Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond with Top Gear's Andy Wilman

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Presenters met with Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman in London
Came hours after Mr Wilman, a close friend of Clarkson, quit the BBC
Meeting fueled speculation that team will reunite to launch show with rival
James May says BBC should not attempt show with 'surrogate Jeremy'

By Mark Duell and Stephanie Linning for MailOnline

Published: 04:57 EST, 23 April 2015 | Updated: 02:33 EST, 24 April 2015

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Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond today held talks with Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman - just hours before it was sensationally announced he had quit the BBC.

The resignation marks another blow for the hugely-popular show, which has been marred by uncertainty since Clarkson was axed last month following a 'fracas' with a producer.

It means Mr Wilman, a childhood friend of Clarkson who helped revamp Top Gear into the Corporation's most successful programme, is now free to reunite with the team on a rival channel.

There is widespread speculation that the men are working on a new motoring series to be aired by Netflix, Amazon or another British broadcaster - in what would be a nightmare scenario for the BBC.

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Back together: Jeremy Clarkson (left) is seen with his Top Gear colleagues James May (centre) and Richard Hammond (right) outside his west London flat, in their first public appearance since he was sacked

Discussions: Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman (front centre) was also present at the meeting today, just hours before it was sensationally announced he had quit the BBC, in what is another blow for the show

Presenters: May had earlier said the BBC would be 'stupid' to try a version of the hit motoring show with 'a surrogate Jeremy', Richard Hammond and himself - adding that the idea was a ‘non-starter’

The men were photographed today outside Clarkson's home in west London - their first public appearance together since the presenter was dropped from Top Gear - before moving on to a pub.

Earlier today, May ruled out returning to Top Gear without Clarkson, insisting it would be 'lame' with a new presenter in place of his sacked co-host.

The 52-year-old said the BBC would be ‘stupid’ to try a version of the programme with 'a surrogate Jeremy', Hammond and himself - adding that the idea was a ‘non-starter’.

His comments mean that if the show does return next year, it will likely be with an entirely new presenting team. Both May and Hammond saw their contracts finish last month.

Casual: Speaking today, May, pictured tonight, said he had just been 'having a pint' with his co-stars

May told The Guardian: ‘Me and Hammond with a surrogate Jeremy is a non-starter, it just wouldn’t work. That would be lame, or “awks” as young people say.

‘It has to be the three of us. You can’t just put a surrogate Jeremy in and expect it to carry on. It would be forced. I don’t believe they would be stupid enough to try that.

‘It doesn’t mean I won’t go back - we may all go back in the future. It might just be we have a break from it. I don’t know. It would be a bloody tough call to do Top Gear without Jeremy.’

Former X Factor host Dermot O'Leary, model Jodie Kidd and Great British Bake Off host Sue Perkins have all been named as possible replacements for Clarkson.

Speaking after the meeting today, May said he had just been 'having a pint' with his co-stars and Mr Wilman, adding that he still didn't know what he would do in the future.

This evening, a BBC spokeswoman confirmed that Mr Wilman, Top Gear's longstanding executive producer and Clarkson's right-hand man, had handed bosses his resignation.

She would not say whether or not the decision was related to the outspoken presenter.

It comes just weeks after an email from Mr Wilman to colleagues titled 'au revoir' was leaked.

In the email, the 52-year-old, who has made millions from the show, congratulated staff on making 'one of the most iconic programmes in TV history'.

'At least we left 'em wanting more. And that alone, when you think about it, is quite an achievement for a show that started 13 years ago,' he wrote.

After the email was leaked, Mr Wilman announced publicly that it had not been a resignation.

The revelations today come after BBC2 boss Kim Shillinglaw, who has been tasked with finding a replacement for Clarkson on Top Gear, said the presenter ‘will be back on the BBC’ at some point.

Leaving: Hammond arrived at the flat first, before May came in a BMW car - followed by Mr Wilman's arrival

Waving: It comes a day after BBC2 boss Kim Shillinglaw, who has been tasked with finding a replacement for Clarkson (left) on Top Gear, said the 55-year-old presenter ‘will be back on the BBC’ at some point

How's James May dealing with unemployment? Watch and see!

Miss Shillinglaw also confirmed Clarkson's final Top Gear scenes will be screened later this year and she was not thinking of his replacement ‘in terms of gender’.

Clarkson was sacked by the BBC after an ‘unprovoked physical and verbal’ attack in North Yorkshire that left his victim, Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, in need of hospital treatment.

The star was suspended last month when he became the subject of an internal BBC investigation after he attacked Mr Tymon, 36, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him.

Clarkson's contract was not renewed, with director-general Tony Hall saying at the time 'a line has been crossed' and 'there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another'.

Hosts: Clarkson (centre - with fellow presenters Richard Hammond, left, and May, right) was sacked by the BBC after an ‘unprovoked physical and verbal’ attack that left his victim in need of hospital treatment

Lord Hall announces sacking of Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson

Victim: Clarkson was suspended last month when he became the subject of an internal BBC investigation after he attacked Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon (pictured), 36, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him

Clarkson said he considered turning his back on presenting altogether in the immediate fall-out from the incident, but has since stated that he expects to present another TV show on cars in the future.

Earlier this month, North Yorkshire Police said that following an investigation Clarkson would face no further police action over his attack on the producer at a hotel in Hawes.

Meanwhile, Clarkson revealed in a newspaper column earlier this month that he was told by a doctor that he might have cancer, two days before assaulting Mr Tymon.

Top Gear - which is said to generate about £50million a year for BBC Worldwide - is viewed by more than six million viewers on BBC2 and watched in more than 200 countries.

O'LEARY, GLENISTER OR KIDD? THE FAVOURITES TO REPLACE CLARKSON

DERMOT O'LEARY (6/4)

Bookmakers’ favourite O'Leary, 41, is currently being lined up to host a different prime-time BBC One motoring show - after ending his eight-year stint as host of ITV's The X Factor last month.

PHILIP GLENISTER (11/4)

Car enthusiast Glenister, 52, known for playing a politically-incorrect police detective in TV series Life on Mars, is presenting the second series of For the Love of Cars on Channel 4.

JODIE KIDD (5/1)

The 36-year-old model owns a number of cars, co-presents The Classic Car Show on Channel 5 and achieved one of the fastest lap times as a Top Gear 'Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car'.

GUY MARTIN (13/2)

The 33-year-old motorcycle star made Channel 4 programme Speed, and said last month: 'I don’t want to try and be the man who replaced Jeremy Clarkson, but never say never.'

Favourites: Presenter Dermot O'Leary, actor Philip Glenister, model Jodie Kidd and motorcyclist Guy Martin

CHRIS EVANS (8/1)

BBC Radio 2 host Evans, 49, another well-known car enthusiast, has been tipped as a favourite - but told listeners last month that claims he would replace Clarkson were 'absolute nonsense'.

SUE PERKINS (10/1)

Great British Bake Off host Sue Perkins, 45, was named as the favourite a fortnight ago, but this prompted a barrage of abusive tweets from ‘blokes wishing me dead’, which saw her quit Twitter.

STEPHEN FRY (14/1)

QI presenter Stephen Fry, 57, has appeared on Top Gear twice - but has been repeatedly prosecuted for speeding and managed to crash and write off the Reasonably-Priced Car.

STEVE COOGAN (14/1)

A tongue-in-cheek petition signed by more than 34,000 people is calling on the BBC to hire fictional broadcaster Alan Partridge - played by 49-year-old Coogan - as the new presenter.