Top Gear fans hoping to see Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond reunited for a new motoring show will be bitterly disappointed by news the men have been banned from launching a new program until 2017.
Recent reports suggested the trio were in negotiations with both Netflix and ITV about a new show, but a new report by the UK Mirror alleges a clause in their BBC contracts prohibits them from doing so for another two years.
While Clarkson, May and Hammond are about to embark on a string of live Australian shows, the revelation is set to disappoint fans of the show after the men's departure from Top Gear earlier this year.
Clarkson, 55, was sacked by the BBC in March for assaulting a producer. Hammond and May also quit the program shortly after. May said it would be a "daft idea" to do the show without Clarkson, while May said he was "not about to quit my mates".
The men may be able to work their way around the clause however, which reportedly prohibits them from launching a rival motoring show on a UK channel in the next two years.
If the trio were to sign with Netflix, a US-based streaming service, they could still launch a show before 2017. In June, Clarkson confirmed he was negotating with US firms about a new television project.
The three men were also spotted last month meeting with ITV boss Peter Fincham. The BBC clause may put an end to the ITV negotations, however, as it is a UK television station.
In June, radio presenter Chris Evans was announced as the new face of a revamped Top Gear which will re-launch in April next year.
Earlier reports suggested Clarkson's new ITV program would compete directly against Chris Evans' Top Gear, creating a headache for his former employer.
Correction: This story originally reported that Top Gear's weekly audience was 500 million.
