LONDON, England - There was further fallout from the BBC's sacking of Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, as Britain's public broadcaster confirmed the producer of the top-rated motoring show was also leaving.
The BBC said on its website Andy Wilman "has quit the BBC show in the wake of Jeremy Clarkson's departure".
It added that Wilman "was an old schoolfriend of Clarkson, helped reinvent the show and oversaw its growth into a globally successful programme".
CLARKSON 'FRACAS'
Wilman had previously denied he was leaving when a leaked email suggested he was, the BBC said.
Clarkson, an opinionated and outspoken media figure, was suspended by the BBC in March after he was involved in a "fracas" while on a shoot for the show, which is syndicated around the world and is one of the BBC's most successful and lucrative programmes.
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Just over two weeks later, the BBC announced it had dropped Clarkson, saying he had been responsible for an "unprovoked physical and verbal attack" that left a colleague bleeding and in need of hospital treatment.