Surprise: The New Top Gear Presenter Line-Up Works Very Well
A comedian, a former cricketer and one of the most well-known, respected car journalists in the industry. It’s not the most obvious combination of people to form the presenter line-up of the world’s biggest motoring show.
The fresh team consisting of newcomers Paddy McGuinness, Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff alongside existing TG man Chris Harris represents the third major change to the show in as many years. Indeed, former England cricket captain Flintoff even joked that “I know Top Gear has had more rebirths than Doctor Who lately.”
Then Radio 2 Breakfast host and veteran TV presenter Chris Evans infamously only lasted one series at the helm. A few seasons on, the most recent trio was ditched after Matt LeBlanc departed due to the hefty travel requirements, with producers relegating Rory Reid to Extra Gear presenting duties only not long after. Will this new, new, new-look Top Gear be the one that finally sticks? After watching series 27 episode one, I hope so.
Really, it’s pure chance that Top Gear in its post-2002 guise worked so well. It was fronted by three motoring journalists (admittedly one, Jeremy Clarkson, already being a household name), between whom extraordinary chemistry formed over the following years as the show grew in popularity. The chance of repeating that is damn near impossible, so what the BBC has done this time is something a little different.
The choice of Flintoff and McGuinness inevitably proved to be a worry for a lot of petrolheads - they’re not exactly going to be experts on the world of cars. But, sticking them with Harris and using each presenter in the right way has turned out to be a bit of a masterstroke.
The Ethiopia road trip - which saw each of the three hosts buy the closest thing possible to their first cars - had a cohesiveness to it Top Gear hasn’t experienced since the Clarkson, Hammond and May years. The segment wasn’t the most original, but it played out smoothly with Harris’ car knowledge and enthusiasm paired to the humour and presenting experience of the other two. With a few short man jokes chucked in for good measure.
Amongst car bores Harris rightfully enjoys a lofty reputation, so it does sit weirdly seeing the man become the butt of most of the jokes. But no matter - plenty of room has been left for him to slide around in supercars. Much like he does in Chris Harris Drives, but with the technical detail understandably toned down to appeal to a wider audience.
It’s that last bit that’s key. Yes, the short-lived LeBlanc, Harris and Reid iteration of the show had its moments of brilliance, with the Japan-based episode being one of Top Gear’s best ever. But the hosts never quite clicked in a way we’d have liked, and it was almost a little too car-focused.
TG, we must remember, isn’t just for us lot. It has to appeal to a much broader audience. Now, it looks like it might just be able to do that, while still keeping most petrolhead keyboard warriors happy.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
The big issue I still have is, no matter how funny they may be, is that the BBC denied the chance for any up and coming car presenters or journalist or even YouTubers who have an enormous amount of passion for all things cars a shot at the roles. In short they’ve played it too safe. It could have still been so much more…
When you’re talking about a global brand that generates this level of revenue, you kind of have to play it safe. Like I said, TG isn’t just for us - it needs to have a broad appeal.
They have the journalist/YouTuber/expert role filled with Harris - completing the team with similar talent would make for a great show, but for something that works as mainstream TV? I’m not so sure
I disagree with this.
They gave Rory (an up and coming youtuber) a shot and it didn’t pan out. They gave Chris Harris (an up and coming car presenter / journalist) a shot and it did pan out.
You’ve got to remember that, outside of car circles, Harris was a relative unknown and untested within the mainstream. But to everyone else he was the only and obvious choice.
(Just a hated comment)
It’s an entertainment show not a sleeping aid
Glad to hear I wasn’t alone in being pleasantly surprised by how good it was
The banter was totally awesome
other than the original i preferred the last iteration, with some times having some trouble understanding what one of the presenters said with a more “closed” English, that being said it’s only the 1st episode, and it is always good to have another car show.
Yesterday’s show was amazing
I was also surprised how well the trio worked together, big improvement over the last relaunch with Chris Evans, I’ll definitely be watching next week.
It was quite good, though the absence of the News suggests to me that they don’t have the same capacity for endlessly talking utter bollocks as the thee amigos did.
Hey! How great! I don’t care! Call it something else, it isn’t Top Gear anymore. Top Gear left with the veterans. :)
I was looking forward to it. Tbh Season 24 and 25 were not bad at all. You could tell season 26 was rushed and they used 2 unaired episodes from season 25 in season 26 for it’s 5 ep run. So the producers clearly didn’t care too much for it. This episode was great I’m not surprised by it. Freddie is hilarious and I was a fan of his when he played cricket. Paddy is a well known comedian and tv personality and Harris is the resident car nerd.