text: James May has been forced to backtrack for suggesting Top Gear viewers who sent threatening tweets to Sue Perkins should 'kill themselves'. Perkins, who became a favourite to replace the ousted Jeremy Clarkson after a flurry of bets, recently announced she was leaving Twitter  as a result of the horrific abuse. In response, May said: 'If you're one of the people sending death threats to Sue Perkins, could you please do the world a much bigger favour by killing yourself.' The presenter quickly clarified: 'Obviously I don't actually want people to kill themselves but, really, we don't want them as fans.' James May (right) backtracked on his comment that Top Gear viewers who sent threatening tweets to Sue Perkins (left) should 'kill themselves' May is currently getting ready to tour a Top Gear spin-off around the UK alongside Clarkson and Richard Hammond, following the BBC's sacking of Clarkson for punching a producer. They will be stripped of all BBC branding and instead be presented as 'Clarkson, Hammond and May Live', meaning the show will not be able to use clips from Top Gear - or even feature the Stig. May's comments were made after Perkins finally decided to take a break from Twitter in response to the barrage of abuse. She had earlier stated: 'Guys, post the utterly fabricated story about me and Top Gear, my timeline has been full of blokes wishing me dead. This morning, someone suggested they'd like to see me burn to death. 'All of which goes to say that I am off Twitter for a bit. Love and peace x.' The Great British Bake Off host was said to be the front-runner for the job, according to bookmakers Coral, with Dermot O'Leary second favourite at 2-1. Actor Philip Glenister, famed for his role as the detective in Life On Mars, has also been rumoured to replace the ousted Clarkson. The Bake Off star denied the rumours, resulting in a torrent of abuse from Top Gear fans. Perkins said on Twitter last week: 'Just back from night shoot in Kolkata sewers to find my timeline busy with middle-aged man-trolls. General gist: Man do cars, woman do cake.' Jeremy Clarkson, pictured here smoking and looking tired in London this week, attacked one of the Top Gear producers . Clarkson was the subject of an internal BBC investigation after he attacked Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him in a 30-second assault on March 4. He was suspended by the broadcaster on March 10 before it announced his contract would not be renewed. The star received widespread public support - including from his friend Prime Minister David Cameron - in the aftermath of the fracas, and one million people signed a petition calling for the BBC to reinstate him. But director-general Tony Hall said 'a line has been crossed' and 'there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another'.
target: James May has backtracked on comment suggesting trolls 'kill themselves'
  He was referring to people sending death threats to Sue Perkins on Twitter .
  Perkins has been tipped as a bookies' favourite to replace Jeremy Clarkson .
  But it led to a torrent of abuse sent by Top Gear fans on social media .
  She announced recently she would be leaving Twitter for the near future .