Chris Evans announced as new TG presenter

[Davie_GLA]

Just heard him talking about the sequence of events of the offer on the radio and he mentioned that partly in his decision making process he referenced when it all went wrong in the 90's from him.

I seem to recall he had a bit of a meltdown with stories of him going a bit mental with booze but what happened? I think i'm going to buy his book to read on holiday to get the picture.

David.

[rgw2012]

Going against the usual PH stance - I'll keep an open mind about Evans and the show until I see it

I would like to see Steve Coogan and Amanda Stretton as additional co hosts and Jason Plato could easily be the tame racing driver (I notice he wasn't in the last series of Fifth Gear so maybe there's no contracts to get in the way either). Just my 2ps worth - really hoping for a new car programme that I can enjoy watching again.

[Sad Ken]

The Crack Fox said:

I hated Clarkson. I found him boorish, overbearing, predictable and dull. Exactly the kind of public school bully that turns up at parties and gets on everyone's tits. Evans is modest, intelligent, funny and above all can add some much needed sparkle to a tired old TG. I look forward to seeing who the other two are.

Pretty much sums it up for me. I liked Clarkson years ago when he was the young(ish) rebellious savior of Top Gear, however he had become an annoying parody of himself, and the show was becoming very very stale and predictable. Recently, I'd found myself not paying full attention, or turning it over before the end. Not to say I was ready to stop watching it altogether, but I reckon I might have within a series or two. Much like with old Top Gear, the time had come to freshen it up. People don't like change, but the time is right.

Not sure Chris Evans suits Top Gear, but he's a car man and I've liked other stuff he's done, so I'll give him a chance. Guy Martin has been mentioned as a co-presenter, again not sure he suits presenting, but from what I've seen of him I think he'd maybe suit stunts and specials perhaps.

Success or failure, I'm looking forward to it.

[550M]

Chebble said:

...but Jenson Button?!

OK, Auntie might wince a bit at his retainer, buuuut...

Well it certainly wont be any previous or current encumbant of any motoring type programme, ie 5th, 6th, Top, Wheeler Gear. It will have to be someone who has motoring experience, and enough authority and gravitas for the viewer to buy into his/her viewpoint, and be comfortable in front of the camera. There you go, I'm back to Jens.

[cuda]

The Crack Fox said:

cheddar said:

The Crack Fox said:

I hated Clarkson. I found him boorish, overbearing, predictable and dull. Exactly the kind of public school bully that turns up at parties and gets on everyone's tits. Evans is modest, intelligent, funny and above all can add some much needed sparkle to a tired old TG. I look forward to seeing who the other two are.

Quite like that post

Oh, thanks! I expect(ed) an avalanche of abuse from his many fans on here.

you might have had a good point right up to the bit where you mentioned 'public school'. that's like me saying 'kind of state school bully that turns up at parties and gets on everyone's tits'. which I would never say because it would be a very silly and uneducated thing to say.

[cuda]

PoleDriver said:

Chris Evans is the/a producer!

that's smart - at least he can't get sacked for punching himself....!

[djdest]

Davie_GLA said:

Just heard him talking about the sequence of events of the offer on the radio and he mentioned that partly in his decision making process he referenced when it all went wrong in the 90's from him.

I seem to recall he had a bit of a meltdown with stories of him going a bit mental with booze but what happened? I think i'm going to buy his book to read on holiday to get the picture.

David.

Its a very good read, buy both of them

[PhantomPH]

I think (with the caveat that I have no idea who will join him) this could be a really good show....PROVIDING they do not try and simply replicate the tired old TG format. Let Evans do his thing his own way and I reckon this could be a real winner.

Top Gear was on the slide for a number of seasons now....I think this is 'out with the old and in with the new' on every level, so it should be fun.

[Ruffy94]

Completely unbearable to watch/ listen to in everything he does personally.

Id call myself a petrolhead as would everybody on this forum . But If like him, I had all the money to buy all the cars I wanted, it wouldn't make me capable of presenting Top Gear.

Knowledge or interest in something does not mean you will present it well or in the right way on tv. I can't see him doing serious features and any attempt to copy the Clarkson antics will be a flop, so I don't really see which direction this is going....

[suffolk009]

550M said:

Chebble said:

...but Jenson Button?!

OK, Auntie might wince a bit at his retainer, buuuut...

Well it certainly wont be any previous or current encumbant of any motoring type programme, ie 5th, 6th, Top, Wheeler Gear. It will have to be someone who has motoring experience, and enough authority and gravitas for the viewer to buy into his/her viewpoint, and be comfortable in front of the camera. There you go, I'm back to Jens.

They'll want at least one person who can drive. So one of the ex f1 drivers/now occasional TV presenters would work. Bruno Senna or Ant Davidson?

[Davie_GLA]

djdest said:

Its a very good read, buy both of them

It's Not What You Think and Memoirs of a Fruitcake?

[aeropilot]

rgw2012 said:

really hoping for a new car programme that I can enjoy watching again.

I think you might be disappointed then, Evans is more likely to take TG even more down the 'entertainment' route (with the odd car relevance) than Clarkson had, given Evans background compared to Jezza, especially if Evans is producer as well. TG as was, owned much to Andy Wilman's skills as anything else.

[Morningside]

Sorry but this is Chris Evans to me and just as annoying!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJFyz73MRcg

[soxboy]

Evans as host, Suzy Perry as co-host alongside Jonny Smith. Jason Plato as Stig.

Think I may pop down to William Hill with that!

[Challo]

djdest said:

Davie_GLA said:

Just heard him talking about the sequence of events of the offer on the radio and he mentioned that partly in his decision making process he referenced when it all went wrong in the 90's from him.

I seem to recall he had a bit of a meltdown with stories of him going a bit mental with booze but what happened? I think i'm going to buy his book to read on holiday to get the picture.

David.

Its a very good read, buy both of them

Very good read. He certainly went off the rails in the 90's.

[Sad Ken]

cuda said:

you might have had a good point right up to the bit where you mentioned 'public school'. that's like me saying 'kind of state school bully that turns up at parties and gets on everyone's tits'. which I would never say because it would be a very silly and uneducated thing to say.

Maybe a bad choice of words, but I think I get what he means, Clarkson has for some years been giving off a vibe of smug pompous snobbery.

[Stinkfoot]

moanthebairns said:

David Coultard, or Harris as possible good presenters. jesus christ

Seriously, some people are so far out of touch with the world on here its quite amusing.

Coultard is plastic as fk in front of the camera, no has heard of Harris.

Its only fuds on here that think they could make a show more interesting than Clarkson and cant realise its not a car show. If you have to explain under steer and over steer every time you mention it doesn't that indicate its not a fking car nerd show, its an entertainment show

Can you imagine how boring the show would be with those 2 ? Two classic examples of why being a very good driver DOES NOT make a very good TV presenter. Some of the adulation of Harris on here boarders on sexual. I simply dont get it.
I am no fan of Evans but he does know how to present and I know I will end up liking the show !

[Funkycoldribena]

soxboy said:

Evans as host, Suzy Perry as co-host alongside Jonny Smith. Jason Plato as Stig.

Think I may pop down to William Hill with that!

Not Suzy 'I love myself'Perry,cant think of anything worse.

[driveontheleft]

People have talked about an entertainment show and a car show but some editions of TG have been entertaining car shows in their own right and I think that's the look the new regime should go for. For me TG was at it's best when reviewing cars and/or on epic drives and races between cars and pubic, sorry public, transport. Some of the stunts (call 'em features if you like) were puerile and I agree it had become stale.

I've no opinion on CE as I've never watched or listened to him but at least he's a car fan and is creative, so that's got to be a good basis for starters. If he can team up with two more entertaining car people, who have something to say about cars, can put us in the driving seats with them and make the new TG into an entertaining car show, we can forgive him painting those Ferraris white.

[Cotic]

hornetrider said:

My fiver is on Jodie Kidd and James Martin.

I really hope they don't give that arrogant potato-faced bloated talentless dinner-cobbler any more air time than hangover fodder Saturday Kitchen. The guy shouldn't be allowed behind a hob, let alone a steering wheel. And I doubt Sparco make race suits in the right size.

I'm not a fan.