Tim Masters
Entertainment correspondent

That's it for today's live page which has been dominated by the news about Jeremy Clarkson.

But we sign off with the breaking story that Zayn Malik has left One Direction.

Read all the details on the Newsbeat site. - and we'll be back with more entertainment news tomorrow.

Speaking before the BBC decided not to renew Jeremy Clarkson's contract, Gladiator star Russell Crowe offered his thoughts on his time on Top Gear.

"That show is about Jeremy Clarkson," he told BBC Breakfast's Tim Muffett. "It's about his sensibility."

"Jeremy does have a bit of a reputation, but that's part of his charm and his beauty."

Watch the full interview.

Lots of you have got in touch to give us your views on Jeremy Clarkson's sacking.

Cathy emails: "Totally the right decision! I thought Top Gear was getting tired anyway!"

Michael Jobson emails: "Frankly there is nobody in the entertainment industry with the passion that Jeremy has for cars, the programme itself and the audience. He relates to his audience in particular in a unique way. He truly understands the passion that some have for cars, he is truly one of the petrol heads who love the programme.

"I for one will not bother watching the show with a new star. There is no point as there is only one Jeremy Clarkson and he truly is Top Gear."

David Sedgwick emails: "I think Jeremy Clarkson's dismissal is the right move for the BBC. I am a fan of Jeremy, and of the show. He will be sadly missed, but I'll still watch Top Gear.

"The morals are key here. 1) he stepped over the line, and 2) no presenter is bigger that the show or the company. It's gross misconduct at the end of the day."

Eric Mackereth emails: "Well done in ridding us of this self-centred, ill-mannered bully. He's the sort of person you hope your children never grow up to be like."

Ana Furman emails: "A disgrace. Whatever rubbish the BBC come up with for 2016 it will be without me. Top Gear has no interest for me without the three of them. Regardless if it works or not - those are the three I want to watch."

Marguerite Caunt emails: "Bravo BBC - well done on a brave decision. I love Top Gear but there are limits and Clarkson has crossed the line too many times. No one is irreplaceable."

Paul Heim emails: "Although, I understand BBC's decision on the situation, my hope is that Clarkson, May, and Hammond unite on a another show of this same magnitude to continue their quirky unique rhetoric."

Daniel emails: "This was one of the very few show on the BBC I actually enjoyed. Yes Mr Clarkson's actions were wrong, however, they were not inexcusable. There were alternative means to punish Mr Clarkson, financially being an obvious choice.

"The BBC's decision to remove him, effectively ending this show, demonstrates a complete disconnect from the license fee payer and their wishes from BBC television."

We interrupt the rolling Clarkson coverage to tell you that Zayn Malik has quit One Direction.

He said: "I'd like to apologise to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart. I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight."

The group, who are currently on tour in Asia said: "We're really sad to see Zayn go, but we totally respect his decision and send him all our love for the future."

The band added in a statement on their Facebook page, external: "Niall, Harry, Liam and Louis will continue as a four-piece and look forward to the forthcoming concerts of their world tour and recording their fifth album, due to be released later this year."

Of course, we remember the X Factor auditions - when Zayn nearly the quit the band before it started, external.

Image source, Cheddar Valley Gazette

One local newspaper has offered its own, unique take on the Clarkson story.

The Cheddar Valley Gazette, external said the Clarkson decision "comes just two years after Clarkson's colleague James May filmed a sequence with a double-decker bus in Cheddar Gorge".

"Clarkson is not believed to have been there for the filming," its story continued.

Responding to the Clarkson decision, Downing Street said that Prime Minister David Cameron believed that "if you do something wrong at work there can be consequences" and that "aggressive and abusive behaviour is not acceptable in the workplace".

Responses to the BBC's Jeremy Clarkson decision have come from far and wide. Witness this tweet from Star Trek actor William Shatner, presumably sent from the Starship Enterprise.

Image source, William Shatner/Twitter

Read more reactions to Clarkson's departure.

Last week a petition was delivered to the BBC on an Abbott self-propelled gun, calling for Jeremy Clarkson's reinstatement.

An hour and three-quarters after the Clarkson announcement, the number of signatories stood at 1,035,358, external.

Bectu is the UK's media and entertainment trade union and has around 25,000 members, a significant number of whom work at the BBC.

"We don't rejoice in today's announcement, but there is absolutely no doubt the BBC's decision to end its contractual arrangement with Jeremy Clarkson is the right one.

"Physical assault in the workplace is not acceptable, no matter how big the talent or how valuable the show."

Read the full statement, external.

Image source, Getty Images

Bookmakers are already taking bets on whom will replace Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear, with both William Hill and Ladbrokes tipping DJ Chris Evans for the position.

Piers Morgan is also among the names being touted to take over, as are Dermot O'Leary, Johnny Vaughan and model Jodie Kidd (pictured).

The bookies are also taking bets on whether Richard Hammond and James May will step down as presenters now that they would no longer be appearing alongside Clarkson on the BBC motoring show.

"Gutted at such a sad end, external to an era. We're all three of us idiots in our different ways but it's been an incredible ride together."

"North Yorkshire Police is liaising with the BBC regarding the alleged incident in North Yorkshire involving Jeremy Clarkson.

"We have asked the BBC for the report which details the findings of their internal investigation into the matter.

"The information will be assessed appropriately and action will be taken by North Yorkshire Police where necessary.

"It would not be appropriate for North Yorkshire Police to comment further at this time."

"My son Joshua and I, external are saddened because @JeremyClarkson isn't returning to @BBC_TopGear. We love that show." - Donny Osmond

"Without @JeremyClarkson, external there IS no #TopGear I grew up with that show, what a sad day for TV. #RIPtopgear." - former EastEnder Matt Di'angelo

"I'm not sure which news, external is worse; @JeremyClarkson losing a job or @piersmorgan getting one." - Gary Lineker, referring to news that Piers Morgan is to guest host Good Morning Britain on ITV next month.

Image source, PA

Presenter James May has given his reaction to the BBC's decision not to renew Jeremy Clarkson's contract, calling the situation "a tragedy".

"I'm sorry that what ought to have been a small incident sorted out easily has turned into something big," he told reporters outside his house.

The broadcaster said he was "sure Top Gear will continue in some way" but refused to confirm whether he and Richard Hammond would remain on the show.

"I think we are very much, the three of us, a package. It works for very complicated reasons that a lot of people don't fully understand.

"So that will require a lot of careful thought."

Watch the interview.

The man charged with looking into the Top Gear "fracas" has published his findings, saying producer Oisin Tymon suffered "swelling and bleeding to his lip" as a result of his altercation with Jeremy Clarkson.

Ken MacQuarrie, director of BBC Scotland, said he also endured "sustained" verbal abuse that "contained the strongest expletives and threats to sack him".

Read the investigation's findings.

Jeremy Clarkson has changed his Twitter biography, external to say: "I used to be a presenter on the BBC2 motoring show, Top Gear."

Speaking to the BBC, media commentator Steve Hewlett said there were "three issues at play" regarding the Jeremy Clarkson decision.

"Broadcast depends on talent, and it would appear there was a long-term failure on talent management," he said.

"Two: How on earth do you re-invent Top Gear? It's a special programme because of these three characters.

"Three: The BBC really doesn't want to appear anti-Jeremy Clarkson, they want to say it's a broad church.

"Jeremy Clarkson is a valuable part of the BBC's proposition. They won't be lost without him, but they won't be where they were without him either."

David Sillito, the BBC's media correspondent, has been exploring the background to the Top Gear row that led to the BBC's decision not to renew Jeremy Clarkson's contract.

Top Gear's propensity for causing offence is well known, he writes. In this instance, though, "the issues surrounding the 'fracas' with a producer have little to do with Top Gear's other controversies.

"This was not about crossing the boundaries of harm and offence with viewers," he goes on. "This was simply a matter of the limits of acceptable conduct at work."

Read the full article and watch a report on Clarkson's Top Gear tenure.

In a televised statement, Lord Hall paid tribute to Jeremy Clarkson "who, for nearly 25 years, has produced extraordinary work on Top Gear".

"We all know that Jeremy is a huge talent and has made an extraordinary contribution to the BBC.

"I've always been a great fan of his work on Top Gear and I also believe his voice and voices like his have a place, an important place, on the BBC... but not at any price."

Watch the full statement.

The producer at the centre of the Top Gear "fracas" has issued his own statement about what he calls a "very regrettable incident".

"I've worked on Top Gear for almost a decade, a programme I love," said Oisin Tymon. "Over that time Jeremy and I had a positive and successful working relationship, making some landmark projects together.

"He is a unique talent and I am well aware that many will be sorry his involvement in the show should end in this way."