Top Gear: Sue Perkins named bookies' favourite to replace Jeremy Clarkson

The Bake Off presenter is currently ahead of Dermot O'Leary and Jodie Kidd at the bookmakers to take the Top Gear gig

TV presenter Sue Perkins will host Thronecast on Sky Atlantic (Getty)

A flurry of bets has seen Great British Bake Off host Sue Perkins installed as favourite to replace the ousted Jeremy Clarkson in hit motoring show Top Gear.

The star, who also presents an afternoon chatshow on ITV with Bake Off co-star Mel Giedroyc, is the front-runner for the job according to bookmakers Coral.

They make her evens to take the job, ahead of Dermot O'Leary who is 2-1, with Jodie Kidd third favourite at 5-2.

The firm's spokeswoman Nicola McGeady said: “This latest gamble suggests that Sue Perkins is being lined up to replace Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear. When betting first opened on Clarkson's successor, it was one-way traffic for Jodie Kidd and now today's flutter has convinced us that a female is in the driving seat”.

Sue Perkins with the Bake Off team: Paul Hollywood, Mel Giedroyc and Mary Berry (PA)

Clarkson's future remains uncertain, but he will be back on the BBC later this month hosting the satirical quiz show Have I Got News For You.

He was the subject of an internal BBC investigation after he attacked Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him in a 30-second assault on 4 March .

He was suspended by the broadcaster on 10 March before it announced his contract would not be renewed.

It emerged last week that Clarkson will appear on stage with his former Top Gear colleagues, Richard Hammond and James May, later this year to fulfil a series of shows planned before he left the BBC.

The move has sparked rumours the three men intend to team up to continue their careers together after Clarkson's exit from the corporation, but sources close to the tour say it is just a matter of fulfilling commitments to the fans.

The future of the show's other two presenters - Hammond and May - is unclear, with both men's Top Gear contracts having run out.

PA