Fans and critics of Jeremy Clarkson have spoken up following the BBC's decision not to renew his contract after a fracas with producer Oisin Tymon.

The presenter's surname trended worldwide on Twitter following the announcement by director general Tony Hall.

Former tabloid newspaper editor Piers Morgan, Clarkson's long-time sparring partner, had earlier jokingly hinted in a series of tweets he might be Top Gear's new presenter.

Before the Clarkson announcement, he wrote: "In ten minutes, I will be announced as the temporary replacement for a very popular TV presenter in the UK.

"No, no, it's 100% true. I really am standing in for a popular male TV presenter on a big UK show. Start filming in 3 weeks.

"I suspect the announcement, at 2pm UK time, will shock, delight & dismay everyone in equal measure. But that's showbiz."

He later revealed that he will be guest-presenting ITV's Good Morning Britain for a week next month, before adding: "This doesn't prevent me doing Top Gear as well, obviously."

He subsequently wrote: "If he'd stuck to just punching me, he'd have been fine. #Clarkson."

The Guido Fawkes political blog, operated by Paul Staines, ran a campaign which garnered a million-plus petition calling on the BBC to reinstate Clarkson after he was suspended and used a tank to deliver it to New Broadcasting House.

Today it wrote: "Sad day for Top Gear fans, BBC licence fee payers and the 1,033,933 who signed the petition to reinstate Jeremy. No doubt his enemies within the BBC will be cheering that they have finally found an excuse to get rid of him. Lentils all round."

Former BBC chairman Christopher Bland told BBC News: "Its quite clear from the facts he (Lord Hall) had no choice. He paid a fulsome and appropriate tribute to Jeremy Clarkson, but verbal abuse on the scale that seems to have taken place is bad enough, and if you then should bash somebody, you have no choice, he had to go.

"He's a licensed jester, he was able to make remarks about slopes on bridges and got away with that. This is absolutely of a different order of magnitude. Half an hour of abuse and then hitting someone in the face is something else altogether. It was a brave but absolutely correct decision."

mfl Twitter users were divided between those criticising the BBC's decision or predicting the end of Top Gear, and those saying that his removal from the show was the only option following his unprovoked physical and verbal attack on Mr Tymon.

Elias Skaff (@eskaff) wrote: "There should not be @BBC_TopGear after @JeremyClarkson, the show will be dull without him, he brought joy and smile to the show #TopGear."

American TopGear fan Mike F (@freema22) added: "The @BBC is dead to me. Throw a fine and suspension without pay at @JeremyClarkson for a few more weeks, and move on. #TopGear."

User Dannii (@Dannii) from Essex, said: "@JeremyClarkson is #TopGear & without him, there's nothing else to watch on #BBC. Au revoir beeb... #GoodForAbsolutelyNothing."

However others took a different view, including fans of Top Gear.

Jonathan Maunders (@MaundersJon) wrote: "Only right that Clarkson has gone. Those viciously attacking Mr Tymon will look back in horror at such immature jibes in subsequent years."

Stephen Gardiner (@sjgardin) added: "Goodbye @JeremyClarkson, I have enjoyed your time on @BBC_TopGear but there is no excusing your behaviour towards a staffer. #TopGear."

Ross McD (@rataeetviator) added: "BBC caught between devil and deep blue sea. #TopGear the jewel in the crown but Clarkson punched a producer...can't come back from that."

mfl Star Trek actor William Shatner weighed into the debate, tweeting: "Clarkson will be fine. Sponsors would be silly not to pick him up and establish a competitor show and the viewers will probably follow him."

He added: "What Clarkson did was wrong and I'm sure he regrets it."

Will Wyatt, a former director of BBC Television, told the broadcaster that part of Clarkson's appeal with viewers was that he was a "naughty boy", but added: "This is different, this isn't about did he say too much or overstepped the mark in what's allowable for a BBC presenter to say, it's to do with behaviour between human beings working together.

"Jeremy, I'm sure, will have a successful future doing one thing or another and I think Top Gear will have a successful future."