Jeremy Clarkson to earn almost $15 million for new Amazon Prime series

Speaking at the Edinburgh worldwide TV Festival, Shillinglaw also spoke about the ending of Clarkson’s contract, saying it was “very sad” and exposed the “human frailties” of working in television.

Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial departure from Top Gear was “very, very sad”, controller of BBC Two Kim Shillinglaw has said.

When asked about the new series of Top Gear under Evans, she said she is “so excited and of course terrified”. “You will see Dunsfold [the show’s test track] looking quite interesting, the presenter line-up is going to be a bit different”. She also promised that it would be “really different” from the Clarkson era.

Evans is a renowned petrol-head who has a passion for cars. “There will be some changes, and it’s scary, but it’s really exciting”.

If you’re having trouble picturing the difference between what the budget was for a Top Gear episode and what they’ll have with Amazon Prime, just know that the BBC only spared £500,000 ($770,000) per show, with the occasional £1 million ($1.5 million) episode.

Clarkson was dropped by the BBC in March after an internal report found the presenter was responsible for an “unprovoked physical and verbal attack” that left colleague Oisin Tymon bleeding and seeking hospital treatment. “I am, and always will be, fond of Jeremy, James and Richard”.

“It was just very, very sad the way in which very, very human frailties, that you have to … be respectful of and understanding of, became part of the story”.

Ms Shillinglaw said what happened was not something that was “acceptable”, adding that she does not think any other organisation would find it as such.