Jeremy Clarkson still booked for Have I Got News For You
Story updates:
8th April: Clarkson's appearance is confirmed, with the BBC saying "Jeremy's contract has not been renewed on Top Gear but he isn't banned from appearing on the BBC."
9th April: Executive Producer Jimmy Mulville said: "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."
It has been revealed that Jeremy Clarkson is currently booked to appear as a guest host for the upcoming new series of Have I Got News For You.
The Top Gear presenter is currently suspended from the motoring programme whilst an incident in which he reportedly punched a producer is investigated.
Founder of production company Hat Trick and the show's Executive Producer, Jimmy Mulville - speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild breakfast this morning (Tuesday 17th March) - said he is set to meet the BBC soon to find out whether they will be able to use Clarkson or not.
The Radio Times reports that Mulville said: "As far as I'm concerned he is hosting Have I Got News For You, the BBC has not told me what to do yet and it will be an interesting conversation. He is due to present the third episode, which I think is in early May."
He jokingly added: "Maybe we will get the producer on so he can hit Jeremy Clarkson live on television."
Speaking to reporter Ben Dowell afterwards, Mulville noted: "I don't think the BBC know that he is due to be on."
Mulville said that if they could keep the booking he thinks it'd make "great television", adding "Have I Got News For You tries to have a bit of mischief so we will see if he can come on."
Jeremy Clarkson has hosted the topical quiz show eleven times previously, which makes him the fifth most used guest presenter on the show, behind Kirsty Young, Jack Dee, Jo Brand and Alexander Armstrong.
Audience tickets for the new series of HIGNFY will be available to request from Monday 23rd March. The first episode will be recorded on Thursday 9th April for broadcast on Friday 10th April. Based on Mulville's comments this morning, if the booking remains then Clarkson will present the episode that will be shown on television on Friday 24th April.
Earlier this week, Ian Hislop talked to newspapers about the 2008 incident in which, as could be seen on screen, Jeremy Clarkson threw a pen at him, causing a small cut on his face.
The team captain said: "We had to stop recording. He refused to believe it was blood. He said it was red biro and then apologised to me afterwards. If he is going to be done for assault I want other offences [considered]."
Mulville was speaking at the Broadcasting Press Guild to detail the plans his production company, Hat Trick Productions, and otherwise rival comedy production company Avalon Television have for a joint attempt to buy BBC Three.
Those behind the bid say the BBC's cost-cutting plans, focused around making the channel an online-only station, would be a "disaster" for viewers, and a better plan would be to sell them the station and let them run it under an advertising-funded model. Some in the BBC have already rejected this idea, however corporation's management and regulatory body, the BBC Trust, is still set to examine the proposal in more detail.
In the below clip, from April 2014, Jeremy Clarkson tells the story of Britain's biggest fare dodger: