If you watched new Top Gear was it any good, yes or no?

[wiggy001]

I genuinely hoped it would be "Top Gear but different", but it could have been the old Top Gear where Clarkson et al were taken sick and Evans and Le Blanc were drafted in last minute to use the existing script. Evans even sounded like he was trying to emulate Clarkson's style of talking.

I used to like Chris Evans a lot but he's become too self-obsessed lately. Which makes his attempt to emulate Clarkson rather than make his own show very strange.

I also spent most of the programme asking "why are they doing this?". eg what was the point of driving to Blackpool in the Reliants? I just didn't get it. It wasn't exactly US vs UK was it?

I'll still watch it but won't be bothered if I miss it.

[johnxjsc1985]

I wlll not watch it again in the hope the BBC will do something about it. I would rather watch Frank Bough and Selena Scott than what we had on sunday.
I would even watch it with Quentin Wilson presenting it that's how bad I rate it.

[clonmult]

wiggy001 said:

I also spent most of the programme asking "why are they doing this?". eg what was the point of driving to Blackpool in the Reliants? I just didn't get it. It wasn't exactly US vs UK was it?

You could say the same about pretty much every segment on the Clarkson Top Gear too. Most of it was pointless. But it was fun. And I enjoyed the Evans show, and *really* liked Extra Gear.

[wiggy001]

clonmult said:

wiggy001 said:

I also spent most of the programme asking "why are they doing this?". eg what was the point of driving to Blackpool in the Reliants? I just didn't get it. It wasn't exactly US vs UK was it?

You could say the same about pretty much every segment on the Clarkson Top Gear too. Most of it was pointless. But it was fun. And I enjoyed the Evans show, and *really* liked Extra Gear.

Agree to an extent, but at least they would make up some excuse for the trip eg "best sub £n sportcar". Or "uk vs Germany". Yes the link was tenuous but there was a link. The bit with the Reliants seemed pretty random to me... "you're American, I'm English, here are 2 crap cars with our flags on. And we are driving to Blackpool for no apparent reason".

[johnxjsc1985]

clonmult said:

You could say the same about pretty much every segment on the Clarkson Top Gear too. Most of it was pointless. But it was fun. And I enjoyed the Evans show, and *really* liked Extra Gear.

It wasn't pointless at all it stopped me buying a Reliant and probably saved my life. I will always remember the episode with all the product manufactured here in the UK parked on the Mall.
Sometimes you don't realise how good something was until its no longer there.
But the laughter is something genuine and cannot be scripted and I miss the absurdity ,the silliness and the sense of fun.

[e21Mark]

I must admit, I thought they were going to be doing something 'new and exciting' and not simply roll out the same tired old format?!

The biggest cringes were at the forced friendships and banter. Maybe that'll come with time but I wonder how many of this line-up will stick around long enough?

Has CE mentioned the viewing figures on that radio show of his?

[Smollet]

e21Mark said:

Has CE mentioned the viewing figures on that radio show of his?

I believe he might have......

[TommoAE86]

I quite enjoyed all the bits where Chris Evans' wasn't. It all had too much TFI stench about it which doesn't work.

I liked Matt, he was good and when he was out with the camera he was really good and actually felt like a presenter.
I like the fleeting moments of Sabine, "oh zis suspension is crap, like a ferrari" was just funny, need more camera time for her.

Then we got CE, and he was as terrible as he always is. I either shut my eyes or looked at my phone he was that poor, when it was pointed out in a previous thread that he couldn't drive & talk to the camera I thought it was abit of a joke but he's awful for it!

Will watch next week and see if they give more time to the other presenters but not going to watch after that.

[Digga]

wiggy001 said:

it could have been the old Top Gear where Clarkson et al were taken sick and Evans and Le Blanc were drafted in last minute to use the existing script.

Harsh but both accurate anf air. As others here say, the creative team seem to have left the building or been overpowered by one particualr ego.

TommoAE86 said:

I quite enjoyed all the bits where Chris Evans' wasn't. It all had too much TFI stench about it which doesn't work.

I liked Matt, he was good and when he was out with the camera he was really good and actually felt like a presenter.
I like the fleeting moments of Sabine, "oh zis suspension is crap, like a ferrari" was just funny, need more camera time for her.

I'm not the first to say that with Matt, Sabine and Chris there is the kernel of a really great Top Gear team. Somehow and for some reason, Matt seems to convince me he's a car enthusiast and has his heart in the show, Sabine brings some much needed alternative angles to the show (i.e. not a bloke, not a sycophant and not short of driving skill) and most of us here on PH know why Chris Harris is so well appreciated - there is undoubtedly something in the quality of his YouTube channel that a decent TV team could and should be able to exploit to good effect.

Most of the rest of the cast, along with the old format and scripts, need binning.

[RegMolehusband]

Smollet said:

Yes we can ooh and aah as they plunge into the water splash at 40 mph and take the leap of death at 50. The new track will keep on changing as it's a mixed surface and therefore every run will be different to the previous one so any direct comparison will be meaningless. At least with the old track it was a constant surface that was only affected on the day by rain or the lack of it.

It's not F1 you know. It's just a bit of fun, and watching celebs of various abilities cope with the sliding, water and jump should be entertaining. More so than the yawn-fest that it was previously. It's a shame they didn't find a rear wheel drive car though.

Edited by RegMolehusband on Wednesday 1st June 11:12

[MarshPhantom]

Digga said:

wiggy001 said:

it could have been the old Top Gear where Clarkson et al were taken sick and Evans and Le Blanc were drafted in last minute to use the existing script.

Harsh but both accurate anf air. As others here say, the creative team seem to have left the building or been overpowered by one particualr ego.

TommoAE86 said:

I quite enjoyed all the bits where Chris Evans' wasn't. It all had too much TFI stench about it which doesn't work.

I liked Matt, he was good and when he was out with the camera he was really good and actually felt like a presenter.
I like the fleeting moments of Sabine, "oh zis suspension is crap, like a ferrari" was just funny, need more camera time for her.

I'm not the first to say that with Matt, Sabine and Chris there is the kernel of a really great Top Gear team. Somehow and for some reason, Matt seems to convince me he's a car enthusiast and has his heart in the show, Sabine brings some much needed alternative angles to the show (i.e. not a bloke, not a sycophant and not short of driving skill) and most of us here on PH know why Chris Harris is so well appreciated - there is undoubtedly something in the quality of his YouTube channel that a decent TV team could and should be able to exploit to good effect.

Most of the rest of the cast, along with the old format and scripts, need binning.

Maybe we're being harsh. They have yet to unveil their secret weapon, Eddie Jordan.

[lockhart flawse]

Watched Extra Gear last night and enjoyed it. I thought both presenters were good and liked the content. CE is a goon who would have been great on the old It's a Knockout but his persona doesn't work on TG; he should withdraw to some sort of executive producer role.

[Smollet]

RegMolehusband said:

It's not F1 you know. It's just a bit of fun, and watching celebs of various abilities cope with the sliding, water and jump should be entertaining. More so than the yawn-fest that it was previously. It's a shame they didn't find a rear wheel drive car though.

Edited by RegMolehusband on Wednesday 1st June 11:12

It's not RallyX either. I did suggest earlier that a Mk2 Escort with a suitable lump would be ideal but something called cost and availability was mentioned

[Digga]

MarshPhantom said:

Maybe we're being harsh. They have yet to unveil their secret weapon, Eddie Jordan.

And the addition of copious quantities of man-blouses will help how?

[ChilliWhizz]

Probably unfair but I had to turn it off as soon as Chis Evans started trying to talk like Clarkson....

[longshot]

I watched it on player.

I was alright but nothing great.

I am prepared to give it time though as I expect it to gradually morph as time goes on.
I would think that the instruction has been to keep it to the established format for now for consistencies sake.


There's an awful lot of 'won't watch it again' going on. We'll see.

[johnxjsc1985]

As bad it was Eddie Jordan may prove just a bit too much of an annoyance for me and the safety of my TV.
I will not watch again until it has settled down and Evans has gone.
Have they filmed the complete first series?.

[dub16v]

I couldn't tell if Chris Evans was trying to intentionally sound like Clarkson at points as a sort of ironic nod to his predecessor, or whether it was something that just happened.

I fear the latter.

[cologne2792]

You mean it wasn't a spoof ?!

[Evangelion]

I don't think Clarkson, Hammond and May have anything to worry about!