Jeremy Clarkson has shared his thoughts on what a revived Top Gear ought to look like, while making it clear he won’t be tuning in himself.
The 66-year-old, who hosted the beloved BBC motoring show alongside Richard Hammond and James May from 2003 to 2015, has suggested that any comeback should focus on helping viewers navigate the rapidly shifting car market.
Mr Clarkson (middle) left BBC Top Gear in 2015
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GETTY“There is an opening for someone to review electrical cars because no one really understands them,” Mr Clarkson told The Times.
“I’m not going to watch it but there are lots of people who do want to know about all these Chinese cars because it’s all completely changing.”
He suggested the programme should embrace consumer journalism, comparing it to “What Car magazine on television”.
His repeated his verdict in his column for The Sun, suggesting BBC bosses would have a “tricky job” on their hands to make their show today.
After pointing out that any new presenters would need a “deep understanding” of EVs, he added: “This means they’ll need to know about kilowatt hours and 32amp charging cables and bi-directional capabilities and as we know, the only people who have a handle on such things are 11 years old.
“Which means they aren’t old enough to drive.”
BBC is set to be looking for the next slate of presenters to follow in the footsteps of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May | GETTY
Mr Clarkson even went on to suggest he wouldn’t be alone in avoiding any new reboot. “There’s another issue, too, because who’s going to watch a show that reviews electrical appliances?” he asked.
“It’d be like watching a programme about fridge freezers or vacuum cleaners.”
But the “biggest problem” the BBC would face, according to the presenter-turned-farmer, is the upcoming series of Amazon’s The Grand Tour.
Mr Clarkson has offered a glowing endorsement of the new Grand Tour line-up set to take over from him, Mr Hammond and Mr May on Amazon Prime Video.
The Grand Tour’s new hosts Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman and Thomas Holland | AMAZON
The trio wrapped up their eight-year run on the streaming show in 2024 with a final special filmed across Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Francis Bourgeois, the trainspotter who became a social media sensation, will front the revamped series alongside James Engelsman and Thomas Holland.
Mr Clarkson revealed he’s already had a sneak peek at what the new presenters have been up to.
“I’ve seen some of it, and it is very, very good,” he said.
When the new hosts were announced back in February, Mr Clarkson urged fans not to rush to judgment, telling Autocar’s podcast: “Don’t be hasty. Do not be hasty.”
He also noted that producer Andy Wilman, who worked with the original trio, appears to be involved with the new version.
“I know this because I heard his voice on the guide track of their film,” Mr Clarkson explained, adding that while the new presenters are “completely different people to us,” they’re “bl**dy funny.”
As for Top Gear’s future on the BBC, there’s no concrete news just yet.
A BBC Studios spokesperson told GB News: “The Top Gear brand continues to thrive across digital, publishing and global formats.
“As a commercial producer, we’re always exploring new ways to develop the brand and reach audiences by leveraging such iconic IP.”
However, they confirmed there’s no update on the television show itself at this time.