Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has criticised the BBC ahead of tonight's final episode of the show on BBC Two.
Clarkson tweeted: "Strange that BBC News is talking down the last Top Gear tonight. Do they not want big ratings for some reason?"
His co-presenter, Richard Hammond, replied asking: "Oh, is it on? Always liked that."
The third of their presenting trio, James May, didn't join the conversation on Social Media, instead tweeting that tonight he thinks he'll attend ‘a pleasant Sunday evening recital by AC/DC’.
Meanwhile the feud between new Top Gear presenter Chris Evans and Clarkson looks set to be revved up after it emerged the former Top Gear host is planning to make his new series for the opposition ITV.
Television bosses at ITV are preparing to go head-to-head with the BBC by airing the new rival programme in Top Gear's traditional time slot - 8pm on Sunday nights.
New Top Gear presenter Chris Evans.
Clarkson and co-presenters May and Hammond are said to have 'jumped at the chance' to do battle with Evans in a TV ratings war.
A source close to the ITV negotiations told Nigel Pauley for the Sunday People newspaper: "The boys believe with the backing of ITV and a prime-time slot they can easily match, and probably beat, their BBC2 viewing figures. The thought of making a show for the BBC's main rival is very appealing for them."
It is believed Clarkson, 55, who was pictured getting close to a mystery woman at a Who concert in London on Friday, sees signing for ITV as the 'perfect revenge' for his treatment by the BBC.
He was angered by comments made by an unnamed BBC executive prior to the cancellation of his £1million-a-year contract, who likened the former Top Gear host to serial child abuser Jimmy Savile.
Evans and Clarkson have been embroiled in an ongoing public spat over the Top Gear job, with the former rubbishing Clarkson's claim that he was asked to return to the show.
After Evans suggested it was a product of his friend's imagination, Clarkson wrote that he had been thinking of a 'tactful way of saying: "I'd rather eat my own head" when Evans sent him a courtesy text to say he'd been made the new host.
And the revelation that Evans has invited producer Oisin Tymon to return to the revamped Top Gear show is unlikely to improve relations between the warring pair.
Mr Tymon was punched by Clarkson in the infamous fracas that led to the former Top Gear host being axed.
The final Top Gear episode featuring Clarkson, May and Hammond was to be aired tonight and the BBC was anticipating record ratings.
But there will be an elephant in the room - and he's called Jeremy.
-Daily Mail