I used to listen to Sir Terry on Radio 2 during my morning commute. I considered it utter sacrilege when they gave Chris Evans the coveted morning slot.

However, he's made it his own, with his own style. He's also attracted a new band of followers that almost certainly wouldn't have listened to Wogan.

I thought that the first new TG was a bit forced - trying too hard to be a bit like the old series. When Chris is himself, rather than his shouty on-screen persona, I find him (mostly) personable and knowledgable - perhaps he needs to let this come out a bit more. He is a proper petrolhead, with far more knowledge than Clarkson - I think he should make more of this.

Matt isn't a presenter, but he has a good delivery - he's clearly used to comedy deliveries.... TBH, the last bunch weren't very good presenters initially - they grew into their respective TG roles.

Sabine needs to be allowed to have more fun - she was genuine, open and quite funny (in a German sort of way) in the Nurburgring Jag / van episodes - Sunday's brief Corvette drive didn't give us much of the real Sabine

I hope the entire series isn't already recorded, as I think a few tweaks need to be made.

Bits to drop? I didn't like the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, although that's probably because I'm not hugely keen on Gordon Ramsay and I didn't have a clue who the other guy was. Kitting out the Viper and Corvette with "laser guns" was just silly - a "Stig v Sabine" race would have been simpler, less gimmicky and just as entertaining.

I was hoping to see Monkey Harris in a front-man presenting role - I hope he isn't confined to a supporting job - his delivery can be a bit dry and matter-of-fact, but he's probably the most knowledgeable person on the team and will keep the attention of the true petrolhead viewer (just need to be careful not to lose the interest of the 'ordinary' viewer who just wants to be entertained - something the old crew were masters at)

Summary - not nearly as bad as it could have been - some promising aspects, a few tweaks needed, shows promise.

Quite agree with you Nigel. Didn't see the point in the reliant road trip and initially Evans seems to be trying too hard to be like Clarkson.

I'm still going watch it, just hope they have a bit more Harris and Sabine on it. I don't love TG enough to get Amazon though.

Actually having read what some have said, I also agree that Evans should have been left to put his own stamp/own format on the show. I suspect & have read that the Beeb wanted to keep a big say in things, they obviously think that this will also be a success world wide by the petrol heads.

Evans doesn't really irritate me either, LeBlanc on the other hand just doesn't do it for me at all, but as said on another thread, you can't pick & choose who irritates you the most. Again an echo, early days, but it's all been filmed hasn't it? At the end of the day it's only television, but it would've been nice for me & the wife to settle down on a Sunday night & have a giggle at the shenanigans.......

If I were playing at being a cynic, I might be looking at the multi-national presenters and the obvious efforts not to mess with a winning formula that, incidentally, sold handsomely all around the world (Germany and America, for instance; oh, and they do get it in France, by the way) and thinking "Hmmm, was it Chris Evans or the accountants that put this show together...?"
Maybe it will evolve into something decent, but at the moment, I find it unwatchable.

I can't get past Evans. Quite the most irritating on the radio or TV. Apart from Graham Norton, Alan Carr or Keith Lemon.. I am on Prime and that has absolutely nothing to do with TG.

Must admit, I wonder how people get these media jobs. How could Chris Evans possibly be a popular character? I don't know. It's unfathomable.

Indeed, there are more than a few people on the box that just irritates the hell out of me. I even laugh at myself at times as a grumpy git even the way some speak, too breathy,croaky or whispery. The one that really gets me going, what I refer to is the hissing woman syndrome, over sounding the letter S at the last of a word & lands up sounding like a hiss. Slightly off topic. I will stop now.

+1

I just watched it again, still shite I can watch old TG re-runs till the cows come home

..............and me !

Was it just me or was the 2nd show hugely better than the 1st?

Nope, it was far better than last week. I actually liked matt, Chris and Eddie.

Wheeling Evans in a hospital trolley was a master-stroke! Stopping him from repeating the embarrassing shouting entrance of last week.
Still some way to go, but definitely 100% better.

Yes - definitely better. JB was great too.

The "comparing Stars' cars" thing is very lame though.

Agree about the stars cars bit - needs a re-think.
Good to see JB letting loose in the McLaren........whatever would Ron Dennis say!

Significantly better than episode 1 - if they can keep up the good bits and work on the not-so-good bits, we may learn to like it. Jeremy who?.....

I'm warming to Matt's delivery - with practice, he's going to be very good. He is certainly doing better than Chris at the moment and I think he had a greater share of tonight's programme

I'd agree - even Mrs Barnacle agrees (she was in hysterics over Matt's wet balls) - that this was far better than the first one.

Maybe it finds its way - if it loses the car comparison claptrap.

Tonight just looked like a blast from the past with different faces.

I liked Seasick Steve, squealing like a girl.

Bugger! Looks like I might have to watch it!

I enjoyed it too. I always fast forward the celebrity chat bit - was never my cup of tea anyway.

That 675LT looks rapid! Seems like Matts pretty handy behind the wheel.

He did a very good lap in the reasonably priced car when he was a guest.

Bringing in guest co-drivers and allowing them to really be a part of the programme added a really fresh dimension.

The chat bit seems to have a secondary role of trying to let the studio audience actively participate. They have been rather bored sounding so far though!

The first was hugely disappointing but the second seems to have found its feet a bit. I am a little disappointed that the show format appears to be trying to follow in the footsteps of the old show, which I had really fallen out with but which I have to accept sold well.

In the segment where Mr Jordan damaged the Mercedes it was interesting to watch reactions. Matt and Chris seemed genuinely shocked and miffed about it. I suspect the old TG crew would have just rolled about laughing and then probably tried to go one better and crash the Porsche - "Oh look, a TREE!" followed up with some witty banter, perhaps Clarkson eating a packet of crisps and relating to other Porsche accidents?

Yes it really had got that bad

The guest chat bit has to stop. It's almost as though they are trying to go the route of Parkinson style chat shows where all the guests are on at once and have a great time. The only trouble is the guests aren't interesting enough and Evans only seems to ever have the same two questions to ask everyone.

Also, it would have been nice to have actually learned a little bit about the SUVs. I expect that there are plenty of people watching who might be in the market for one of them but all we learned was that the Merc had the smallest engine and Jordan didn't know how to turn on off road mode.

I appreciate that actually reviewing cars isn't exactly in the spirit of Top Gear, but still.

It is unusual to hear of anything other than a LR, Jeep or Hummer, as being any good "off-road"?
Visually, we did learn though that the Jag is quite a big bit of kit, compared to the Porsche and Merc?!?!

This is the same format with different faces. I'm not saying it's pants, but for me anyway it's going to take a while before they really gel together.

Its seems to me they will damned what ever. Change the format too much and it might not sell and people complain about the fact they have changed too much. Don't change enough and they are copying the old Top Gear.

I think episode 2 was a good effort. Entertaining, enough "staged" tension without going over the top or pointlessly jokes for the sake of them and a better mix or personalities and just a little less shouty.

I will continue to watch and if it keeps improving it will sone be vastly better than old top gear had become.

Aye, but it was just too samey. The Beeb have obviously stuck to the original storyline, milking it as the proverbial cow, they think it is. Seriously that jaunt with the SUV's was deja vu . Clarkson & co are gone, but this agenda, so far anyway just keeps reminding of the past.

as I said damned whatever the do.

Samey, it always was. Just the bangers and the location changed. At least now they can't willfully destroy their test cars.

I expected that this thread would quieten down as people who did not want to watch anymore would not, but I guess those will continue to watch it and then moan