LONDON -- Jeremy Clarkson may be persona non grata around the BBC right now, but supporters have been rallying online and calling on the broadcaster to reinstate the controversial Top Gear presenter.
Clarkson was suspended Tuesday after allegedly punching one of Top Gear's producers. BBC News reported Wednesday that the broadcaster is expected to scrap the rest of the series. The presenter hasn't made any comment about the 'fracas'.
The hashtag #BringBackClarkson was trending on Twitter Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, while an online petition already had more than 240,000 signatures.
Even his daughter joined in, making a personal appeal.
Oh God, BBC please take him back... He's started cooking...— Em Clarkson (@EmClarkson1) March 10, 2015
ITV reported that Change.org, which is hosting the Clarkson petition set up by political website Guido Fawkes Tuesday evening, crashed due to demand.
http://t.co/uS6Hl0aEAp update: 7 hours ago: Guido Fawkes started this petition 14 minutes ago: 100,000 supporters https://t.co/wTSgStti7O— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) March 11, 2015
"I pay my TV license to ensure that irreverent people can express themselves. If you become... politically correct, you may disappear BBC," Veronique Favreau wrote on the petition which asks the BBC to reinstate the presenter.
"Jeremy is a bastion of light in a dark PC world," wrote Charlie Hougton.
There was a similar sentiment on Twitter:
He might be an idiot. But he's our idiot. #BringBackClarkson pic.twitter.com/xx4rZCMS8X— Ben (@SimplyBenGenius) March 11, 2015
I'm surprised, or just haven't seen yet, someone do this Re: @JeremyClarkson, so I did it myself. #BringBackClarkson pic.twitter.com/6TN5TGeLvn— Dæl (@dalehay) March 10, 2015
Not everyone wants him back though.
Sorry, #BringBackClarkson? Nah I'm good cheers.— Susie Verrill (@rugbycupcakes) March 11, 2015
please don't #BringBackClarkson ...— Sara (@Sara_gP12) March 11, 2015