Jeremy Clarkson suspended because of a fracas: Just what is going on

What is going on?

Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended by the BBC following a "fracas" with a producer, as first revealed by The Independent's Adam Sherwin. This Sunday's edition of Top Gear has been cancelled while an investigation is carried out.

What's been said on the record?

In a statement, the BBC said:

Following a fracas with a BBC producer Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation. No one else has been suspended. Top Gear will not be broadcast this Sunday.

The BBC will be making no further comment at this time.

Clarkson has said nothing, as of yet.

What exactly is a fracas?

According to the Oxford English dictionary, a fracas is a "noisy disturbance or quarrel". It is also definitely pronounced frak-ah (not frak-as or frak-us, whatever people may tell you).

What're the implications?

Clarkson was already on a final warning from the BBC following allegations of racism. Without prejudging the BBC investigation, this could be the last of his nine lives.

As Adam Sherwin notes, Top Gear is extremely lucrative for BBC Worldwide, the Beeb's commercial arm. They will be absolutely loath to lose one of the stars of what has been described by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most-watched factual television programme.

Watch this space...

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