For one night only Jeremy Clarkson made a return to the BBC as he hosted the first episode of the new series of Have I Got News For You.

Jeremy Clarkson on Have I Got News For You
Look who’s back… (Richard Kendal/BBC/Hat Trick)

It was his first BBC TV appearance since he was ditched by Top Gear following his infamous altercation with a producer.

Some were pleased to see him back.

Some very much weren’t.

Some were wondering why he was even there in the first place.

It didn’t take long for the inevitable Clarkson-bashing to begin.

Richard Osman was first. When Clarkson asked what ITV2 was, the Pointless star said: “You’ll find out soon enough, Jeremy.”

Then, making reference to Clarkson’s new show on Amazon Prime, he said: “Are you sure it’s Amazon Prime and not Amazon past-their-prime?”

He then got in another one when the conversation turned to the Piggate scandal.

People liked that a lot.

Then as Osman continued to pile in with continued references to Chris Evans – the man replacing Clarkson on Top Gear – panellist Camilla Long said: “Go on, punch him.”

And he looked like he might, too.

And still the barbs kept coming – this time as the panel talked about a society called the Dull Men’s Club.

Osman chimed in with: “That’s annoying, you’ll have to think of another name for your new show.”

It should be said for balance – it is a BBC show, after all – that some people weren’t entirely on Team Osman.

But by and large, viewers were delighted to see Clarkson squirm.

You couldn’t help but feel, though, that the most entertaining moment of the evening might have come after the cameras stopped rolling.

There’s something we can all agree on.