It looks like we’ll have quite a long wait until the return of Top Gear. In a recent interview with a South African radio show, Clarkson mentioned that Top Gear won’t be returning this year, presumably due to the Olympics. You can listen here — fast-forward to 8:14 for the relevant part:

UPDATE: Further confirmed by Jeremy on Twitter, specifically January.

There’s a rumour in internet land that there will be no more Top Gears this year. I’m afraid that apart from an Xmas special, it’s true.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) 9 mai 2012

Would love to be back in the Autumn but Sunday nights then will be full of fat people singing.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) 9 mai 2012

The good news is that the longer we have to make the films, the better they will be.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) 9 mai 2012

We will be back in January

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) 9 mai 2012

Top Gear is a medium sized van. Cowell is a juggernaut. When he has finished his singing competition, our new series will start.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) 9 mai 2012