Jeremy Clarkson, the iconic former host of Top Gear, has spoken out about the potential revival of the popular motoring show. Clarkson, who alongside Richard Hammond and James May, hosted Top Gear from 2003 until 2015 before departing to create The Grand Tour, expressed skepticism about watching any future versions of the programme.
After the trio’s departure, Top Gear continued under new hosts until 2023, when the BBC announced the show would be “rested” indefinitely following injuries sustained by presenter Freddie Flintoff. The BBC stated this decision, while disappointing for fans, was necessary at the time.
In a recent interview with The Times, Clarkson shared his thoughts on how the show could evolve if brought back. He suggested that the programme should focus heavily on consumer journalism to help viewers navigate the rapidly changing automotive industry, especially with the growing prominence of electric and Chinese-made cars.
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“There is an opening for someone to review electric cars because no one really understands them,” Clarkson said. “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. They should do it as a consumer programme, which would be quite a ballsy thing to do because no one wants to go back to the Seventies. Like What Car? magazine on television.”
A BBC Studios spokesperson commented on the evolving status of the Top Gear brand, highlighting its continued success across digital, publishing, and international formats. They emphasized that as the commercial producer of Top Gear, they remain committed to exploring new opportunities that leverage the show’s iconic reputation and engage audiences worldwide.
Clarkson’s remarks come amid continued speculation about the show’s potential return. Notably, Richard Hammond also addressed the hiatus last year, reminding audiences that Top Gear has a long history of breaks and reinventions. Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Hammond noted, “It’s been off-air before. It’s been on and off for the last 40 odd years. It’s a BBC-owned show, a magazine show about cars, and it’s gone through various incarnations.”
He added that the show’s pause after Freddie Flintoff’s crash was met with concern for the presenter but is not unusual for BBC programming, which is known to “rest” big-name shows before eventually bringing them back.
As fans await any official announcement, Clarkson’s candid perspective reinforces the evolving nature of Top Gear and the automotive world it covers.