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BBC applies brakes to Chris Evans’ comment on female Top Gear host BBC applies brakes to Chris Evans’ comment on female Top Gear host
(2 days later)
Less than 24 hours after Chris Evans was named as Jeremy Clarkson’s replacement on Top Gear, the BBC already appears to have done a handbrake turn over his comments that the programme would “100%” have a female co-presenter.Less than 24 hours after Chris Evans was named as Jeremy Clarkson’s replacement on Top Gear, the BBC already appears to have done a handbrake turn over his comments that the programme would “100%” have a female co-presenter.
BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw said there would be “no gender diktats” on the show which will return next year with Evans and an all-new presenting lineup.BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw said there would be “no gender diktats” on the show which will return next year with Evans and an all-new presenting lineup.
Shillinglaw said she would look to address the lack of women on the hit BBC2 programme, which she said had “always been a very male world”, but not necessarily by having a female co-host on its line-up.Shillinglaw said she would look to address the lack of women on the hit BBC2 programme, which she said had “always been a very male world”, but not necessarily by having a female co-host on its line-up.
She said the new incarnation of the motoring show, which will return next year without Clarkson or either of his former co-presenters, Richard Hammond and James May, would feature more audience participation, including the prospect of viewers being able to take part in the “star in a reasonably priced car” challenge.She said the new incarnation of the motoring show, which will return next year without Clarkson or either of his former co-presenters, Richard Hammond and James May, would feature more audience participation, including the prospect of viewers being able to take part in the “star in a reasonably priced car” challenge.
Asked whether he would have a female co-presenter in a 5 Live interview on Wednesday morning, Evans said: “Absolutely, but not for the sake of it … Yes, I can confirm that. Definitely. 100%.”Asked whether he would have a female co-presenter in a 5 Live interview on Wednesday morning, Evans said: “Absolutely, but not for the sake of it … Yes, I can confirm that. Definitely. 100%.”
Evans’ response immediately prompted speculation that he would be joined on the show by former model Jodie Kidd.Evans’ response immediately prompted speculation that he would be joined on the show by former model Jodie Kidd.
Shillinglaw said the issue of a female co-presenter was a “really interesting question”.Shillinglaw said the issue of a female co-presenter was a “really interesting question”.
“It has always been a very male world hasn’t it?” she told Steve Hewlett on Radio 4’s The Media Show.“It has always been a very male world hasn’t it?” she told Steve Hewlett on Radio 4’s The Media Show.
“I think it’s a part of thinking about how we could do things differently, to get a lot more spontaneity into the show. What I would say is, it will be about what’s right for the show.”“I think it’s a part of thinking about how we could do things differently, to get a lot more spontaneity into the show. What I would say is, it will be about what’s right for the show.”
Shillinglaw, who put more women on screen in her former role as the BBC’s science and natural history chief, said: “I really care about women on television. I really care how that sits in terms of the channel mix as a whole on BBC2” Shillinglaw, who put more women on screen in her former role as the BBC’s science and natural history chief, said: “I really care about women on television. I really care how that sits in terms of the channel mix as a whole on BBC2.”
But she added: “I have never in my life thought about an individual show in terms of gender dictats and I certainly wouldn’t start doing that now.” But she added: “I have never in my life thought about an individual show in terms of gender diktats and I certainly wouldn’t start doing that now.”
Sources close to Top Gear said the programme would have a much stronger female presence in its new incarnation, but not necessarily with a woman co-presenting every week.Sources close to Top Gear said the programme would have a much stronger female presence in its new incarnation, but not necessarily with a woman co-presenting every week.
Related: Top Gear deal set to make Chris Evans the BBC's highest-paid starRelated: Top Gear deal set to make Chris Evans the BBC's highest-paid star
Shillinglaw confirmed Evans’ claim that Hammond and May had turned down the opportunity to return to the series. Evans said the pair’s decision to turn their back on the show had prompted BBC bosses to contact him last week to offer him the job.Shillinglaw confirmed Evans’ claim that Hammond and May had turned down the opportunity to return to the series. Evans said the pair’s decision to turn their back on the show had prompted BBC bosses to contact him last week to offer him the job.
“In the end a deal was offered to them and they felt that deal wasn’t quite right for them. You know what, that’s absolutely their choice,” said Shillinglaw.“In the end a deal was offered to them and they felt that deal wasn’t quite right for them. You know what, that’s absolutely their choice,” said Shillinglaw.
“The important thing was there weren’t multiple conversations going on at any one time. We felt we wanted to do this right and do this respectfully. Everyone as far as I am aware has conducted themselves with real grace and thoughtfulness.”“The important thing was there weren’t multiple conversations going on at any one time. We felt we wanted to do this right and do this respectfully. Everyone as far as I am aware has conducted themselves with real grace and thoughtfulness.”
Shillinglaw, who met Evans face to face for the first time on Monday, said he was a “brilliant” producer and presenter and a “very wise man, having had an awful lot of ups and downs in his career.” Shillinglaw, who met Evans face to face for the first time on Monday, said he was a “brilliant” producer and presenter and a “very wise man, having had an awful lot of ups and downs in his career”.
Asked if the BBC had learned lessons from the Clarkson controversy, Shillinglaw said: “I think we all learn, all the time, on a daily basis, things happen, things go wrong.Asked if the BBC had learned lessons from the Clarkson controversy, Shillinglaw said: “I think we all learn, all the time, on a daily basis, things happen, things go wrong.
“It was a very human situation and there are a lot of people who wish it could have played out differently at a human level but we are where we are ... It’s really exciting to look forward to the next stage in this show’s history.”“It was a very human situation and there are a lot of people who wish it could have played out differently at a human level but we are where we are ... It’s really exciting to look forward to the next stage in this show’s history.”