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BBC withdraws Top Gear branding to allow Jeremy Clarkson to host festival series

top gear clarkson may hammondThe BBC has withdrawn its Top Gear branding from the forthcoming Top Gear Festival to allow sacked host Jeremy Clarkson and co hosts James May and Richard Hammond to front the events.

It will now be called Clarkson, Hammond and May Live, with organisers rescheduling it from April 18-19 in Sydney to July 25-26 in Sydney, and adding a new venue in Melbourne on 18-19 July, and moving it to indoor venues.

However, the changes, confirmed this morning by the BBC and other organisers, means there will be no Top Gear branding, including The Stig, or any footage or trademarks from the show being used.

The changes were triggered after Clarkson was told his contract will not be renewed after he physically attacked a producer after filming in early March, leading fans to demand refunds if he did not front the live events.

In a statement this morning the BBC said: “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.

“These events will not however feature any BBC Top Gear branding or content. We believe this is a sensible approach in the circumstances.”

It is understood the presenters were each on lucrative contracts separate to their BBC contracts to host the events across the world, with a cancelled event in Norway last week also now rescheduled.

Sponsors of the event had told Mumbrella last week they were in talks with organisers, which include Destination NSW and Brand Events Australia, over what would happen if Clarkson was not allowed to front the event.

It is unclear at this stage whether all sponsors will remain involved.

However the future of the TV show remains in limbo with Hammond and May uncertain to continue, and executive producer Andy Willman quitting overnight. It is one of BBC Worldwide’s most lucrative franchises.

Tickets for the event range from $49 to $399, although some of the panned content will not be able to go ahead as planned with the switch to an indoor venues the Allphones Arena in Sydney and Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

The new show is described on the official website as: “A live arena show Featuring stunts, supercars, challenges and irreverent humour that you know and love from the trio – Jeremy, Richard and James.”

A statement on the website reads: “We do however subsequently have much better news… we can now confirm that the new event, which will be an arena format starring Jeremy, Richard and James –  simply titled ‘Clarkson, Hammond and May Live’ will be staged in both Sydney and Melbourne.

“They’ll [sic] be plenty of the stunts, supercars, challenges and the irreverent humour you know and love from the trio – just no BBC Top Gear branding or content and will take place in Melbourne on the 18-19 July and in Sydney on the 25-26 July.

“Festival tickets can be exchanged for the new look show once tickets go on sale (this on-sale date will be announced on Friday 10th April) and all ticket holders will be given a dedicated period in which to exchange or refund previously purchased tickets.”

Alex Hayes

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