Clarkson says the BBC asked him to return

Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson was offered a sensational return to the hit show, he said days after his job was given to Chris Evans.

His claim comes as one of his former colleagues, James May, was announced as the host of another BBC motoring show and as pictures were released of the pair with Richard Hammond in their final Top Gear appearance.

Clarkson, axed in March for punching producer Oisin Tymon in a row over a steak dinner, told The Sun he met an unnamed BBC executive last week, before Evans was unveiled as the new host.