Top Gear: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May want to call new show House of Cars after Netflix hit House of Cards

The former presenting trio are believed to be on the hunt for a fresh TV deal

Former Top Gear hosts James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond are reuniting for a series of live shows (Clarkson, Hammond and May Live)

Former Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have reportedly been joking about what to call their next motoring series.

The trio are believed to have come up with the “genius” idea of naming it House of Cars after the hit Netflix political drama, House of Cards, a “pal” told The Mirror.

Clarkson’s contract with the BBC was not renewed after a “fracas” over the lack of hot food in a hotel left producer Oisin Tymon in A&E. BBC director general Tony Hall decided that “a line had been crossed” and “there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another”.

Hammond, May and executive producer Andy Wilman announced that they would not be returning to Top Gear with a “surrogate Jeremy”, despite the BBC wanting to continue the show.

It remains unknown what the ex-hosts’ next steps will be, with fresh deals with ITV or streaming service Netflix among the rumoured possibilities.

It is thought that ITV could pose issues regarding potential conflicts of interest with advertisers, while fans would need to pay £5.99 per month for a Netflix subscription.

One thing’s for sure, the Top Gear title is a no-go, with their upcoming live tour having to be rebranded Clarkson, Hammond and May Live after “fracas”-gate. The series of shows kicks off in Belfast on 22 May before heading to London in November.

Those of you still mourning the lack of Top Gear in your Sunday evenings, BBC2 boss Kim Shillinglaw has hinted that final scenes featuring Clarkson could air as early as this summer. The current series was brought to a sudden close before the last three scheduled episodes were broadcast.

The car series is viewed in 170 territories and generates an estimated £50 million a year for the BBC. Shillinglaw has said she will be strongly considering female contenders for Top Gear, but is not thinking of Clarkson’s replacement “in terms of gender”.

Jodie Kidd, Philip Glenister and Guy Martin are the current “dream team” tipped to present Top Gear next, but the BBC has declined to comment on speculation.