Jeremy Clarkson CAN get around BBC ban on ITV screening his new show - by making it with a US company
- Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond expect to unveil rival show
- But BBC threatened to scupper project with 'non-compete' contract clause
- It emerged today that lawyers have found a way around the legal issue
- Show could be made by a US production company then sold the ITV
Jeremy Clarkson could get around a BBC attempt to stop him making a new Top Gear-style show by making it with an American production company.
It is understood Clarkson and his co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May had been blocked from working for a rival British broadcaster for two years by a clause in their BBC contracts.
But it emerged today that the trio could get around the ban by making any new show with a US firm, which would then sell the programme worldwide, including to British channels such as ITV.
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May's hopes of making a new motoring show appeared to have hit a legal obstacle when it emerged a clause in their BBC contracts banned them from working for a rival
But the trio, pictured in the last episode of the show, are believed to have worked out how to get around the ban
Top Gear fans have been desperate to find out when Clarkson will return to their TV screens since he was sacked by the BBC over his infamous 'fracas' with producer Oisin Tymon.
The BBC have announced that Chris Evans will front the next series of Top Gear, which will undergo a major revamp, in an effort to continue the lucrative foreign revenue stream for the corporation.
Clarkson, along with May and Hammond, is widely-expected to unveil a new project to compete the BBC show.
He hinted at such when Evans was given the job, saying: 'I hope Chris enjoys running what, for the next couple of weeks, is the world's biggest car show'.
The Sunday Mirror reported today that, despite the BBC's 'non-compete' clause, the three presenters' lawyers believed any new programme will be able to be shown on online service Netflix and, if an overseas production company is used, UK terrestrial channels.
A source told the paper: 'Jeremy believes they'll successfully get around the issues despite the BBC making desperate attempts to stop him'.
Chris Evans is now the presenter of Top Gear after Clarkson was sacked over a 'fracas' with a producer
The three presenters who used to present the show are believed to be working on a rival programme
An online exchange between Clarkson and May last month led to speculation the pair, along with Hammond, could already have started work on their new project.
'A bit warm in London today. I'm going to give Norway a shot,' May wrote on Twitter, with Clarkson responding: 'Mind if I tag along?'.
The last episode of Top Gear, which featured two previously unbroadcast films was watched by 5.8million people, with many more tuning in later on BBC iPlayer.
- Blue Angels fly by sends tents & umbrellas flying into air
- Watch me! NFL player's toddler son dances to favorite song
- Mexico's Attorney Genral tours site of Guzman escape
- Planned Parenthood director admits to selling fetus body...
- White House wants escaped Mexican kingpin to face justice
- 'It looks bad, Bill': Whoopi Goldberg changes her tune on...
- How to speak Aussie : Abbreviate Everything
- Post workout footage shows intense rippling calf cramp
- Travel 15,000 feet into the air in just 45 seconds
- Mexico offers $3.8m reward for capture of kingpin 'El Chapo'
- 'El Chapo' Guzman taken into Altiplano prison back in 2014
- Serena Williams is finally getting her eyebrows shaped!
- 'I'm going to make you eat your words': Mexico's...
- El Chapo’s ride to freedom: First pictures of ‘motorbike on...
- Escape on foot because roads will liquefy and start running...
- Knifeman shouting 'Allah is great' forces tourist to her...
- Former porn star Jenna Jameson sues her MMA fighter...
- Planned Parenthood's top doctor caught on undercover video...
- 'He should have at least informed us as his family': Obama's...
- 'The information that is out there points to guilt': Whoopi...
- Adorable moment baby son of San Francisco 49ers player leaps...
- EXCLUSIVE: White House hopeful Carly Fiorina's claims of...
- 'Iran have been given a licence to kill': Netanyahu blasts...
- Struggling to live in America's $1M city: Photographer...