Russia offers job to sacked Jeremy Clarkson

Axed Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson has reportedly been offered a job by Russia's army TV channel to host a motoring show.

Russia's official military station of the Russian armed forces, Zvezda, has apparently invited the ousted BBC star to Russia to discuss the proposal.

"Dear Jeremy, the Russian Armed Forces Broadcasting company Zvezda expresses deep honour to you and kindly asks for your cooperation," the channel said in an email it had sent to Clarkson, published on its website.

"We would like to invite you to be a presenter of a motoring show on our TV show in Moscow."

The channel, which is owned and controlled by Russia's ministry of defence, then published a screenshot of an email which it claimed it got in response to its proposal, sent by a Daniel Rix, who claimed to be Clarkson's director.

"I can only imagine what an episode of Russian Vysshaya Peredacha (Top Gear) would look like," it said.

"It could feature a Tzar in a reasonably priced car."

Tara Davies, a spokeswoman for Top Gear, could not confirm whether Clarkson was aware of the offer.

She told The Telegraph she had never heard of Daniel Rix, adding that 'he does not work on the programme'.

Timofey Peshkov, deputy director of Zvezda, told The Telegraph the channel had been in contact with a representative of Clarkson both by telephone and email.

"When we learned that Jeremy, a popular presenter, had had his contract cancelled we decided to make him an offer.

"As a federal channel we are in a battle for ratings. I categorically deny that there is any political subtext here."

Zvezda noted Clarkson's interest in Russian cars, tanks and military vehicles as the reason behind its approach.

Clarkson has not responded to The Telegraph's request for comment.

The 54-year-old faces an uncertain future and possible police action after being dropped as host of Top Gear following a fracas with one of the show's producers.

Clarkson's Top Gear contract has not been renewed by the BBC after an internal investigation found he attacked show producer Oisin Tymon after an angry and lengthy tirade in a hotel in the county.

His immediate concern will be possible criminal action after North Yorkshire Police asked to see the BBC's report into the 30-second unprovoked physical attack at a hotel in the county.

"We have asked the BBC for the report which details the findings of their internal investigation into the matter.

"The information will be assessed appropriately and action will be taken by North Yorkshire Police where necessary. It would not be appropriate for North Yorkshire Police to comment further at this time," the police statement said.

As for Clarkson's broadcasting future, two major broadcasters, Sky and Channel 4, are understood to have ruled out working with him, while ITV said they would not comment on "a BBC issue".

BBC director general Tony Hall said the corporation wanted to "renew" the show for next year but it is unclear what role, if any, Clarkson's co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond would play.

The pair, whose contracts also run out at the end of this month, were scheduled to take part in four live Top Gear shows in Norway this week, but they were postponed amid the Clarkson controversy.

May described Clarkson's departure as a "tragedy" but said: "I'm sure Top Gear will continue in some way. It existed before us and it has been reformatted several times."

Asked if he will stay at Top Gear, May responded: "I don't want to talk about that too much but I think we are very much the three of us as a package. It works for very complicated reasons that a lot of people don't fully understand. So that will require a lot of careful thought."

Hammond said he was "gutted at such a sad end to an era" after Clarkson's sacking. He said: "We're all three of us idiots in our different ways but it's been an incredible ride together."

The BBC declined to comment on the future of the other two men.

The news of Clarkson's departure from the BBC left some Twitter users fuming, others offering their support and some poking gentle fun at the whole episode.

TV personality Piers Morgan tweeted: "If he'd stuck to just punching me, he'd have been fine. #Clarkson."

Sky News presenter Adam Boulton tweeted: "So BBC suits bring down another presenter, pity they missed Savile."

Star Trek actor William Shatner even had his say on the matter, confident "Clarkson will be fine".

"... Sponsors would be silly not to pick him up and establish a competitor show and the viewers will probably follow him," he tweeted.

News break – March 27