>One wonders, however,
>if it might also be a trial balloon of sorts. I'd expect that a
>number of people in offices on the higher floors of Broadcasting House
>will be watching the response to same with great interest.

Between the way they're already making it clear that he's not been banned, the point of quoting from what is effectively a mea culpa on the part of Clarkson, and now this, I get the feeling the Beeb really is regretting the decision to let him go. At the same time, he's making noises that he's got something cooking for this summer, and there's still the tour dates for what was Top Gear Live, so there's no telling what's going on anymore.