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Top Gear return may stall over how to replace Jeremy Clarkson Top Gear return may stall over how to replace Jeremy Clarkson
(about 1 hour later)
The BBC’s hopes of persuading James May and Richard Hammond to return to Top Gear may founder on disagreements over how the show would work without Jeremy Clarkson.The BBC’s hopes of persuading James May and Richard Hammond to return to Top Gear may founder on disagreements over how the show would work without Jeremy Clarkson.
BBC2 bosses made a multimillion-pound bid to persuade the two presenters to front the motoring show when it returns with a Have I Got News For You-style guest host replacing Clarkson who was axed following his assault on a producer.BBC2 bosses made a multimillion-pound bid to persuade the two presenters to front the motoring show when it returns with a Have I Got News For You-style guest host replacing Clarkson who was axed following his assault on a producer.
But it is understood that no agreement has been reached about how the show would work without Clarkson in its new format.But it is understood that no agreement has been reached about how the show would work without Clarkson in its new format.
Related: Top Gear: BBC in multimillion-pound James May and Richard Hammond bidRelated: Top Gear: BBC in multimillion-pound James May and Richard Hammond bid
BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw, who has previously said that conversations with Hammond and May were “ongoing”, faces the challenge of reinventing the show without its star presenter when it returns to BBC2 next year.BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw, who has previously said that conversations with Hammond and May were “ongoing”, faces the challenge of reinventing the show without its star presenter when it returns to BBC2 next year.
Both May and Hammond appeared to have ruled themselves out of returning without Clarkson, with attention focusing on who Shillinglaw might find to replace them.Both May and Hammond appeared to have ruled themselves out of returning without Clarkson, with attention focusing on who Shillinglaw might find to replace them.
But the BBC has approached both Hammond and May in the hope of persuading them to return to the show alongside a different guest presenter each week.But the BBC has approached both Hammond and May in the hope of persuading them to return to the show alongside a different guest presenter each week.
It is understood that the talks have so far failed to resolve how the show would work in Clarkson’s absence, with May previously suggesting that the format would be “lame” with a “surrogate” Clarkson.It is understood that the talks have so far failed to resolve how the show would work in Clarkson’s absence, with May previously suggesting that the format would be “lame” with a “surrogate” Clarkson.
A guest presenter would at least save the BBC the trouble of finding a permanent replacement, and open the door for a Clarkson return at some point in the future. But disagreements have remained about how the show would work.A guest presenter would at least save the BBC the trouble of finding a permanent replacement, and open the door for a Clarkson return at some point in the future. But disagreements have remained about how the show would work.
“The BBC was very keen to do something, even as an interim measure [with Richard and James], but they have been unable to think of a way of doing it that would work credibly and that everyone would be happy about,” said a source.“The BBC was very keen to do something, even as an interim measure [with Richard and James], but they have been unable to think of a way of doing it that would work credibly and that everyone would be happy about,” said a source.
“It’s a really difficult thing to do. It would be difficult to make a guest host work and the question is whether the show actually needs a substantial rethink and a complete reinvention.”“It’s a really difficult thing to do. It would be difficult to make a guest host work and the question is whether the show actually needs a substantial rethink and a complete reinvention.”
The guest presenter role would echo the set-up on BBC1’s panel show Have I Got News for You, which has had a different presenter each week after the departure of Angus Deayton in 2002.The guest presenter role would echo the set-up on BBC1’s panel show Have I Got News for You, which has had a different presenter each week after the departure of Angus Deayton in 2002.
However, the role on Top Gear would appear to be rather more complicated, with the team shooting films over a period of several months rather than a one-off recording like Have I Got News for You.However, the role on Top Gear would appear to be rather more complicated, with the team shooting films over a period of several months rather than a one-off recording like Have I Got News for You.
Clarkson, Hammond and May held talks with ITV director of television Peter Fincham last month about presenting a rival show on ITV, although they would not be able to take with them the Top Gear name, which belongs to the BBC.Clarkson, Hammond and May held talks with ITV director of television Peter Fincham last month about presenting a rival show on ITV, although they would not be able to take with them the Top Gear name, which belongs to the BBC.
They have also been linked with a move to US on-demand service Netflix.They have also been linked with a move to US on-demand service Netflix.
The BBC is thought to have offered May and Hammond about £1m each to return to the show, double what they previously earned.The BBC is thought to have offered May and Hammond about £1m each to return to the show, double what they previously earned.
May and Hammond returned to the Top Gear studios to record links for footage shelved after Clarkson’s suspension and subsequent axing earlier this year.
The films, the last time the three will be seen together on the BBC for the foreseeable future, will be used in two special editions of the BBC2 show to air this summer.
Both men are still in negotiation with the BBC about their future. May is currently working on a BBC2 series about the history of cars, while Hammond has worked on a number of BBC1 projects.
Top Gear is one of the BBC’s most popular and valuable shows. As well as attracting 6 million viewers on BBC2 each week, it generates around £50m a year for the corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide.Top Gear is one of the BBC’s most popular and valuable shows. As well as attracting 6 million viewers on BBC2 each week, it generates around £50m a year for the corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide.
Both BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw and the BBC’s creative director, Alan Yentob, have repeatedly stressed that the door was always open for Clarkson to return to the corporation at some point in the future.Both BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw and the BBC’s creative director, Alan Yentob, have repeatedly stressed that the door was always open for Clarkson to return to the corporation at some point in the future.
The BBC refused to comment on speculation.The BBC refused to comment on speculation.