Here’s Why Top Gear was Cancelled

With the news that Top Gear has been "shelved", I thought I'd dig into why I think it ultimately failed...

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#highpeakautos #topgear #topgearcancelled #riptopgear #clarkson #hammond #may

[harambae]

The problem the BBC had is that the presenters became bigger than the show. It was easier for Clarkson, May and Hammond to find a new show than it was for Top Gear to find a replacement trio.

[paulcowan]

It wasn't just Clarkson, May and Hammond it was Andy Wilman, the producer as well that came up with the ideas as well. That's why he went to Amazon as well.

[antoniopalmero]

It’s blatantly obvious why it’s failed, it was doomed as soon as Jezza, Hamster & May left .

[deniscurtin]

I fully agree Matt. What was key in the older one was the undoubted chemistry between the 3 lads. What I and Im sure a lot of people found the most interesting segments were the factual challenges, like where they had to drive from Switzerland to Balckpool on one tank of diesel or the most car for the money for £6k. Those segments didnt need any silly gimmicks or explosions etc but were still very entertaining purely because of the rapport. A quality that was blatantly lacking in the new format, they tried in vain to mimic the laddish formula but didnt have the rapport, personality and chemistry to pull it off. It shouldve started on a clean slate where the new presenters worked to their own strengths.

[split_pin]

I too loved the May, Clarkson and Hammond era for the reasons you mention, but I also loved the show in the 1980s. Even as an under-10, I really loved seeing the reviews of new cars at the time. I think Chris Goffey, Tiff Needell and William Woolard came across as really knowledge and personable. I think you could really trust their reviews. Then Clarkson joined and really moved the game on.

Nowadays I don't watch any telly as such, I get all my content from You Tube, especially cars.

[philjones]

Special mention for Chris Harris who done a brilliant job, he has all the enthusiasm, knowledge and skill of a top motoring journalist

[MJB]

It failed for 2 simple reasons. Firstly, everyone was bored with freddie and paddy trying to be the biggest northerner and lad. Secondly, it ignored Chriis being drowned out by those 2 planks.

[celt]

I agree with literally everything you said. Plus there was far too much 'watch this' slamming a £2 million hypercar around an airfield instead of focusing on cars we conceivably could own.

[ColinCarFan]

Chris Harris is mentioned in a quite a few positive comments here - well deserved. He is the lead on a great YT channel for those addicted to collecting cars - I'm sure that as a fellow car addict, Matt watches this too!

[myyoutubehandle-rr]

You described how most people felt. Clarkson, Hammond and May were Top Gear. The episodes after them just weren’t the same. I wanted to like them but just couldn’t.

[ChrissBeerReviews]

I completely agree with you Matt. Watching Chris Evens running around jumping screaming “we got custody of The Stig” on his first episode was cringy and embarrassing. Chris Harris can drive and knows cars which is more to be said for Paddy and Freddy. It was so evident there was no chemistry between Matt Le Blanc and Evans. All in all its a great shame.

[paulgilliatt]

Sadly it ran out of ideas and got steadily more ridiculous. And they needed to go back to basics like you suggest. Finally they needed people who can actually drive or know their limits.

[Steve_Hallett]

I think your comment about being entertained and informed, is a much wider problem for the BBC than just Top Gear. YouTube has filled my hole in this department. Great passionate creators, in charge of there own futures and content. Keep it up Mat and all you other guys.

[therealjamesbond]

Not many will remember but the actual original Top Gear with Quentin Wilson etc was brilliant. They did proper car reviews and it’s really missing from today’s television.

[hkuiper]

The chemistry between Clarkson, Hammond and May, is unique. But they are also natural comedians in the great English tradition. And Wilman is brilliant. They way that they all stuck with Jeremy is a wonderful story of loyalty and mateship. How the BBC couldn't see that beggars belief. They always wanted to get rid of Jeremy because he's the opposite of woke. So they did it and the result was immediately inevitable. You can't manufacture true natural comedy and wit. The Grand Tour is great. Always good entertainment with cars thrown in. And we've watched the fab 3 in Top Gear replays more times than I can count. First on BBC, then on Discovery or something. Now on YouTube. 🇭🇲

[scrossman]

The opening sequence in the first Grand Tour was terrific, not a word spoken as Clarkson left a rainy London and rejoined his crew in the desert.
That was an example of the production values that made the Wilman era so good. Don't under estimate how talented the production team were, the likes of Richard Porter and Jim Wiseman are brilliant.

[LotCARS]

I remember the program way back when it was fronted by a more formal presentation team, but as a kid growing up, it really ignited my interest in cars and encouraged me to join the motor industry. Even in the Hammond, May and Clarkson era there was still informative reviews and cars we could all have the opportunity to own. Despite a couple of makeovers the only good thing to come out of it is Chris Harris, he actually provides sensible, journalism and informed reviews. The others are just a couple of chumps!

[paulie-Gualtieri.]

Clarkson May and Hammond worked well together. Towards the end of their time, it was getting a bit past it and ridiculously tedious, and far to much focus on supercars at times. I miss Top Gear from the 80s to late 90s when it actually reviewed cars.

[TTPDrums]

Chris Harris was a class act on the most recent iteration of TG. I’ll miss seeing him. Also a very knowledgeable and decent chap.

[MadsGormLarsen]

The great thing about Jeremy leaving BBC is that now we have Clarksons farm and Grand Tour.