Last night's Top Gear

[Wools]

They did hold open auditions though & the format of the show will be different than just 3 presenters. It looks like their will be contributers like Chris Harris & others, with Chris & Matt presenting.

I know what you mean but it feels they're trying to do something different with a load of good, enthusiastic car people. I guess I'm just not bothered about the show being UK only as I don't see why it should?

[MartyG]

Matt LeBlanc has zero history as a TV presenter. I'd suggest the main reason he's been brought onboard is because the BBC is worried about losing its international audience and less so because he's a good choice to present a car show.

I see that you're right, they did sort of hold open auditions: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/arti...-top-gear-star

[Darwock]

I've seen him interviewed at various Grand Prix events. He attends because he loves cars, so maybe he's just off duty but by god he's boring when he's out of character. One word answers more or less.

[Neon Ignition]

Apparently Matt has presented a US spin-off of the show which focuses on the races aspect so likely already had a relationship with the showmakers, he's definitely in there to help maintain the shows international audience. I don't know how well he'll be received in pure enthusiast terms but there are aspects to his hiring that are pure genius.

[Brad]

I like the international flavour. Just as it's good seeing British actors in American roles.

[QualityChimp]

That was unexpected!

I'm in the odd position of enjoying old Top Gear when I was a kid, loving the early 2000's era of Top Gear, hating the scripted era of Top Gear and now not giving a **** about the Amazon version of the show with Clarkson, Hammond and May!

Really like Chris Evans and can't wait to see his version of the show. I was tired of the explosions and script and missed 3 blokes having fun with ?1000 challenges. Hopefully, Evans brings back some of the hardcore elements whilst keeping it in the entertainment bracelet like he has with all his past work.

I wanted to quote this because this is pretty similar to how I feel, except I have Amazon and am looking forward to watching "Gear Knobs" too.

It's genuinely fascinating to see some people outraged that the BBC have changed the show and its presenters and will never watch it again, criticising any news that comes out about the show without ever seeing it. They would have happily watched the same scripted, structured yawn-fest over and over. Then the repeats on Dave!

I think this is a win-win situation. Clarkson, Hammond and May get to carry on working and on a show with a bigger budget. Top Gear gets freshened up with new, enthusuastic presenters and ideas.

To top it off, we now get two British car shows where for years there was only one. (Although I did quite like 5th Gear when it was on).

EDIT:
13 minutes ago, Metro posted this story on Facebook:

http://metro.co.uk/2016/02/05/top-gear-matt-leblanc-and-chris-evans-twitter-banter-is-already-on-point-5663400

"We don?t want to get anyone?s hopes up, but this Twitter bants between new Top Gear hosts Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc is totally reassuring us of their chemistry.Hours after the news broke on Thursday that Friends star Matt will be joining Chris on the revamped BBC show, Chris and the show?s production team were having their first meeting ? and in typical British tradition it was being held in the pub.
?Welcome but hurry up,? Chris tweeted to Matt, along with a snap of the crew sat around a table wearing massive grins.
?You?re late for the weekly TG production meeting.?"

Here are the first responses:
"Banter ? Next they'll be going for a cheeky Nando's #RektM8"
"Like watching Porn with a pair of pricks on TV for half an hour.. I won't b watching.."
"Change the name of the show an it might work"
"Is that the new USP of the show, they are going to tweet about the cars as they drive instead of speaking to camera ?"
"It be different that's for sure. Time to move away from the Clarkson era and do something fresh."
"top gear is dead..."
"Queue the moaners....."
"i can't watch a ginger"
"Hay how you Vroooooom-ing"
"Still not watching it."
"Bants!!

[buster_broon]

I generally didn't go out my way to watch top gear even though it's alright, I found Jeremy annoying who got too big for his boots and was rightly sacked - also not funny at all

Anyway I'm surprised they haven't bought in any of the American top gear presenters until they found the perfect team - the US show is pretty much a rip off of the UK one but I find Adam and Rutledge funnier than the UK counterparts and Tanner Faust is probably in my opinion the best driver I have ever seen throw cars around any sort of track anywhere in the world

[eastyy]

Rumoured next host http://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/another-...ar-host/529862

I have been watching the US version seemed the later series they stripped most of it out and just concentrated on the challenges....which to be honest i liked more then guest stars etc. But a lot of ideas are obviously from the uk version

[cutmymilk]

Im watching Top Gear Apocalypse right now. Found a few DVD specials that I'd not seen. Have the movie one next and I think I've seen them all.

[Neon Ignition]

Hmm.... the full presenter line up has been revealed for the show:



Chris Evans, Matt LeBlanc, Sabine Schmitz, Chris Harris, Eddie Jordan and Rory Reid.

Either Chris Evans is very much the presenter and the others just provide occasional pieces or this runs the risk of being a mess. I'm assuming the aim is to try and keep its appeal wide now that the 'personalities' of the previous three are gone and it kind of brings in an element of the shows older heritage of featuring more faces but it also makes it easy to lose focus. Time will tell with just 3 months left till it airs.

[Yakumo]

I don't even know who half of those are!

[Dogg Thang]

From left to right, Colin Salmon, Pippa Middleton, Joey Tribbiani, Tintin, Ram Man, Steven Spielberg, Casshern.

[Darwock]

Eddie Jordans inclusion guarantees that I will never watch this. Actually, that started with Chris Evans. Call it belt and braces.

[charlesr]

Dogg Thang hilarious

[Dogg Thang]

Must admit I'm regretting going with Casshern who is very obscure when I could have gone with Tommy the White Power Ranger.