Sacked Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson's Australian appearances will go ahead but the shows have been postponed to later in the year and will be stripped of all BBC branding and content.

Clarkson and fellow presenters James May and Richard Hammond were to have fronted the Top Gear Festival on April 18 and 19 at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The stage shows were planned before Clarkson was dropped for hitting a producer in a fracas over hot food.

Now BBC Worldwide has confirmed the trio will instead appear at indoor events in Melbourne on July 18 and 19 and Sydney on July 25 and 26. The shows will be called Clarkson, Hammond and May Live.

"BBC Worldwide has agreed with our joint venture partner Brand Events that the remainder of the tour can continue," said a BBC statement.

"These events will not however feature any BBC Top Gear branding or content. We believe this is a sensible approach in the circumstances."

The full extent of the changes to the shows remains unclear but it appears unlikely they will be able to use clips or favourite segments from the TV show such as Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car and The Stig.

The move follows crisis talks between the BBC and its partners aimed at averting the potential loss of millions of dollars from cancelling the shows.

This new arrangement is likely to bring some controversy as Clarkson will still be paid by a joint venture company that is 50 per cent owned by BBC Worldwide – although the BBC is insisting the compromise has been reached with fans in mind.

Brand Events Australia thanked fans for their "continued patience" and apologised for inconvenience that will be caused by the rescheduled dates.

Response from the fans on the Australian event's Facebook page has been mixed, with many speculating that the announcement could be an April Fool's joke.

"Will lose money on plane tickets. Can't even go to the new arena shows as I will be in London. I am absolutely gutted," wrote Laura Di Dio.

Others complained that the rescheduled shows are to be in indoor venues (All Phones in Sydney and Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne), and inevitably scaled down.

"Boo, I'm not paying to see a comedy act on stage with parked cars. Not interested if it's not on track," was a typical comment from Darrin Grose.

Brand Events said people who can't make the new dates will be given refunds, however there was no word on compensation for flights and hotel bookings that some fans claim have cost up to $6000.

with AFP