Previously, reports came in suggesting some trouble involving new Top Gear host, Chris Evans. Now, with the new extended line-up of hosts, more reports have come in claiming that the show will not make its May 8 premier as it has been pushed to the 22 instead. To add to that, the show has been cut from eight to six episodes, all this due to a “host” of issues, RadioTimes reports.
It is said that Chris Evans has signed a three-year deal to make 16 episodes over two years. The original plan was to have eight episodes out on a weekly basis from May 8 onwards. Now, however, the plan is said to have changed, with six episodes to be out instead. The remaining 10 will be broadcasted at a later date as filming is already behind schedule.
Apparently, a number of factors are behind the delays, said insiders. For one, the new presenting line-up which includes Matt LeBlanc, Sabine Schmitz, Chris Harris, Eddie Jordan and Rory Reid was not finalised until early February. Moreover, LeBlanc was apparently rushed into signing his contract after the BBC contacted him to break news that his recruitment “was due to leak.”
Meanwhile, the departure of executive producer Lisa Clark is also said to have sent production into a “certain amount of disarray,” according to insiders. Furthermore, filming schedule for TFI Friday (Evans’ own entertainment show) was also understood to have delayed his opportunity to fully put his attention into the new Top Gear. This, along with his inability to present at high-speeds, as reported before.
The Top Gear production team is reportedly working against time to have the show back on BBC2 by May – which is a must. This is due to the many multi-series contracts currently in place and to avoid clashing with summer TV schedules, crowded with football programmes and the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Autumn 2016 is also not a possibility for the broadcast of the new Top Gear. Apparently, the BBC is “desperate” to avoid clashing with Clarkson, Hammond and May on Amazon, which is due to air during that period, so the story goes.
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Served BBC right
Now that Jeremy have officially apologized, BBC should instead buy out the Amazon productions and bring back the original cast. Besides, how many years left can Jeremy and the gang work front of camera, they are not getting younger anyway.
And no need so many hosts, this is not K-Pop.
Chris Evans’ future doesn’t look bright at all after this fiasco. And BBC just got them a major bomb.. It’ll be a surprise if people bothered tuning in to the new Top Gear after one or two episodes..
Jeremy Clarkson was the brains behind the whole top gear formula, he came up with the new top gear format, and even wrote every new episode. bbc will not be able to replicate it. This will be a slow and painful death for the franchise.
What else to expect when you have an actor (really???), a radio host (again, really???) and a slew of unknowns heading the show? The only true motor head I see in the line-up is the stig.
I could imagine Jeremy putting an L on his forehead towards BBC.
Loosseeerrrrr….
Serve you right BBC.