Jeremy Clarkson suspended

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

Good observation Aongus, we have left the 1980s behind I hope.

Best wishes for the new show and a new start.

Old Top Gear was stuck in the 1980's. Before the 2002 revamp, Top Gear was a 30 minute program and used to be like a visual Auto Trader, with them reviewing trackers and buses. It can't go back to that because it will fail. The success of the revamped Top Gear was because of the joking around between the three presenters who are friends in real life, the stunts and the challenges. You can't act or pretend that sort of friendship. Old Top Gear was boring in comparison.

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

I might, just for aesthetic reasons.

But if they bring in crap like 'the Stig' or some other rubbish, the Bren will bruise the off button kinda rapido.

Hope genuine car fans like it though, and it's not a conduit for insult, defamation and taunting.

Hope it concentrates on just cars.

I think The Stig, as a professional racing driver, is essential in shows like this. Other formats like Performance Bikes magazine use the likes of Michael Rutter and Bruce Dunn for tyre and sportsbike comparisons to ensure both objectivity and consistency.

Brendan Bendar wrote: »

Why the hate, Goosy?

Just reporting like.

No need surely.

The two fat lads and the little fella are history

Like I predicted:D

Ah now, be fair.

They're all fat.

Eutow wrote: »

Old Top Gear was stuck in the 1980's. Before the 2002 revamp, Top Gear was a 30 minute program and used to be like a visual Auto Trader, with them reviewing trackers and buses. It can't go back to that because it will fail. The success of the revamped Top Gear was because of the joking around between the three presenters who are friends in real life, the stunts and the challenges. You can't act or pretend that sort of friendship. Old Top Gear was boring in comparison.

Yes, old Top Gear was just a review show for petrol heads, very much only suited to an early evening weekday slot. Its transformed into a primetime entertainment show so that's where it has to stay. I think it can appeal to enthusiasts and casual viewers too. The revamped Top Gear managed this fairly well in the earlier years before it descended into wall to wall, forced nonsense. There is surely room for serious motor journalism in between all the clowning around and challenges. I don't know how much 'serious' Chris Evans will be interested in though. My only experience of him is TFI Friday and if that's where Top Gear is going, god help us all!

Maybe. Again what sells Wheeler Dealers is largely the real life friendship between to the two lads. So many successful programmes are based on that. (Billo, Giles and Dunphy ) So if they don't get suitable people to join Evans it may be doomed anyway.

Format wise, I think all Top Gear essentially needs to be is car porn. Apart from the presenters, it's big selling point is it allows us mere mortals to see the most desirable cars in the world, usually in some of the most beautiful locations in the world. So have the odd trip / race around Italy in a couple of Ferrari's etc etc. Have the odd challenge incorporating some exotic/harsh/weird locations around the world. Do some actual reviews of some normal cars which people might actually buy, but put a slant on it to make it appealing to the casual viewer. The Stig. Star in a reasonably priced car. If Evans can add to that he's a good bit of the way home already. But his co-hosts are crucial if its not going to be a turd.

anncoates wrote: »

Re: Chris Evans, if true. You have to applaud them for unerringly unearthing another identikit middle-aged Peter Pan fcukwit to replace JC.

He's about as funny as Brucellosis too

Chris Evans just announced on BBC1 that there will be open auditions for his co-hosts.Anyone who knows a lot about cars can apply.

He will have to get this lady back as a guest host.;)

AMKC wrote: »

Chris Evens I really don,t car what he nows about car,s because can,t stand him either. Tried to watch an episode of TFI last weekend. What a load of rubbish.

He's probably forgotten more about cars that you'll ever know. If you cant stand him, why did you watch TFI Friday??

Agricola wrote: »

Ed is certainly the brains of the operation, but i think you need a 'showbiz' character as well. I don't think Wheeler Dealers would have become so big without Mike Brewer. He overdoes the aul cockney geezer thing abit but he seems ok.

Ah no,i think its what Ed shows what he is doing that is the star of the show,Mike could be replaced no problem.


There is a great opening for a show like that where they could show people in detail about replacing easy stuff like shocks brakes etc in an entertaining way.
Even my wife watches it sometimes and say so that's what was done on ours and he charged me so much for that!!


I remember Jocks "The Garage" used to do something similar explain about gears and diffs and how they worked and how they replaced or fixed them.