Television presenter Jeremy Clarkson is to return to his old job of presenting BBC Two show Top Gear after more than a three-year absence.

The man dubbed "motormouth" will front a new-look show and will also write for the BBC magazine of the same title.

The BBC announced last year that Top Gear would given a massive overhaul after telling its regular team of presenters they were no longer required.

Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson and Adrian Simpson changed lanes to work on Channel 5's soon-to-be-launched motoring show Fifth Gear.

They will be joined by former Top Gear host Quentin Willson.

Clarkson, famous for abrupt presentation style, quit Top Gear in 1998 after nine years, saying he wanted to work on other shows.

Petrolhead

He has since worked on other TV programmes, released videos about high-speed vehicles and written newspaper columns.

Clarkson said: "The motorist is under attack from all sides, and this gives me the chance to fight back on behalf of all us petrolheads."

There were rumours that Top Gear had been put on the scrap heap but Clarkson's signing proves the BBC's commitment to the show.

BBC Two controller Jane Root said: "This is great news - Jeremy is motoring on television and it's great to have him back in his rightful place - bigger, bolder and ruder than ever before."