Jeremy Clarkson returns to Top Gear for first time since 2015 for Sabine Schmitz tribute

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Jeremy Clarkson is returning to Top Gear for the first time since his departure in 2015, to pay tribute to the late motor racing driver Sabine Schmitz.

Schmitz died of cancer last month. She had regularly appeared on Top Gear, and will be the focus of a special memorial episode airing on BBC One later this week.

Clarkson features in the tribute, which is available now on BBC iPlayer, alongside former co-stars Richard Hammond and James May.

The trio currently host the motoring-themed reality series The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime Video.

In 2015, Clarkson’s Top Gear contract was not renewed by the BBC, following allegations that he had assaulted one of the show’s producers.

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The series has subsequently featured a number of different hosts, including Matt LeBlanc, Chris Evans and Rory Reid. Top Gear is currently presented by Paddy McGuinness, Andrew Flintoff and Chris Harris.

News of Schmitz’s death at the age of 51 prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes last month, with Clarkson describing her as “such a sunny person”.

Top Gear: A Tribute to Sabine Schmitz airs Wednesday 7 April at 7.30pm on BBC One.