Why Chris Harris Thought A Top Gear Job Would Be Career Suicide
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
He would have been a fool to pass up the opportunity in all reality. If the BBC comes knocking why wouldn’t you? Poisoned chalice my ass.
I don’t think he understood then what a Top Gear presenter is worth financially.
He’s about to be making F U money.
o helllooo there is that Carthrottle cap again that has been a shop secret for many months or years? Well pretty long atleast :p