The BBC could be painting itself into a corner. Whether you like the programme or not, it's the biggest earner that they have. It's shown in dozens of countries and there are other versions, such as the American one that altogether rake in millions for the Beeb.
I'm not sure what'll happen to Clarkson. He did own but has now sold the programme rights to the BBC or the answer would be to take it, lock stock and barrel to another channel. If they do sack him, without a doubt he would be impossible to replace and any future Top Gear would be seen as inferior. If not in content, certainly as a cash cow.
It'll be interesting to know what did actually happen. It would also be interesting to discover whether, like I suspect some of the other antics of late this is all a wheeze to keep the show ratings and saleability up. The presenters are not getting any younger and the show in that format has been going for a good while now.
Some of the other "incidents" I do believe could have been edited out if they wanted. The "slope" incident was obviously pre-recorded. The same with the "eeny meeny" thing. Which leads me to believe that they were left in to give the programmes the edge they need and to paint Clarkson as the bad boy, an image he obviously nurtures. I might be wrong, but I guess time will tell.