I’m sure you’re probably aware by now that next year’s Top Gear Series 26 will be Matt LeBlanc’s last, but today we can excitedly bring you news that he’ll be replaced by two random guys for Series 27 later in the year.
The first of the two guys in question is none other than Paddy McGuinness, who we know (thanks to a Google search) previously presented enthralling game shows such as Take Me Out and Benchmark.
In a match made in heaven, McGuinness will also be joined by former Ashes-winning England cricketer Freddie Flintoff. Because why not?
But if you weren’t already confused enough by the BBC’s host selection process, hold on to your hats.
As if realising that losing Matt LeBlanc hadn’t quite set Top Gear back far enough, the BBC has delivered the ultimate kick in the balls to the show by pushing host Rory Reid back to Extra Gear duties, where he’ll apparently form the “heart of a larger digital presence for the show”. Word it how you want. To us, it’s a demotion and a pay cut – and he deserves so much better.
This means it’s Chris Harris and the new guys for Top Gear Series 27. Just when Rory and Chris were starting to develop on-screen chemistry and stabilise an otherwise unstable show, the BBC has simply ripped everything apart and set things back to square one. How very masochistic of them.
Understandably, McGuiness is thrilled about his new hosting gig. “Getting the Top Gear gig is a real honour,” he said. “To be hosting a show I’ve watched and loved from being a small boy is beyond exciting. Top Gear fans worldwide are a passionate bunch and I consider myself one of them.”
Flintoff, who also hit pay dirt, added: “It’s not often you have the chance to do both of your dream jobs, but I’m now lucky enough to say I will have. I’ve always been passionate about cars and I’m so excited to be joining the Top Gear team.”
Like an eager employee who is always brown-nosing the boss, current host Chris Harris only had encouraging words to say about his new colleagues. “I think you can tell just how much fun we’re going to have making Top Gear with Paddy and Freddie. They’re both brilliant, natural entertainers – and their mischief mixed with the most exciting cars on the planet is sure to take the show to the next level.”
“My dream job just got even better,” he added. Although we feel the quote makes a lot more sense if you read it with a bit of sarcasm injected in.
Regardless, Series 26 of Top Gear – Matt LeBlanc’s last as lead host – will debut in early 2019 on BBC Two, followed by Paddy, Freddie and Chris’s all-new Series 27 later in the year.
6 comments
Top gear for which no one cares
Series 27 starting this Sunday
the first pictures makes it looks like a boy band. similarly-dressed, almost similar haircut/style, even similar dressing color.
the things that makes the old boys special were, except for love of cars, they don’t ‘look’ similar, they don’t ‘act’ similar, they don’t even drive similar. basically, fans can have their own clear favorite among the three.
matt, chris and rory are getting there, but perhaps not fast enough for BBC.
It smells the final end of Top Gear. The BBC has been crap with this show since Jeremy Clarkson was fired. It makes me sad, because I will have to be content very soon with the French version of Top Gear, which is not great. The Grand Tour will bury Top Gear, if it has a season 4.
Nicolas, to be honest, Top Gear was getting pretty terrible the last few seasons with Jeremy Clarkson too. The evidence is that the Grand Tour is also not very good. Of course, it’s much better than the new “so-called” Top Gear, but still, nowhere near as good as the Top Gear of seasons 8 to 18.
Roryt totally did get the essence of top gear, same as matt. Not sure about this harris dude.