Jeremy Clarkson could return to Top Gear if he faces up to ‘ his own shortcomings ’ , a senior BBC source hinted last night . The insider said the 54-year-old presenter , who is currently suspended after allegedly assaulting assistant producer Oisin Tymon , might be allowed to come back if he ‘ sorted himself out ’ . The source , who asked not to be named , said : ‘ Jeremy wants to stay with the programme and one possible way of him doing that would be if he could face up to his own shortcomings . Scroll down for video . Suspended : A BBC insider has suggested Jeremy Clarkson ( pictured at the Roundhouse theatre this week ) might be allowed to come back if he 'sorted himself out ' ‘ He has a great deal of public support and of course that shouldn ’ t be ignored . But he does needs to rest and sort himself out. ’ The remarks come after The Mail on Sunday provoked an outcry last week when we revealed that a BBC executive had likened Clarkson ’ s support from politicians to that given to paedophile Jimmy Savile . The Corporation is due to decide Mr Clarkson ’ s fate this week , after he was suspended pending an independent review into allegations surrounding the alleged assault . To the disappointment of millions of fans , Top Gear has also been taken off the air . The BBC and Clarkson have been locked into a bitter war of words since it emerged he had been involved in an altercation with Tymon reportedly sparked by a row over the lack of hot food at a hotel . The 54-year-old presenter ( right ) is currently suspended after allegedly assaulting assistant producer Oisin Tymon ( left ) During a briefing to this newspaper last week , a BBC executive also claimed the host was ‘ self-destructing ’ and should go into rehab . Since then , the Corporation and the presenter have refused to comment publicly about the affair . Clarkson does not deny ranting at the producer but other claims that he punched his colleague remain unsubstantiated . Ken MacQuarrie , head of BBC Scotland , who has been investigating the claims , is due to report to BBC director-general Lord Hall , who will then decide on the star ’ s fate . But a senior BBC source has now told the MoS there is a growing realisation within the Corporation that it was a mistake to take Top Gear off the air while an investigation was under way . He said : ‘ The programme could have and should have carried on during Clarkson ’ s suspension. ’ He declined to comment on suggestions that the star needed to spend time in rehab : ‘ I think he kind of knows he has to sort himself out . I don ’ t know if he should go into rehab or not . It ’ s not for me to say. ’ Last week , the MoS ’ s story showed the extent of BBC briefing against the highly-paid presenter , with an executive likening Tymon ’ s position to that of Savile ’ s victims who feared they would not be believed while he was alive . The executive said : ‘ The pressure this guy [ Tymon ] is under is so Savilesque in a way . ‘ If you look at what David Cameron says or what [ former Culture and Media Secretary ] Maria Miller says and you swap Clarkson for Savile , you get this : David Cameron is effectively saying that Savile ’ s a real talent , Maria Miller is saying Savile will be Savile. ’ The comments were strongly condemned by both Savile ’ s victims and a furious Clarkson , who has since called in lawyers in a bid to identify the source of the comparison . A BBC spokesman last night declined to comment on the idea that Clarkson could return to the Corporation . He said that it would not be offering ‘ further commentary ’ on the matter until Lord Hall had made his decision .
Presenter was suspended after allegedly assaulting producer Oisin Tymon . But might be allowed to come back if he 'face up to his own shortcomings ' Senior BBC source says public support for Clarkson 'shouldn ’ t be ignored ' BBC has taken Top Gear off air and will decide 54-year-old ’ s fate this week .