Now that some of the dust has settled from the fracas debacle that cost Clarkson his gig with the BBC as one of the hosts of Top Gear, we’re finally starting to see some potential good news for fans of both the host and the series, though nothing appears to be set in stone just yet.

Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon looking particularly punchable on the show’s set. Image: BBC

First up is the news from Kim Shillinglaw, BBC Two’s controller, that the final three episodes of the most recent series (also known as a season for us in the US) will be aired on the channel this summer. How that will be done exactly remains to be seen, as the in-studio elements the last three episodes were never filmed, so each would theoretically run short of the normal one hour length of the show.

Shillinglaw also revealed that the BBC is actively seeking out Clarkson’s replacement, and from the looks of it, she’ll be in search of James May’s replacement as well, since he recently told the Guardian that “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.” And with that news, it’s quite likely Richard Hammond will follow suit as well.

Meanwhile, in his new editorial column in the Sunday Times, Clarkson offered several interesting revelations, including some insight into his mental state leading up to his dust-up with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon.

One of the likely facial expressions Clarkson made after discovering the BBC had canned him. Image: Matt Crossick/PA

“I’d been told, sternly, by my doctor that the lump on my tongue was probably cancer and that I must get it checked out immediately. But I couldn’t do that. We were in the middle of a Top Gear series. And Top Gear always came first,” Clarkson said of a conversation that took place two days before the incident with Tymon.

Fortunately that prognosis turned out to be false. Even better news for fans of Clarkson’s contributions to automotive entertainment is the reassurance that he will be creating another motoring show, though were, and with whom, remain a mystery:

“I have lost my baby but I shall create another. Let’s stop being silly and pick up the pieces and start again… I just know I’m going to do another car show.”