Immediately local newspapers started searching for a way to cover the story.
Speculation over Clarkson's next venture reached fever pitch. A job doing something on Dave, for example?
LOTS of people think this is just like when Alan Partridge didn't get another series from the BBC.
How about a guest appearence on Black Mirror?
Or perhaps a guest appearence on the next Mario Kart.
Or, chillingly for his critics, the London mayor's chair.
Meanwhile, the man himself appeared to be out of the loop this morning.
While his Top Gear co-star James May had bigger problems.
One would hope that at this stage Clarkson has been informed.
This scurrilous rumour could not be confirmed.
This juxtaposition in Orkney Library was just a little bit suspicious.
But this is a serious matter for Clarkson's army of fans.
Some wondered if his firing would come in the form of a wacky TV stunt.
The news was all too much for people to take.
Private Eye put the whole "Save Clarkson" petition into context.
This baffling image was circulating on Twitter for some reason.
As was this Vine showing Clarkson's quite wonderful hair from a bygone age.
There were suggestions for possible replacements for Clarkson, such as Dale Winton.
As well as suggestions for what could replace Top Gear.
With Clarkson, it's never dull.