Jeremy Clarkson's potential 'Top Gear' replacement quits Twitter over death threats

Jeremy Clarkson was officially fired from BBC's "Top Gear" last month but fans of the hit series are still showing their die hard support of him.

Following reports that Sue Perkins will be replacing Clarkson on the show, "The Great British Bake Off" host has quit Twitter after receiving multiple death threats.

The threats included someone who "suggested they'd like to see me burn to death," while her timeline "has been full of blokes wishing me dead," Perkins tweeted before she announced that she was "off Twitter for a bit."

This morning, someone suggested they'd like to see me burn to death.

— Sue Perkins (@sueperkins) April 14, 2015

Clarkson was officially fired by the BBC on March 25. The ruling came after the "Top Gear" host was the subject of an internal investigation following an assault last month when he got into a fracas with one of the show's producers over the lack of hot food after filming.

While the future of the show is still uncertain, Perkins said on Twitter that the suggestion she is taking the "Top Gear" job was an "utterly fabricated story."

She was initially tipped as the favorite to take over Clarkson's role but has since slipped behind other British TV talent. Dermot O'Leary is currently in the lead, followed by Philip Glenister and Jodie Kidd, according to bookmakers Ladbrokes, reported BBC News.

Perkins is not the first person associated with the hit series to be targeted by disgruntled fans. BBC Director-General Tony Hall received death threats shortly after he made the decision to drop Clarkson from "Top Gear," one of the most popular television shows in the world. "Police in Westminster are investigating an allegation of threats to kill," Metropolitan Police told CNN in a statement March 29.

Also Read: 'Top Gear' Host Jeremy Clarkson Tears Into Bosses: 'The BBC Have F–ked Themselves' (Video)

In his job-ending altercation, Clarkson, 54, spent 20 minutes verbally abusing producer Oisin Tymon, before launching a 30 second physical assault on him.

The incident was considered to be the final straw for the longtime host, who is infamous for his politically incorrect remarks. Other controversies that have occurred over the years include making homophobic comments, making a mock Nazi salute while talking about German cars, joking about lorry drivers murdering prostitutes, making fun of the Indian culture, and describing a Ferrari F430 as a "special needs" car.

Since the series launched in the U.K. in 2002, "Top Gear" has grown from a straightforward show about cars into a global hit watched by 350 million viewers in 170 countries.

Read original story Jeremy Clarkson's Potential 'Top Gear' Replacement Quits Twitter Over Death Threats At TheWrap