Jeremy Clarkson claims he hasn't heard "a sausage" from the BBC about his future at the Corporation as bosses continue to decide whether he should be sacked for allegedly punching a producer in a row over a steak dinner.
The Top Gear host, 54, has been left in limbo for two weeks since the BBC announced his suspension following what it described as "a fracas" with Oisin Tymon.
Both Clarkson and Mr Tymon have given evidence to an internal BBC investigation, led by inquisitor-in-chief Ken MacQuarrie, into what happened and the star's future was expected to be decided as soon as today.
However, despite murmurings of an imminent decision, Clarkson emerged from his west London home this evening and claimed to have heard "nothing".
He told reporters at 4.40pm that he had heard, "Nothing. Not a sausage."
He then added: "So I'm really sorry but I don't think you're going to find anything out today."
Wearing a brown suit jacket, blue checked shirt and jeans, he walked awkwardly towards a waiting cab with his phone in his hand.
Clarkson was suspended by the BBC two weeks ago, for allegedly punching Mr Tymon when he was offered cold cuts of meat instead of a hot steak after a long day of filming.
He is also said to have called the producer, who has worked on more than 70 episodes of the show, a "lazy Irish ****".
If Clarkson is sacked it will probably end the corporation's most successful show, because Top Gear is sold in more than 200 countries, bringing in around £50 million a year for the BBC.
It is understood co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond are likely to refuse to continue if Clarkson's BBC career is ended by the alleged fight at a luxury hotel earlier this month.
Friends have reportedly said that if he is fired Clarkson has said he will "not go quietly".
Industry sources have suggested that if Clarkson is allowed to stay on the BBC may create a new Top Gear producer solely to act as a go-between the show's team and the BBC's management to help deal with any future crisis Clarkson may cause.
But the BBC is facing mounting pressure not to let Jeremy Clarkson off the hook if its investigation concludes that he did punch a Top Gear producer.
Ben Cooper, controller of BBC Radio 1, said that he wouldn't expect members of his family to put up with such treatment at work and that the allegations must be "dealt with in a very serious way".
"If my son or daughter went to a place of work where they were shouted at, abused and someone threw a punch at them, then I would want there to be an inquiry and I would want that to be dealt with in a very serious way," he said.
Petrolhead Jeremy Clarkson appeared to be preparing for life after Top Gearyesterday by shunning his car and choosing to go for a bike ride instead.
He smiled and waved to photographers but his future at the BBC looks increasingly bleak after a series of Top Gear Live tour dates worth £1 million to the corporation were axed.
The four roadshows scheduled for Norway next weekend were scrapped.
- Daily Mail