Axed Top Gear host has second thought...

Jeremy Clarkson has pulled out of his planned appearance guest hosting Have I Got News For You.

His decision comes a day after the BBC gave the go-ahead for the axed Top Gear presenter to return to its screens.

Producers Hat Trick made it public that Clarkson was due to guest host the April 24 episode as the storm over the ‘fracas’ when he punched producer Oisin Tymon was at its peak.

But now managing director Jimmy Mulville has announced: ‘On reflection, Jeremy Clarkson has decided not to host Have I Got News For You. We fully expect him to resume his hosting duties later in the year.’

Clarkson was suspended by the BBC on March 10 pending an inquiry into the ‘unprovoked physical and verbal attack’ in a Yorkshire hotel that left Tymon with a cut lip. Two weeks later, the BBC announced Clarkson's contract on Top Gear would not be renewed.

The new series of Have I Got News For You begins on Friday with Daniel Radcliffe as the guest host.

Published: 9 Apr 2015