Jeremy Clarkson sacked: Channel 4 and other major broadcasters rule out hiring him

He will have to look for work further afield than the main terrestrial channels

Jeremy Clarkson’s job prospects in the wake of his sacking from Top Gear appear to be going downhill as several major channels have already ruled themselves out of hiring him.

The veteran presenter is largely credited with the commercial success of Top Gear and a petition asking the BBC to reinstate him gained more than a million signatories.

Sky owner Rupert Murdoch tweeted: “How stupid can BBC be in firing Jeremy Clarkson? Funny man with great expertise and huge following,” leading to speculation that Sky could make an approach.

However, it is understood that Sky is not interested in working with him.

Channel 4 responded to speculation they could hire him by releasing a statement saying they have “no plans to work with Jeremy Clarkson."

A spokesman for ITV said they would not comment on "a BBC issue" but it is understood they are not about to make a bid for the BBC veteran presenter.

Netflix told the Independent they had “no comment” on his sacking and were not prepared to say anything about a petition launched this afternoon asking the streaming site to hire Clarkson.

More than 300 have already signed the petition, which also requests that Clarkson’s Top Gear co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond are hired for a Netflix show which would “allow them to create their own show and continue to be the best auto show hosts in the world”.

Top Gear, which is viewed in 170 territories and generates an estimated £50 million a year for the BBC, will continue without Clarkson.

The BBC today confirmed he would not return to the channel following a “fracas” between the presenter and Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon at a Yorkshire hotel which led to the latter driving himself to A&E.

The BBC director general Tony Hall released a statement saying a "line has been crossed" by Clarkson in what he described as a “physical altercation accompanied by sustained and prolonged verbal abuse of an extreme nature”.

"There cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another dictated by either rank, or public relations and commercial considerations," he said.

The BBC said North Yorkshire police have asked to see the report into the incident.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: "North Yorkshire Police is liaising with the BBC regarding the alleged incident in North Yorkshire involving Jeremy Clarkson.

"We have asked the BBC for the report which details the findings of their internal investigation into the matter.

"The information will be assessed appropriately and action will be taken by North Yorkshire Police where necessary.

"It would not be appropriate for North Yorkshire Police to comment further at this time."