IN PHOTO: BBC automobile program Top Gear presenters James May (L), Jeremy Clarkson (C) and Richard Hammond pose outside 10 Downing Street in London November 29, 2011.
BBC automobile program Top Gear presenters James May (L), Jeremy Clarkson (C) and Richard Hammond pose outside 10 Downing Street in London November 29, 2011. The three had been filming an episode segment in the street. Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett

After Jeremy Clarkson left "Top Gear," BBC plans to reconfigure the British show with different host per episode along the lines of the news quiz show "Have I Got News For You?" According to the reports, James May and Richard Hammond have been offered £1 million [$2 million] per year by the network.

On June 5, a BBC source informed Independent UK that May and Hammond reportedly have been offered £1million the network to keep "Top Gear" going after Clarkson's departure. The source added that instead of finding his replacement, the network wanted to reconfigure the show along the lines of the post-Angus Deayton "Have I Got News For You?" with a different guest hosting each episode. Although the duo announced their loyalty to Clarkson, both of them may have taken the trouble not to resign.
On the same day, the duo have finally finished filming the remaining episodes of their show that were put on hold after Clarkson's departure. May and Hammond filmed test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey this week.
Although there were reports saying that the duo have been offered a deal, it is unclear if the two will continue hosting the show and accept the offer, or the episodes that they filmed are their last appearances on the show. If the reports are true about the deal, they will be among the corporation's highest earners.
According to Telegraph, network's tactic for Top Gear is not new as it had been for "Have I Got News For You" host Deayton. The presenter was fired after reports emerged about his drug use and encounters with prostitutes.
William Hill, a website that offers streaming of Top Gear episodes, slashed the odds of Clarkson returning on the show after the "Top Gear" fans filed a petition on Change.org on March 20 to keep Clarkson on the show, as well as the odds of keeping the two co-hosts. "Just a week ago we were offering 5-1 for them to return for another series of Top Gear, but following news of the sums that have been offered to the pair, we have slashed the odds to 5-4," the company's rep William Hill told the Press Association.
For questions/comments regarding the article, you may email the writer at saraht.ibtimes@gmail.com.
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