Top Gear is light entertainment. It is three, middle-aged mates larking about with the glue being their interest in cars. The central dynamic to its success is the relationship between the three of them - their banter, cock-ups, adventures, daft ideas etc. That's why so many people watch it. Take that away and it is finished as a show. There are not replaceable. There is no mass market for a show presented by, or in the style of a 21st Century version of William f##king Woollard. Fifth Gear is fine - when I can be bothered to very occasionally watch it. And I'm an enthusiast, so what does that suggest about the mass audience potential?
Danny Cohen and the other hateful, PC, left-biased drones running the Beeb have been aching for an opportunity to get rid of Clarkson for years.
If they get their wish this time though they may just regret it when the hundreds of millions the show makes in global syndication, merch, etc., dry up. Also, cue Sky or ITV stepping in with mega-offers. Of course, the Beeb can just pretend their lofty moral high ground takes precedence as it doesn't need to actually make money what with the licence fee screwing us all annually.
Interesting to note that none of the three seem to consider it a serious situation. Jeremy, Hamster and May were all taking the **** a bit on Twitter last night and Clarkson was seen in the pub and quoted from Shaun of the Dead, saying "I'm going to have a nice cold pint and wait until this blows over". The media are being hysterical and the Beeb look shifty and opportunist in their reaction (pulling the rest of the planned series... really necessary?).
If it does go pop, it might incentivise Clarkson and the others to kick things up a gear consistency-wise with a new version elsewhere.