Top Gear Live On Hold As Clarkson Awaits Fate

The BBC has announced it is postponing four live Top Gear shows that were scheduled to take place in Norway at the weekend.

It is understood the decision to delay the performances was taken in part because presenter Jeremy Clarkson remains suspended after allegedly punching producer Oisin Tymon .

Another reason, it is thought, is that organisers wanted to give fans enough notice to cancel travel and accommodation plans and because work to prepare the venue would have needed to start well in advance of the shows.

The Top Gear host's future at the BBC is likely to be decided this week when an internal report into the incident is due to be handed to the corporation's director general Tony Hall.

The BBC said it "regretted" having to postpone the performances which were due to take place on Friday, 27 March and Saturday, 28 March, but that "rescheduled dates for later this year" would "be confirmed within the next fortnight".

It added: "We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience this will cause fans and we will endeavour to contact all ticket holders directly to inform them of the change of dates.

"At present, all other Top Gear Live dates will run as scheduled."

Other Top Gear Live shows, which tens of thousands of fans are expected to attend, are currently scheduled for London, Belfast, Sydney and Johannesburg.

Meanwhile, Clarkson has claimed he was joking when he criticised the BBC during an expletive-laden rant at a charity event.

He had told those at the gathering in London: "To be in the audience of Top Gear there was an 18-year waiting list. You know the BBC has f***** themselves, and so who gives a f***?

"It was a great show and they f***** it up."

Clarkson was suspended on 10 March following the alleged altercation with Mr Tymon over the lack of a hot meal at a hotel.

An online petition to have the 54-year-old re-instated on Top Gear has gathered almost one million signatures and was delivered by tank to BBC headquarters on Friday.

Clarkson tweeted his thanks to supporters but declared in his column in The Sun at the weekend that "protest never works" .