Are we talking Clarkson or Evens here? Or Hammond or May for that matter.

As much as a car enthusiast as he is, and he is keen on italian cars, I just cannot stand the ginger tw@t either and would only bring myself to watch it to see how awful it has become. For me, he just reminds me of his tw@t-ish plasticine character on Bob the Builder

Listener figures for his Radio 2 show indicate he is popular, and how TV shows get good ratings. He is also very passionate about cars even if not as knowledgeable as Clarkson and May. Got to be worth a try and vastly preferable to some of the other names suggested, although they could still be part of the team I guess.

Lets face it, as I said before TG is dead as we all knew it. Now, it doesn't matter who will host the show now, they will never live up to Clarkson. You can forget all the shenanigans of the past. The show is dead.

As for Evans, he's not all together the worst choice, I don't find that annoying.

Lemme see:

Clarkson: loudmouth, opinionated, irritating, doesn't seem able to drive without smoking the tyres...
Evans: loudmouth, opinionated, irritating, don't know how he drives...

Not a lot to choose between, to be fair?

As the show is popular (for all it's failings, there certainly seems to be enough people watching it to say how shite it is if the threads on here are anything to go by) the only way I can see it remaining popular is to attract the C/M/H haters. Their supporters will hate the new format because they have to.

He can't be more of the same without trying to be Clarkson. He can't be anything less without being a pale imitation of him (which applies to his co-hosts The Gerbil And Capt Not Fast?). If he attempts to out-Clarkson Clarkson he'll be off air

He irritated the shit out of me on TGIF, I can't listen to him on the radio, so whichever way it goes, I'm out!

I'm in!

Well could be - depends what the sidekickery, if there are any, turns out to be. Loudmouth? check, irritating? check, boring, juvenile public school schtick? not check. It can only be better.

and I used to drink in the same pub as him (Steele's) when he had a Spitfire.

As long as he does not bring along the TFI mentality he should be ok and will hopefully be a return to form for TG. He does like his cars............

Lot of hate for Evans.

I don't mind him. I enjoy his shoe on Radio 2 on the way to work and he's probably the best fit to replace Clarkson.

Really can't make it more clear than I've already stated ....Top Gear is dead as we all knew it. The capers that the trio got up to, good bad or whatever made the show. All the haters that come on here & give their tuppence worth still used to watch & obviously in doing so felt the need to let off steam, perhaps making them feel better.

Although it seems Top Gear is going ahead with Evans, it's never going to be the same. I was never a huge fan of Clarkson "but" he was very good at what he did in TG & along with my wife we were entertained & liked what we saw, so it would seem the rest of the world thought so to. Evans is a very different kettle of fish altogether. I think his manic style may indeed irritate some fans. I'll be watching, I don't find him too irritating, after all it's only a show, nothing really to get all worked up about...no wait, ach lets see what the haters come up with....

I think Chris will do quite well on a motoring show with some light entertainment thrown in, I also think he will do well with a female co-host. Think back to Big Breakfast with Chris and Gaby Roslin, they had some hilarious moments. Add the big budget the BBC throws at Top Gear and it should make an entertaining show.

You can't help who irritates you. Alan Carr, Keith Lemon, Paul O'Grady and Graham Norton are never on my TV, not even as guests on shows I do watch.

So although I don't like Evans, I won't be posting on here about how crap TG is now he's on it!

Top gear will change and providing they get the other two presenters right it will be good . Clarkson and evan are similar they are both like marmite people hate them people like them . Clarksons stupidness was ruinning the show . I am not a fan of evans but hope the show works . Most likely takes a couple of years

most on here wished that top gear needed tweaking as it was getting a bit stale, now we have our wish. Maybe we should just wait and see what he brings to the role and then air our views. Must be a better viewing spectacle than that rubbish with Quen and Jodie. [ 2 people who couldn't blend together in a blender ]. Roll on the last of TG when they air it.

Chris Evans is a top choice, proper petrol head and has more than a few brain cells (unlike Clarkson).

It'll be different, sure, but as long as expensive cars continue to be hooned around accompanied with the breathtaking camera/production work we've come to expect from TG, I'll be happy.

Evans confirmed earlier that there will be a female co-presenter.

So who will it be................

Jodie Kidd - easy on the eye and she can drive better than most blokes - also a bit of a tomboy, so should fit well in the environment

Sandi Toksvig will be looking for a new gig after she quits the News Quiz this series...

Good call but not sure if she's tied into any kind of contract with Channel 5 for The Classic Car Show.....

I quite like the idea of Sabine Schmidt. Now that girl can drive!

Danica Patrick?

Seems Suzi Perry is being hinted at

I can understand Suzi being in the shortlist, but she's simply not knowledgeable enough to cut it - I also don't think she's spontaneous or quick-witted enough

Yesterday, Chris said they were going to be holding auditions, which was exactly how Hammond and May were recruited

Edit - seems Jodie has Clarkson's blessing

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11680835/Chris-Evans-Top-Gear-will-have-a-female-presenter.html

She has mine too....

Based on her F1 performance, it'd be another reason to body swerve the new TG!

The thing is, little of those points are relevant. It doesn't matter how quick witted and funny the presenters are, the show is scripted within an inch of its life - which is why James Kay's opinion of the nurburgring and car development on TG are identical to Richard Porter's in his Eco column.

Pretty well all the track driving, apart from the bits to camera are performed by a batallion of current and ex professional drivers, so the presenters don't have to be handy behind the wheel.

Pretty much my thoughts. What ever line up happens I'll watch, but I'm pretty sure this wont cut the mustard. Can't see me making the effort I used to do when Clarkson was on Top Gear. As for the girly bit nah! most, if honest just want to see female bits, nothing wrong with that, but for me it's a man show Obviously not all will agree with me on that one

Other way round - because Clarkson, Hammond and May aren't particularly brilliant drivers, they have to draft in pro drivers. If at least one of the presenting crew is a handy pedaller, they won't need to.

Fifth Gear get on just fine with Tiff, Jason and Vicky - they don't need to draft in anyone else

Fifth Gear get on just fine with Tiff, Jason and Vicky - they don't need to draft in anyone else [/quote]

Fifth gear is an entirely different show altogether.

The point I think Nigel was making was that if they get in some presenters that can properly drive (like Fifth gear have got) they wouldn't need to draft in additional drivers. Content and presentation styles etc is something different.

Well aware what's being said. Top Gear is a show for grown up school boys good/bad/haters alike..it works. Those that watch quite happily are really not that bothered in what means or how they go about the end result....simple but effective. I'm also aware that the haters have a point & don't like the show, no big deal. I'm not being flippant I'm just stating facts.

I dont think anyone suggested they did care (or not) - it was a couple of observations as to how the driving is done.

Personally I think a show for petrolheads would benefit from presenters who really know how to drive. As I said the content, presentations styles, production methods can/could all be retained but just use the presenters for more than just presenting.

I am on the fence on the whole saga to be honest so have no agenda but as the changes has already happened I think you may as well get some presenters that can actually drive on a car show rather than the current situation. YMMV.

I think you're missing my point, I'm only pointing out Top Gear is what it is, & is liked simply for the very thing that others don't like it. 5th gear was mentioned, different set up altogether.

I'm not wanting people to be exactly like me & agree that TG is the best ever, I accept some will hate the show. Hell I come from a time black&white telly (if you could afford one) was the norm'. Car shows back then in fact any kind of bloke show was dire. Top Gear for me is/was two fingers up to the establishment & entertaining along with schoolboy humour. OK not the end of the world because of it's demise, but I really can't see anything coming close to fill the shoes of the TG trio. Just my thoughts, but at an educated guess there will be more like me the world over.

RIP Top Gear as we all knew it.


OK I went a bit overboard