Former ‘Top Gear’ Hosts Sail Up the Amazon (Prime, that is)

Last updated on: July 30, 2015 at 11:07 pm by Kate O'Hare

Former ‘Top Gear’ Hosts Sail Up the Amazon (Prime, that is) 2015-07-30T23:07:45-08:00 Kate O'Hare

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Under a tsunami of awful news on all fronts, I just had a tiny glimmer of joy.

Even though, as a longtime entertainment journalist, I have watched a bazillion hours of TV, I remain one of the worst comedy audiences ever. Very little TV comedy makes me laugh out loud, and the one thing guaranteed to do that at least once in every episode, is, of all things, a show about motoring.

Here’s a taste of the BBC’s “Top Gear”:

While ostensibly about cars, “Top Gear” was actually a playground for hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, in which they got to do any silly, ridiculous or insanely risky thing (like turning cars into boats and crossing the English Channel, or building a space shuttle from a three-wheeled Robin Reliant) that the hosts or the show’s producers dreamed up.

However, after being the chairman of the board at “Top Gear” since 2002, last spring, Clarkson, who’s never exactly been a shrinking violet at the best of times, got into a fracas with a show producer that ended in fisticuffs. He was first suspended then axed from the show, which swore to go on without him. If it does, it’ll also be without May and Hammond, who followed the leader out the door — along with producer Andy Wilman — leaving “Top Gear” fans bereft.

Today came the happy news that the trio has signed on with streaming service Amazon Prime Instant Video for a new show, produced by Wilman, that certainly won’t be called “Top Gear.”

But, in all the ways that matter, it will be “Top Gear” — and maybe better (even though the show will apparently have to do without it’s “tame racing driver,” The Stig).

From a statement (posted in full at Amazon’s UK site):

London – 30 July 2015 – Amazon today announced that Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will reunite to make a new car show available exclusively to Amazon Prime members. The show will be produced by the trio’s longtime executive producer Andy Wilman.

The award-winning team have committed to three seasons as part of this landmark global TV deal. The first season will go into production soon and is scheduled to premiere for Prime members in 2016.

On working with Amazon, Jeremy Clarkson said: “I feel like I’ve climbed out of a bi-plane and into a spaceship.”

Richard Hammond added: “Amazon? Oh yes. I have already been there. I got bitten by a bullet ant.”

James May said: “We have become part of the new age of smart TV. Ironic, isn’t it?”

“Customers told us they wanted to see the team back on screen, and we are excited to make that happen,” said Jay Marine, Vice President of Amazon Prime Video EU. “Millions of Prime members are already enjoying our ground-breaking original shows. We can’t wait to see what Jeremy, Richard, James and the team will create in what is sure to be one of the most globally anticipated shows of 2016.”

Customers can sign up to receive the latest news on this new show by visiting www.amazon.co.uk/GuessWhosBack.

Clarkson, Hammond and May will join top talent making Amazon Original Series that will premiere on Prime Video in 2015 and early 2016. These include Hand of God starring Ron Perlman (Sons of Anarchy) and Dana Delany (Body of Proof), Red Oaks, starring Craig Roberts (Submarine) and Paul Reiser (Mad About You), The Man in the High Castle from Executive Producer of The X-Files Frank Spotnitz and Executive Producer Ridley Scott (Blade Runner), the company’s first docu-series, The New Yorker Presents, as well as second seasons of the multi-Golden Globe-winning comedy Transparent, Mozart in the Jungle, starring Gael Garcia Bernal (Rosewater) and Bernadette Peters (Smash), and Bosch, from Michael Connelly and starring Titus Welliver (Lost).

Amazon also resurrected hit British drama Ripper Street, starring Matthew Macfadyen (Spooks), Jerome Flynn (Game of Thrones), Adam Rothenberg (The Divide) and MyAnna Buring (The Twilight Saga). Amazon produced third series of the Victorian crime drama launched in November 2014 to critical and customer acclaim; a fourth season of the show is now in production.

“This is a golden age of television, a great time for TV makers and storytellers,” added Jay Marine. “Our approach is to give programmme makers creative freedom to be innovative and make the shows they want to make. This is just the start, you should expect to see more world-leading talent and the biggest shows on Prime Video.”

Prime members can enjoy Amazon Original Series and other Prime Video movies and TV shows using the Amazon Video app. The Amazon Video app is available on hundreds of devices including Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Roku, smart TVs and Blu-ray players from Samsung, Sony, LG, and Panasonic, the Xbox, PlayStation, and Wii game consoles, as well as on mobile devices like Fire tablets, Fire phone, iPhone, iPad, and Android tablets and phones. Customers can also watch online at www.amazon.com/Prime-Instant-Video/ (edited so the link takes you to the U.S. address).

Jeremy Clarkson’s Twitter bio now reads:

I am a presenter on an Amazon motoring show.

And the world is just a wee bit brighter.

Image: Courtesy Amazon Prime Instant Video

Don’t miss a thing: head over to my other home at CatholicVote and like my Facebook page.

Previous Post

July 30, 2015

Surprised by L.A.: Bishop-elect Robert Barron Speaks

Next Post

August 1, 2015 Tim Tebow and Casey Therriault -- Saved By Work and Grace

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category books breaking news digital media Faith practice food interview jane the virgin media movies music NFL Pope Francis Showbiz 101 social media sports technology television Uncategorized video

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz