adminThe BBC says its hit car TV show Top Gear will return to the airwaves with a new host replacing scandal-tainted Jeremy Clarkson. The broadcaster says radio and TV personality Chris Evans has signed a three-year deal to lead a new line-up for the show, which has won a huge following with its mix of car tips, driving stunts and jokey banter.
This follows Jeremy Clarkson’s sacking from the show after a “fracas” with a producer earlier this year where he punched a producer during an off-set altercation. The show’s two other hosts also left.
The incident threatened the future of one of BBC’s most popular shows – and biggest international earners. Clarkson’s brash, blokey persona was a large part of Top Gear’s appeal to fans. Evans said he was thrilled to be hosting “my favourite programme of all time.”
“I’m thrilled, Top Gear is my favourite programme of all time. I promise I’ll do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward,” Evans said.
Production on the new series is to begin in a few weeks and Kim Shillinglaw, controller of BBC Two and BBC Four is “delighted” with Chris’ appointment.
“I’m so delighted that Chris will be presenting the next series of Top Gear. His knowledge of and passion for cars are well-known and combined with his sheer inventiveness and cheeky unpredictability he is the perfect choice to take our much-loved show into the future,” Shillinglaw said.
“Chris is a huge fan of Top Gear and has great respect for the craft and work ethic of one of the best production teams in the world. He knows the phenomenal attention to detail it takes to make a single sequence of Top Gear, let alone a whole series. He’s already full of brilliant ideas and I can’t wait for him to get started.” — Channel24.
Online Reporter