jeremy clarkson, james may and richard hammond today held talks with top gear executive producer andy wilman   just hours before it was sensationally announced he had quit the bbc the resignation  marks another blow for the hugely popular show, which has been marred by uncertainty since clarkson was axed  last month following a  'fracas' with a producer it means mr wilman, a childhood friend of clarkson who helped revamp top gear into the corporation's most successful programme, is now free to reunite with the team on a rival channel there is widespread speculation that the men are  working on a new motoring series to be aired by netflix, amazon or another british broadcaster   in what would be a nightmare scenario for the bbc scroll down for video  back together: jeremy clarkson (left) is seen with his top gear colleagues james may (centre) and richard hammond (right) outside his  west london flat, in their first public appearance since he was sacked  discussions: top gear executive producer andy wilman (front centre) was also present at the meeting today, just hours before it was sensationally announced he had quit the bbc, in what is another blow for the show  presenters: may had earlier said the bbc would be 'stupid' to try a version of the hit motoring show with 'a surrogate jeremy', richard hammond and himself   adding that the idea was a ‘non starter’ something to smile about? the presenter looked in high spirits as he left the property with mr wilman a bbc spokesman would not comment on the producer's resignation other than to confirm it  put it there: hammond and clarkson shake hands as they part ways on a west london street  the men were photographed today outside clarkson's home in west london   their first public appearance together since the presenter was dropped from top gear   before moving on to a pub earlier today, may ruled out returning to top gear without clarkson, insisting it would be 'lame' with a new presenter in place of his sacked co host the 52 year old said the bbc would be ‘stupid’ to try a version of the programme with 'a surrogate jeremy', hammond and himself   adding that the idea was a ‘non starter’ his comments mean that if the show does return next year, it will likely be with an entirely new presenting team both may and hammond saw their contracts finish last month casual: speaking  today, may, pictured tonight, said he had just been 'having a pint' with his co stars  may told the guardian: ‘me and hammond with a surrogate jeremy is a non starter, it just wouldn’t work that would be lame, or “awks” as young people say ‘it has to be the three of us you can’t just put a surrogate jeremy in and expect it to carry on it would be forced i don’t believe they would be stupid enough to try that ‘it doesn’t mean i won’t go back   we may all go back in the future it might just be we have a break from it i don’t know it would be a bloody tough call to do top gear without jeremy’ former x factor host dermot o'leary, model jodie kidd and great british bake off host sue perkins have all been named as possible replacements for clarkson speaking after the meeting today, may said he had just been 'having a pint' with his co stars and mr wilman, adding that he still didn't know what he would do in the future this evening, a bbc spokeswoman confirmed that mr wilman, top gear's longstanding executive producer and clarkson's right hand man, had handed  bosses his resignation she would not say whether or not the decision was related to the outspoken presenter it comes just weeks after an email from mr wilman to colleagues titled 'au revoir' was leaked in the email, the 52 year old, who has  made millions from the show, congratulated staff on making 'one of the most iconic programmes in tv history' 'at least we left 'em wanting more and that alone, when you think about it, is quite an achievement for a show that started 13 years ago,' he wrote after the email was leaked, mr wilman announced publicly that it had not been a resignation the revelations today come after bbc2 boss kim shillinglaw, who has been tasked with finding a replacement for clarkson on top gear, said the presenter ‘will be back on the bbc’ at some point leaving: hammond arrived at the flat first, before may came in a bmw car   followed by mr wilman's arrival  waving: it comes a day after bbc2 boss kim shillinglaw, who has been tasked with finding a replacement for clarkson (left) on top gear, said the 55 year old presenter ‘will be back on the bbc’ at some point  keeping mum: the group has not yet revealed whether it will work together on another car programme  miss shillinglaw also confirmed clarkson's final top gear scenes will be screened later this year and she was not thinking of his replacement ‘in terms of gender’ clarkson was sacked by the bbc after an ‘unprovoked physical and verbal’ attack in north yorkshire that left his victim, top gear producer oisin tymon, in need of hospital treatment the star was suspended last month when he became the subject of an internal bbc investigation after he attacked mr tymon, 36, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him clarkson's contract was not renewed, with director general tony hall saying at the time 'a line has been crossed' and 'there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another' hosts: clarkson (centre   with fellow presenters richard hammond, left, and may, right) was sacked by the bbc after an ‘unprovoked physical and verbal’ attack  that left his victim in need of hospital treatment  victim: clarkson was suspended last month when he became the subject of an internal bbc investigation after he attacked top gear producer oisin tymon (pictured), 36, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him  clarkson said he considered turning his back on presenting altogether in the immediate fall out from the incident, but has since stated that he expects to present another tv show on cars in the future earlier this month, north yorkshire police said that following an investigation clarkson would face no further police action over his attack on the producer at a hotel in hawes meanwhile, clarkson revealed in a newspaper column earlier this month that he was told by a doctor that he might have cancer, two days before assaulting mr tymon top gear   which is said to generate about £50million a year for bbc worldwide   is viewed by more than six million viewers on bbc2 and watched in more than 200 countries dermot o'leary (6/4) bookmakers’ favourite o'leary, 41, is currently being lined up to host a different prime time bbc one motoring show   after ending his eight year stint as host of itv's the x factor last month philip glenister (11/4) car enthusiast glenister, 52, known for playing a politically incorrect police detective in tv series life on mars, is presenting the second series of for the love of cars on channel 4 jodie kidd (5/1) the 36 year old model owns a number of cars, co presents the classic car show on channel 5 and achieved one of the fastest lap times as a top gear 'star in a reasonably priced car' guy martin (13/2) the 33 year old motorcycle star made channel 4 programme speed, and said last month: 'i don’t want to try and be the man who replaced jeremy clarkson, but never say never' favourites: presenter dermot o'leary, actor philip glenister, model jodie kidd and motorcyclist guy martin  chris evans (8/1) bbc radio 2 host evans, 49, another well known car enthusiast, has been tipped as a favourite   but told listeners last month that claims he would replace clarkson were 'absolute nonsense' sue perkins (10/1) great british bake off host sue perkins, 45, was named as the favourite a fortnight ago, but this prompted a barrage of abusive tweets from ‘blokes wishing me dead’, which saw her quit twitter stephen fry (14/1) qi presenter stephen fry, 57, has appeared on top gear twice   but has been repeatedly prosecuted for speeding and managed to crash and write off the reasonably priced car steve coogan (14/1) a tongue in cheek petition signed by more than 34,000 people is calling on the bbc to hire fictional broadcaster alan partridge   played by 49 year old coogan   as the new presenter fifth to eight: chris evans, sue perkins, stephen fry and steve coogan are also said to be in the running  odds supplied by bookmaker paddy power 
clarkson james may top gear came hours bbc london jeremy andy wilman wilman
presenters met with top gear executive producer andy wilman in london  came hours after mr wilman, a close friend of clarkson, quit the bbc  meeting fueled speculation that team will reunite to launch show with rival  james may says bbc should not attempt show with 'surrogate jeremy'