James May quits Top Gear

[RESSE]

Daily Mail link:

"James May quits Top Gear saying show would be 'lame' without Jeremy Clarkson and the BBC would be 'stupid' to try".

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3052014/Ja...

PS If posted elsewhere on PH could mods delete this thread.

Thanks.

[Vocal Minority]

Not particularly surprising.

[Durzel]

I suspect the BBC would be better off replacing all three presenters and spinning the whole thing off in a new direction. Might work, might not, but May is right I think in that the three of them worked as a unit, they played off each other. Removing one component breaks the whole unit for me.

Retaining May and Hammond for other BBC ventures would be their best bet I think, the programmes I've seen them do (particularly May who eases effortlessly into documentary style shows) have been good. That way should Top Gear 3.0 or whatever fail the BBC can relaunch it with them back at the helm. It's been done before, so no reason it couldn't happen again.

[Stig]

From the article:

"Meanwhile, Clarkson revealed in a newspaper column earlier this month that he was told by a doctor that he might have cancer, two days before assaulting Mr Tymon"

[LaurasOtherHalf]

ITV/Sky/Netflicks (delete as applicable) here we come.

[Foliage]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

ITV/Sky/Netflicks (delete as applicable) here we come.

Netflix probably, 13 episode series, all released at once (probably, they have the most money and the biggest market)

[London424]

From the man himself

https://twitter.com/mrjamesmay

[Sway]

Stig said:

From the article:

"Meanwhile, Clarkson revealed in a newspaper column earlier this month that he was told by a doctor that he might have cancer, two days before assaulting Mr Tymon"

Yep, lump in his tongue...

Not a particular surprise, considering the lifestyle he leads. Was also clear in his comments he wasn't playing the victim card, but highlighting how when the pressure is on he's started struggling to cope - took full responsibility.

[Hooli]

May is the only one worth watching, with Clarkson next & the hamster a very distant third.

[mightymouse]

Having sacked Clarkson the BBC are still showing repeats on BBC 3

[otolith]

mightymouse said:

Having sacked Clarkson the BBC are still showing repeats on BBC 3

Getting the boot for thumping someone doesn't get your programme history erased from the schedule. Child molesting will do the trick, obviously.

[Mastodon2]

Good on James, showing himself as a man of integrity.

[GAjon]

otolith said:

Getting the boot for thumping someone doesn't get your programme history erased from the schedule. Child molesting will do the trick, obviously.

Yep, 1974 top of the pops special is the test card for half an hour.

[ajprice]

mightymouse said:

Having sacked Clarkson the BBC are still showing repeats on BBC 3

Not sacked. Contract not renewed. There is a difference.

[RESSE]

Rumours on Internet is that Andy Wilman has also quit the BBC.

[RESSE]

Hooli said:

May is the only one worth watching, with Clarkson next & the hamster a very distant third.

100% agree.

James's non Top Gear programs are excellent, and he has great on screen persona.

Sound bloke methinks.

[Teppic]

RESSE said:

Rumours on Internet is that Andy Wilman has also quit the BBC.

Confirmed, although the article on BBC News suggests that, like May, he has quit the show and not the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32437...

[carl_w]

Seems like Andy Wilman has quit too http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32437...

[eldar]

Teppic said:

Confirmed, although the article on BBC News suggests that, like May, he has quit the show and not the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32437...

The rats are leaving SS Topgear.

[snuffy]

Here's my Mystic Meg prediction for Top Gear:

The BBC will make one more series with some no hope presenters.

Ratings will plummet and it will be pulled after said one series.

The BBC will quietly drop it.