Former Top Gear producer Andy Wilman has claimed that BBC management attempted to remove one of the programme's presenters due to concerns about the presenting team being "too white".
In his new memoir, Mr Wilman alleges that senior executives at the corporation proposed replacing either Jeremy Clarkson, James May or Richard Hammond with a younger presenter from a Black or Asian background.
The suggestion emerged despite the motoring programme achieving unprecedented global success with its existing line-up. At its height, the show commanded an audience of 350 million viewers worldwide, establishing itself as one of the BBC's most successful exports.
Mr Wilman's book provides an insider's perspective on the tensions between Top Gear's production team and BBC management over diversity representation during the programme's most successful period.
Andy Wilman
|PA
According to Mr Wilman's account, he was called to a meeting where BBC executives expressed "tremendous news" about the programme attracting young Black and Asian viewers.
An executive then proposed: "So, how about replacing one of your line-up with a young... black or Asian presenter."
Mr Wilman challenged this logic, responding that these viewers had "chosen, seemingly quite happily, to watch three white, middle-class, middle-aged men" and questioned whether breaking up the successful team would be "patronising to... young black and Asian viewers?"
The producer writes that he knew this response was "checkmate" as he had "managed to get patronising and ethnic diversity into the same sentence."
Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May worked together for more than two decades | GETTYLATEST ENTERTAINMENT NEWS:
His argument apparently succeeded, as the original trio continued presenting together until their tenure came to an end in 2015.
The programme's remarkable viewing figures came despite BBC management expressing reservations about the presenting team's composition from the outset. When Mr Wilman suggested bringing Mr May aboard in 2003, corporation executives resisted, citing concerns about having "three white, middleish-aged males" fronting the show.
Mr Wilman notes in his memoir that such objections would likely be expressed more directly today. He successfully countered management's preference for "chalk and cheese" by citing examples like Trinny and Susannah, demonstrating that "cheese and cheese" partnerships could achieve television success.
These disagreements persisted throughout the programme's run, even as it became the corporation's most valuable global property.
Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond hosted BBC's Top Gear until 2015 | GETTY
The programme faced mounting controversies that strained its relationship with BBC management. Incidents included complaints about characterising Mexicans as lazy and Mr Clarkson's use of a derogatory term whilst filming in Thailand, which Mr Wilman acknowledges was "stupid" and resulted from becoming "giddy on our own popularity".
Following these controversies, the BBC conducted an internal investigation into Top Gear's workplace culture. Mr Wilman describes this as "a politically motivated witch-hunt" and "a f***ing joke", though the report ultimately cleared the programme of wrongdoing whilst noting the BBC relationship was "totally and utterly broken".
The trio's fate was sealed in March 2015 when Mr Clarkson had an altercation with producer Oisin Tymon, leading to his contract not being renewed despite a million-signature petition.
Following the BBC departure, Mr Wilman joined Mr Clarkson, Mr Hammond and Mr May at Amazon to create The Grand Tour, which launched in 2016 with significantly larger budgets.
Andy wilman now work with Jeremy Clarkson on Clarkson's Farm
| AMAZONThe team now produces Clarkson's Farm, with Mr Wilman currently planning the sixth series. He describes the agricultural programme as "a good deal gentler" than their previous ventures, noting "the worst that can happen is a few bumps and scrapes involving agricultural machinery".
Mr Wilman's memoir offers unprecedented insight into the behind-the-scenes dynamics that shaped one of British television's most successful yet controversial programmes, including his decision to remove Top Gear's awards from the BBC trophy cabinet during "his own little Ocean's Eleven" with his son.
GB News has conatcted the BBC for a comment on Mr Wilman's claims.