BBC Top Gear Thread

[Coyote]

I watched the whole series, it did get better in every episode. You could tell they were watching social media like a hawk because the complaints / suggestions were lept upon the very next program.

Chris Harris is a much better presenter than Evans, but still wet behind the ears, even so they have brought him from the online extra gear to the main program and then as the episodes ran on more and more screen time.

Rory doesn't really do anything for me as well as Evans. I like Chris's enthusiasm with classics, he really tries to get across certain points but the chemistry from him just isn't there and all the pro's just don't compensate for his shortcomings imo.

Sabine Schmitz just needs a bit more time, the girl can drive the arse off anything just like Harris but she is not natural yet speaking English, on the German Top Gear speaking her native tongue she is much more relaxed.

Eddie Jordan - Don't see the point of him being on the show at all. But Matt is getting better and better each episode and is really starting to grow on me.

So they in my opinion have something to work from, Evans going is the best outcome. Now they have hit rock bottom with the ratings they can build it up again from there. Hopefully with more original ideas instead of have baked rehashed ideas they tried this time around.

[FPVSteve]

TBH I think Chris Evans was probably the worst possible selection - he's very marmite and people (like me!) had prejudged how crap he was going to be. Thing is, I think he's alright on the radio but he's always been hyperactive on the telly and I thought that's what he'd be like on Top Gear... I just haven't been able to bring myself to watch it primarily because of him. He's off-putting.

[wgt40w]

I think there needs to be a national referendum to decide who should replace Chris Evans ..... and then hold a second referendum if we don't like who is chosen.

                :P

[Shikra]

Funny you should say that - inside scoop is Nigel Farage is being considered.... :)

Certain similarities with Clarkson... loudmouth, opinionated, bad dress sense, non pc.. I could go on

[FPVSteve]

Farage is the only politician who actually tells it how it is - popular opinion or not :D

Bring it on!!

[BlueFlyer]

I think Jimmy Carr should be the new Top Gear presenter.

He's been on a few times, topped the leaderboard at one point too...

[Coyote]

Not a bad shout, although I think a replacement is the wrong tactic, there are too many presenters, just let him go and use who there is left.

[BlueFlyer]

It would be nice if it turned into.. 8 out of 10 cats do Top Gear... along with Rachel Riley (who's also been on it)

[Billy_boy_2010]

Evans has gone because he was rubh8sh and everyone hated him. nothing to do with grabbing some girls breasts 20 years ago.


imo Chris harris is great in video but he's like a child on a live film set. no way can he handle a bigger physical role. I would keep him 95% away from the set.

I quite like Rory. he's likeable.  But he dumbs it down too much. I'm not sure if you need him and Harris though. Someone between the two ideally.

LeB is great but very scripted. he needs someone he actually likes to bounce and banter off. someone with real charisma and personality.

Sabine is rubbish. she used to be so fun and infectious but now she's dull.

Jordan can sod off.


if it was me I would get Harris LeB and one more person to make the 3.

[Billy_boy_2010]

I think Jimmy Carr should be the new Top Gear presenter.

He's been on a few times, topped the leaderboard at one point too...

he topped the leader board because he's a nutter. crashed every other time since. 

but I agree he wouldn't be a bad host. hes certainly funny enough and can host well. not sure if he's blokey enough though.

[Billy_boy_2010]

Not a bad shout, although I think a replacement is the wrong tactic, there are too many presenters, just let him go and use who there is left.

you still need a host and a leader to bond everyone together. Evans is the right personality type- he's just also a  w@nker which spoils it.

they def need to cull a few ppl too. Jordan sabine and Rory need to go. you could almost keep Rory- but anything he can do, LeB can do better so there's little point. 

[wgt40w]

I would seriously suggest for the whole of the next Series, they do what was done on "Have I Got News for You" - have a different guest presenter for each Episode.
That would soon show up who has a natural 'fit' for Top Gear.

[Coyote]

I think Chris Harris ( heavily sedated while in the studio) with Matt LeBlanc and Sabine as the extra to make up the numbers for the challenges or real balls to the wall driving parts is the way to go.

[FPVSteve]

Sabine could easily take over as "The Stig" - that's a Clarksonism, he had a mate at school called The Stig. So they could do something unique there.
One single presenter doing the main interviews etc like Clarkson (Le Blanc)
One "stunt challenge" presenter doing mental stuff like jumping over cars, or supervising a mentalist doing the same as a segment. (Position open)
All three presenters doing the "feature" segment against one another. (Le Blanc, Sabine, Position open).

[BlueFlyer]

Eddie Jordan... wtf?!?!?!?! I know it's scripted, but he's just crap. He's a funny guy in real life when he's not being told to follow a script, most of the funny stuff with him this season was just so un-natural feeling. I really like Jordan, always have done... the bit in the luxury 4x4s was testament to how funny he is naturally when not reading or acting out a scripted sketch.

Sabine... It's such a shame that her English isn't that great. I'm not being ignorant or xenophobic here, I'm well aware her English is far superior to my German speaking ability... but I'm not a presenter on a TV show in Germany am I? Again, I really liked the episodes of old Top Gear when she was in them, she added an extra "spark"... a female driver who's frickin awesome and can drive most wannabe men off the track. The Episode in this season when she made Chris Evans sick up his brekkie was brilliant, she needs to be used as a driver... like Steve says, some kind of Stig character... a standard that the "normal" presenters have to match up against in challenges.

Chris Harris... I really like him, I honestly think he fits right in with the Top Gear ethos... he's SO enthuiastic and gets really passionate about cars and motoring. If there's one person who should definitely STAY it's him.

Rory Reid... Hmmmmm, not really sure what his purpose is in this line up... perhaps they've added him to show that young people can also enjoy motoring....which they actually can't, not in a Top Gear way anyhoo... The only people his age that can afford to drive a Jag F-Type are spoilt daddy's boys, born into privilege, Premier League footballers, or chavvy lottery winners. I think if they used Rory in situations and driving cars that were actually within reach of the majority of people in the country of his rough age... they'd be onto a winner, someone to represent the "yoof" of today.

Matt LeBlanc.... oh matty matty matty, I hate what they've turned you into lol. Seriously though, along with Eddie his scripted parts are too unnatural and he's so much better when he's making off the cuff comments that are part of his real personality. I really like him and I think he should stay, perhaps when the "team" get friendlier with each other, their banter will be real and not manufactured like it is now.

As for who to replace Chris Evans? No-one... I think with the line up of Chris Harris, Matt LeBlanc and Rory Reid, with the odd special drivers position for Sabine, the show will be much better.