Jeremy Clarkson to sign 3 year deal with <em>Top Gear</em>

Los Angeles - Jeremy Clarkson is close to signing a three-year deal for Top Gear.

The 54-year-old presenter could be set to front the popular BBC Two show for another three years despite being involved in a number of controversial incidents over the past year.

A source shared: "All indications are the contract with BBC Worldwide will be renewed shortly and is likely to run for three years."

The outspoken journalist - who presents the motoring show alongside Richard Hammond and James May - reportedly receives a huge fee of £1m as well as a further seven-figure sum from BBC Worldwide for the job.

And despite receiving a number of calls for Jeremy to be sacked, BBC director-general Lord Tony Hall appears to be in no rush to replace him.

He told Radio Times magazine: "It's a programme loads of people love and it's important the BBC doesn't have just one voice."

Meanwhile, the stars of the show have started a campaign to help musician Steve Harley pay off a speeding fine.

They have encouraged viewers to download his hit single 'Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)' after he was caught travelling at 70 miles per hour in a 40mph zone and handed a £1 000 penalty.

Speaking on this past Sunday night's Top Gear Richard said: "Imagine if everybody did it - he would wake up tomorrow and think, 'I'm number one, where did that come from?' It would cheer him up."

The track - which Harley recorded with his band Cockney Rebel in 1975 - has since shot up the iTunes
download chart.