Oh Dear! Is the BBC show going into reverse gear?
While the three big stars have exited the show, it seems Top Gear is still suffering controversy.
Here are five problems with the revamp:
1. James May reckons the BBC is being unfair to Chris Evans
Former Top Gear presenter James May spoke out against the BBC for showing repeats of Top Gear over Christmas and New Year.
He said showing the programme was unfair to new presenter Chris Evans who is relaunching the show.
“I was surprised they showed lots of Top Gear compilations over Christmas,” May said.
“I thought, ‘Oh, so now they’re celebrating us,’ but I also thought it’s harsh on Chris Evans.
He also addressed claims fellow presenter Jeremy Clarkson is an alcoholic, in the interview with the Radio Times.
“If he’s an alcoholic, so am I,” he said. “We just like a drink. I don’t think he was unwell or having a breakdown.
“He’s deranged, but that’s not the same thing. There’s nothing wrong with him.”
2. Executive producer quits
Back in December, an executive producer of Top Gear, Lisa Clark stepped down just five months after being brought in to relaunch the show.
She had been personally brought in by Evans who had worked with her on The Big Breakfast.
The BBC was remaining tight-lipped about the move and Clark herself said she was leaving to pursue “other projects”.
3. Chris Evans gets carsick
Evans was photographed “retching” after taking a spin in an Audi R8 V10, driven by co-presenter Sabine Schmitz.
As reports go, Schmitz was forced to pull over after Evans felt ill in the passenger seat.
4. BBC controller quits
Another key player in revamping Top Gear has also left, ahead of the show’s return in May.
Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four, Kim Shillinglaw, announced she would be stepping down after being one of the people instrumental in relaunching the programme.
Shillinglaw had reportedly clashed with other members of the team behind the scenes.
5. Chris Evans “can’t talk and drive at the same time”
The new series was awash with rumours that presenter Evans could not present while he was driving – often fluffing his lines.
However, the BBC rubbished these claims, telling Digital Spy: “The truth is that Top Gear producers have been blown away by how quickly Chris has taken to talking to camera whilst driving at speed, a skill which has taken some presenters a long time to master.”
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