One thing coming out of show biz rumors is that the BBC is rethinking the entire thing now that James and Richard have walked. Their contracts are up and they could both move on to other things so why do they need Top Gear?

The rumor is that the BBC will get a new Producer who will ride heard over Clarkson and control his behavior. This is, in show biz term, nothing new as lots of movie stars have had the same clause in their contracts at one time or another.

Errol Flynn had studio minders that let him live like he wanted but kept him from killing anyone. They also had to police the age of the girls at his parties. He was a money machine but if the public had known the extent of his private life his star would have faded quickly. Ergo... The minders.

Even John Wayne had 'people' who let him be John Wayne but they also had to deal with idiots who wanted to pick a fight with him. Wayne was the first to agree to a fight with anyone who thought he was man enough to take him but his minders always managed to deal with the situation so no one got hurt.

Wayne was always open to being out in public and would often order drinks for the house if he was in a small bar somewhere. He was friendly, funny and nice company but that left him open to being approached by folks wanting to make a name for themselves. The minders were not so much bodyguards as intercessors who would convince the idiot that he did not want to receive a pounding from someone who could really lay one on them.

Hopefully Clarkson would not have to change too much of his act. His non PC behavior, always followed by critical remarks from James and Richard, is a driver of the format and the show would not be the same without it.