Why Chris Harris Thought A Top Gear Job Would Be Career Suicide

In an interview with us last year, Chris Harris set the record straight on rumours he would go for the Top Gear job, claiming it was a "poisoned chalice" and that he "wouldn't want to follow those boys."

Darren Cassey

11 Feb 2016

Today, one of the worst kept secrets in television was confirmed, with Chris Harris announced as one of a six-strong lineup of presenters for the BBC’s new look Top Gear. The motoring journalist took to Twitter after news broke to say “Big thank you to everyone who helped me get this chance.”

However, when we spoke to Harris last summer, he was very outspoken about not wanting to take a job at Top Gear. Speaking amid rumours he was in the running to take over after Jeremy Clarkson was sacked for punching a producer, he said “I think you’d have to be paid a lot of money in the first year, because I’m not sure you’d be employable in the second and third years”, describing the job as “a poisoned chalice” and saying he “wouldn’t want to follow those boys.” On the subject of where Top Gear should go next, Harris said “the BBC needs to go and do something new with new people.”

With today’s announcement, it would appear that either the BBC came calling with ‘a lot of money’, or that Harris has been convinced that the new show has what it takes to follow on from Clarkson and co. In a statement about his appointment, Chris said “if it all goes wrong, well, I can say I was once on Top Gear, and just head back to being that annoying small bloke off YouTube”, which sounds a lot like he felt like this was a once in a lifetime opportunity he just couldn’t refuse.

Whatever the reason, we’re delighted to see Chris Harris join the team, and look forward to seeing what he gets up to on the new show.

Comments

Chris Harris has spoken!!!

hahahaha. So either he’s getting paid a lot for one year…
Or they are doing something completely different.

I’m really hoping it’s both because he’s one of my favorite automotive journalists.

It’s like saying both ruins the career of a plastic surgeon more than practicing in LA

Harris’ reasons behind joining Top Gear:

More money = P1

*LaFerrari he likes it more

I’m still wondering how will they all fit in the top gear bench in the studio

i think they’ll just swap about, or chris does external parts and isn’t in the studio

It seems like you guys are throwing him under the bus?

Not at all. Harris said what everyone was thinking in 2015. Since then, the show has been completely shaken up, and the fact that Harris has taken the job proves that Top Gear has done enough to attract people like him to be presenters. It’s like me offering you a rusty AF MX-5. It’s still appealing, but you know it would kill you in a crash. Once the rust has been fixed and a turbo’s been attached (new Top Gear format), you’d beg for the keys.

I know it sounds weird for some people but I would join for 3 reasons if Top Gear would ask me. Either because of the money soo I could have my perfect car modding shop after the show will end or if I would quite. And it’s probably once in a lifetime opportunity also. I would love to be a Car/Bike journalist soo yeah. :)

Man everyone has their price and they just found Chris’s

I’m glad he’s joined, seeing Harris driving a car is always pleasing

The fact that Chris actually joined is a good thing for a lot of reasons. Primarily the fact that a very competent driver will probably be doing reviews (Let’s be honest, the boys were GOOD drivers. Not tip top), and the fact that it means that Top gear is probably adopting a new format that Chris believes CAN follow up the Trio’s Top gear juggernaut. And finally…..Drifting. Drifting everything.