Former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has been pictured taking a break outside London Studios, where he will be making his BBC return, filming Have I Got News For You.

Clarkson is due to join team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton in the episode which airs on October 2.

Jeremy Clarkson on HIGNFY
(Richard Kendall/BBC/Hat Trick)

Pointless presenter Richard Osman will be one of the two guests in the opening episode.

The Have I Got News For You appearance will be Clarkson’s first return to the BBC since his departure, and signals the start of the show’s 50th series.

Ian Hislop and Paul Merton
(Steve Brown/BBC/Hat Trick)

A video teaser for the new series shows Hislop and Merton spoofing Strictly Come Dancing.

An excited Merton can be seen practising his “dance moves” and tells the camera he’s on “an emotional rollercoaster”.

Meanwhile, a bored-looking Hislop thumbs through a newspaper, and says of his dance partner: “He hasn’t got two left feet, he’s got two left arms…”

Clarkson had to pull out of the last series of the satirical panel show following the furore over his fracas with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon.

Following the incident, Clarkson was suspended by the broadcaster on March 10 before it announced his contract would not be renewed.

He and fellow ex-Top Gear presenters James May and Richard Hammond have lined up a big-money move to Amazon for a new motoring show to be broadcast on streaming service, Amazon Prime.

Clarkson, May and Hammond
(Amazon/PA)

After his previous appearance was cancelled, programme maker Hat Trick issued a statement: “On reflection, Jeremy Clarkson has decided not to host Have I Got News For You. We fully expect him to resume his hosting duties later in the year.”