It started with a fist - and now it’s come to Chris. When, in March 2015, Jeremy Clarkson allegedly lamped his Irish producer after one cold platter too many (allegedly), it set in motion events that, in a very genuine sense, have plunged one of the world’s most respected broadcasters into crisis, both existential and financial.
Fourteen months later, as the all new (ish) Top Gear revs on the starter grid with replacement presenters Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc in pole position, the stakes are dizzyingly high. Was the BBC correct to essentially sack Clarkson after his late-evening fisticuffs? Were co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond right to walk with him? Can the new presenters maintain TG’s place as the BBC’s most lucrative franchise? All is to be revealed.
It is of course exceedingly fashionable to bash Top Gear as a refuge for knuckle-draggers, warm ale-swigging Brexiters and cyclist-menacing petrolheads. And yes, Little Englanders and chauvinists of all hues unquestionably account for a segment of the fan-base.
On the other hand, there is no doubt that Clarkson-vintage Top Gear transmitted an agreeable derring-do. It was vicariously life-affirming to see Jezza, Captain Slow and Richard Chipmunk faffing about on the BBC’s dime. Cars were crashed, ecowarriors had their feelings hurt, random objects were blown sky high, often with a TG presenter in the vicinity.
In other words, they were living the ultimate middle-class, white male fantasy, unburdened by nagging significant others, squealing kids and the dead gravity of financial responsibility. Here we came to the heart of the series’ appeal – an atmosphere of swashbuckling insouciance far more difficult to conjure than it looked.
Can Evans and LeBlanc (assisted by a rotating cast of guest presenters including German racing driver Sabine Schmitz and Irish F1 supremo Eddie Jordan) approximate Clarkson and company’s very specific chemistry? Ought they even try – understanding they are almost certain to fall short?
The omens have not always been positive across the past six months. At moments, they have been downright ominous. A high-profile producer departed the rebooted series after just a few week. Evans was said to be controlling and power-tripping while there was universal schadenfraude over stories that he had thrown up zooming around a high speed circuit in California.
Then there was the straight-up outcry over a stunt in which LeBlanc fast-lapped a London memorial to the glorious dead of the British empire. A hasty apology followed from the BBC, with a pledge to never broadcast the segement. It left an aftertaste and suggested Evans and his new production team were overreaching in their bid to out shine their forebears (busy prepping their own TG-style show, The Grand Tour, for Amazon Prime).
However, that’s all in the past. On May 29 the new Top Gear will roar onto the schedules. The first episode is already in the bag, with Evans and LeBlanc having recorded their studio-based bits in the same shed in deepest Kent from which Clarkson and chums were beamed to more than 100 countries.
“The production team sorted out some brilliant locations, amazing vehicles and to be honest we wouldn’t be putting one second of it out if we didn’t think it was worth watching so enjoy every moment,” Evans said last week, speaking to reporters in London. “It’s like when The Simpsons or Friends comes on – your favourite shows are over much quicker than your clock says they’re going to be, so hold on to every moment.”
“Neither one of us takes ourselves too seriously,” added LeBlanc, of his relationship with his co-host. “We both like to have a laugh and at the end of the day we’re both aware that we are not working on the cure for cancer, we’re just making a car show. I think we have a very similar work ethic – you leave your ego at the door and you come on in and collaborate.”
He added: “The interesting thing about that back-up cast is that they are all experts in their field, they are all true professionals in their arena of motor-sports. They are the real deal. Sabine – real deal. Chris Harris – real deal. Eddie Jordan – real deal. Rory – real deal. The Stig – real deal, apparently… nobody really knows but he can drive the heck out of a car, I have seen it. I think it gives a validation to things when it comes to critiquing automobiles.”
For Irish viewers there will be an extra reason to tune in as LeBlanc and Evans spent several days touring the Ring of Kerry and even found time for a challenge match with a local junior football team. If Clarkson had come to Ireland he would no doubt have had a game old time poking fun at the locals. The change in tone suggests that Top Gear’s future will be best assured as it learns to let go of its past.
“Top Gear has such a giant following and people are so excited and love it. Everyone has a connection to the automobile,” said Le Blanc in an interview with a UK newspaper last week.” Men, women, old people and young people. Everybody has memories that are associated with cars and lots of them. Your first ambulance ride when you broke your leg, getting your license or taking a girl on your first date. That’s the special thing with cars, they have a built in relatability which is hard to describe.”