Following his dismissal in March as host of “Top Gear,” Jeremy Clarkson has recently announced his plans to collaborate with a currently undetermined network or streaming service, very potentially Netflix, to begin producing a new “car show” similar to “Top Gear.” Clarkson plans to team up with his former cohosts, Richard Hammond and James May, along with producer Andy Wilman, to get the project on the road.
Clarkson, who was asked to step down as host of “Top Gear” back in March for controversy over potential off-screen racist remarks and violent outbursts, will be replaced by radio personality, Chris Evans, at the outset of the show’s 23rd season beginning in early 2016. Clarkson has hosted the show since 1988, and is often credited with catalyzing its unprecedented success in the last decade. “Top Gear” premiered in 1977, but was revamped in 2002 at the urging of Clarkson and Wilman, in order to work it into a more modern, humorous, multifaceted format. Their fresh take on the show worked – as of now, “Top Gear” is the world’s most popular factual television show in the world.
Fans of “Top Gear” are generally thrilled over Clarkson’s intentions to return to the car show circuit. After he was given the boot from the show earlier this year, viewers and costars alike were dismayed to see the face of “Top Gear” for over three decades go. Costars Hammond, May, and Wilman did not renew their contracts for season 23 in a show of support for Clarkson – a token of solidarity which likely played a part in Clarkson’s decision to keep them in tow in his plans for the new project.
As of yet, few details have been announced as to the exact nature of the show, but it will be a car show similar in structure to “Top Gear,” and will feature the original trio of hosts, plus producer Andy Wilman. Now, “Top Gear” fans need only wait for Clarkson to solidify plans with a specific network to sign the show into production, and kick the project into gear.