As fans of car cult classic Top Gear ready themselves for new host Chris Evans to take over the reins, they might lament what might have been. That’s if Jeremy Clarkson is to be believed, the former host claiming that the BBC offered him the post once more just days before contacting Evans.

The 55-year-old said too much had been said and done to make working together again viable, with this from the Telegraph:

He said: “I had a meeting with a BBC executive last week and they asked if I’d come back to Top Gear…

“But it was never an option, even with the one million people signing the Bring Back Clarkson petition — for which I was extremely humbled.”

He added “Too much has gone on. After I’d been compared to Jimmy Savile by someone from the BBC and it was splashed all over a Sunday newspaper, how could I go back?

“The spotlight would have been on me and the show would end up being neutered.

“It would be difficult to do anything without interference. It would have been impossible to make the show I’d want to make.

“I think they knew this so that’s why they gave the job to Chris so soon after I met them.”

The BBC were quick to rubbish the claim and released an official statement thanking Clarkson for his involvement and stressing the need to move forward.

The appointment of Evans, a man with a rich history of indiscretions, will have raised many eyebrows but at least we know he really loves his cars.

[source:telegraph]