as Top Gear Live and fronted by Clarkson alongside co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May, will be renamed Clarkson, Hammond and May Live. The shows have been stripped of the Top Gear and BBC branding.
The tour had been in doubt in the wake of the BBC’s decision to sack Clarkson after he punched a producer in a row about catering after a day of location filming.
"So as not to disappoint the thousands of people around the world who have already purchased tickets, BBC Worldwide has agreed with our joint venture partner Brand Events that the remainder of the tour can continue," a spokesman said in a statement posted on the Top Gear website.
"These events will not, however, feature any BBC Top Gear branding or content. We believe this is a sensible approach in the circumstances."
Top Gear Live makes more than £11m annually and this year’s global tour is understood to have sold more than 100,000 tickets.
