The BBC's Director-General, Tony Hall, has received death threats following the decision to drop popular "Top Gear" host Jeremy Clarkson from the show, according to CNN.
Lord Hall received a threatening email after the BBC announced that Clarkson's contract as host of "Top Gear" would not be renewed because he punched and verbally abused a producer.
Hall and his wife were under 24-hour protection from security guards at their home in Oxfordshire, according to The Daily Mail.
The threats are being investigated by the Met Police, who said the email appeared to have been sent from inside the U.K.
"Police in Westminster are investigating an allegation of threats to kill," a Met spokesman said to BBC.com. "The allegation was reported to police on Wednesday, 25 March. The threat was made by email."
No arrests have been made yet.
Hall announced a week ago that Clarkson's contract would not be renewed after an internal investigation into a "fracas" determined that the popular host verbally abused show producer Oisin Tymon for more than 20 minutes before physically assaulting him.
"It is with great regret that I have told Jeremy Clarkson today that the BBC will not be renewing his contract," he announced on March 25. "It is not a decision I have taken lightly. I have done so only after a very careful consideration of the facts and after personally meeting both Jeremy and Oisin Tymon."
Clarkson was reportedly upset that the hotel they were staying at was no longer serving hot foot for the day.
"Top Gear" was suspended on March 10 after the altercation, which took place on March 4. The suspension caused more than 1 million people to sign a petition to reinstate Clarkson, but they were not successful.
"Top Gear" brought in more than $225 million in revenue last year for BBC Worldwide and Guinness World Records has recognized Top Gear as the most-watched factual show of all time, according to CNN.
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