It’s been reported today that Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has bagged a deal worth “millions” by selling the rights to the show to the BBC.

The Mirror reports that Clarkson and the show’s producer Andy Wilman owned between them 50% of the rights to the Top Gear brand through their company Bedder 6. The BBC owned the rest.

And of course, the franchise makes a small fortune, not least from Top Gear merchandising, DVDs and live shows. Just last year, Top Gear posted pre-tax profits of £15.2million, and the projected revenue from the show is valued at between £50million and £100million.

However, the paper adds, “It is believed that the previous arrangement had caused problems between Clarkson, 52, and his TV co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond.”

An insider said, “James and Richard have watched Jeremy making a fortune out of the show for years, massively outstripping their own earnings.

“The pair of them both felt that they had been heavily involved in developing the show into the international success it has become, and they made it clear they felt the deal was unfair.”

The new deal will apparently see Jeremy signing a three-year contract to continue hosting the show alongside Richard and James.

A BBC spokesman said of the deal, “BBC Worldwide has agreed new deals with Jeremy, James, Richard and Andy to secure Top Gear’s international future for another three years.”

Not a bad little earner eh?