Sue Perkins is now favourite to replace Jeremy Clarkson as Top Gear host
Sue Perkins fans may be excited to hear that she is now the favourite to replace Jeremy Clarkson as host of Top Gear.
A large number of bets have now seen the Bake Off presenter installed as the favourite to take the role after Clarkson’s contract was not renewed by the BBC earlier this month.
Announcing the sacking last month, BBC director-general Lord Hall said that Clarkson had failed to maintain“standards of decency and respect” whilst working after an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack” on producer Oisin Tymon.
Perkins is now evens (1/1) to take the job, and is ahead of Dermot O’Leary, who is 2/1 and Jodie Kidd is third at 5/2.
Before fans got too excited about the prospect, Perkins tweeted a follower to deny rumours that she would take up the role.
@RichardAddy well…. A. It is obviously IS against me and B. I am not So rest assured!
— Sue Perkins (@sueperkins) April 9, 2015
Coral spokeswoman Nicola McGeady said: “This latest gamble suggests that Sue Perkins is being lined up to replace Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear.
“When betting first opened on Clarkson’s successor, it was one-way traffic for Jodie Kidd and now today’s flutter has convinced us that a female is in the driving seat”.
Top Gear will continue, although it is unclear whether James May and Richard Hammond will remain.
However Mr Tymon’s lawyer Paul Daniels has since issued a statement saying: “Mr Tymon has informed the police that he doesn’t want to press charges.
Police yesterday confirmed that Clarkson would not face charges.
A petition set up by Guido Fawkes blogger on Change.org to bring back Clarkson has been signed by over a million people.
Clarkson has been accused of homophobia in the past.
He apologised last year for a tweet he sent containing a picture of himself with a sign saying “gay c*nt”.
Clarkson tweeted the image featuring fellow Top Gear host James May, along with the caption “Sadly, I fell asleep on the plane.”
Piers Morgan tweeted to criticise the Top Gear presenter for the tweet, noting his “flabby neck”.
In 2010, Clarkson was criticised for appearing on the show with Alistair Campbell, and in a scene which was deleted saying: “I demand the right not to be bummed.”
