BBC cancels ‘Top Gear’ after host Jeremy Clarkson punches out producer (Update)

UPDATE After the surprise announcement earlier today that Jeremy Clarkson had been suspended from Top Gear for an unspecified "fracas" with a producer, more details have made it to the U.K. press: According to Radio Times, the host was suspended after throwing a punch at a BBC producer. The report also says that the final two episodes of this season of the show have been canceled.

The Radio Times report states that, while the incident occurred last week, it was reported to the BBC only yesterday, prompting today's action against Clarkson. Initially, the BBC announced that the upcoming episode of Top Gear would not air on March 15 as scheduled, but Radio Times says the final two episodes of season 22, scheduled for March 22 and 29, have also been canceled. The BBC had not updated its statement at the time of this writing.

After the surprise announcement earlier today that Jeremy Clarkson had been suspended from Top Gear for an unspecified "fracas" with a producer, more details have made it to the U.K. press: According to Radio Times, the host was suspended after throwing a punch at a BBC producer. The report also says that the final two episodes of this season of the show have been canceled.

The Radio Times report states that, while the incident occurred last week, it was reported to the BBC only yesterday, prompting today’s action against Clarkson. Initially, the BBC announced that the upcoming episode of Top Gear would not air on March 15 as scheduled, but Radio Times says the final two episodes of season 22, scheduled for March 22 and 29, have also been canceled. The BBC had not updated its statement at the time of this writing. Car & Driver

03/11/15 Britain's BBC said today it suspended Jeremy Clarkson, the host of the globally popular "Top Gear" show, after he was involved in a fracas with one of the broadcaster's producers.

"Following a fracas with a BBC producer, Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation," the broadcaster said in a statement. "No one else has been suspended."

The BBC said the car-focused show would not be broadcast on Sunday.

Top Gear has been recognized by Guinness World Recordsas the most-watched factual television show of all time, with episodes broadcast in more than 200 countries and territories.

Clarkson, 54, has been censured in the past by the BBC and has courted controversy on several occasions during his time on the magazine-style show. The BBC said it would not comment any further on the matter and Clarkson could not immediately be reached.