The world’s biggest car show is back, featuring an all-new presenter line-up and more petrol-powered action than ever before. Top Gear’s new hosts include British broadcasting icon and car super fan, Chris Evans, alongside Golden Globe®-winner (and the fastest celebrity to date around the Top Gear track), Matt LeBlanc. Chris and Matt are joined by world record-breaking German racer Sabine Schmitz, YouTube star Chris Harris, BBC Formula 1 pundit Eddie Jordan, and award-winning motoring journalist Rory Reid. Over the last 8 months, the hosts of Top Gear have driven over 7500 miles, filming in nine countries across four continents – putting the world’s finest cars from around the globe to the test. Top Gear premieres Monday, May 30th at 9/8c on BBC AMERICA.
The new season sees Top Gear’s team undertake a series of on and off road challenges: chauffeuring superstar musicians to the top of Africa in 4x4s, journeying across Britain in roofless three-wheelers, hitting the Rolls-Royce campaign trail in western Ireland, and battling off-road baddies in a car made of scaffolding. In addition, the show features tests of the very latest cars…from Ferrari’s fearsome F12 TdF and the McLaren 675LT, to BMW’s pugnacious M2 and the screaming Aston Martin Vulcan. Plus, of course, the biggest celebrities tackling the all-new test track every week and the return of Top Gear’s enigma wrapped in a riddle wrapped in a race suit: The Stig.
Top Gear is accompanied by its brand new companion show, Extra Gear, which brings tons of behind-the-scenes content to audiences for the first time. Hosted by Rory Reid and Chris Harris, the half hour after show presents exclusive new footage, interviews, and specially recorded films. Rory and Chris will also be joined by a celebrity guest or renowned figure from the motoring world to reflect on that week’s episode of the world’s biggest car show. Extra Gear airs immediately following each new episode of Top Gear on BBCA at 10:30/9:30c.
Season 23 | Episode 1 | Original Airdate: May 30th, 2016 | 9:00PM
In the season premiere, Chris Evans takes the Dodge Viper ACR to the home of Top Gun in Nevada to battle Sabine Schmitz in a Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Matt LeBlanc tackles the wild Moroccan desert in Somerset’s finest off-roader, the Ariel Nomad. Back on British soil, Evans and LeBlanc take a rather soggy road trip to Blackpool in a pair of roofless Reliant three-wheelers, whereupon they are tasked with defending the honor of their nations in a series of grueling UK-versus-US challenges. Back in the studio, this week’s celebrity guests include actor Jesse Eisenberg (Now You See Me 2, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Social Network) and Michelin star chef and TV presenter, Gordon Ramsay.
Episode Two
Season 23 | Episode 2 | Original Airdate: June 6th, 2016 | 9:00PM
This week, Matt LeBlanc, Chris Evans and Eddie Jordan take music stars Sharleen Spiteri, Seasick Steve and Tinie Tempah on the ultimate SUV test in South Africa. Back at the track, Formula 1 superstar Jenson Button gives Chris a ride in the McLaren 675LT, while actor Damian Lewis (Billions, Homeland) and musician Sharleen Spiteri are this week’s Stars In A Rallycross Car.
Episode Three
Season 23 | Episode 3 | Original Airdate: June 13th, 2016 | 9:00PM
This episode sees Chris Evans struggling to keep his lunch down as he rides with world record-breaking German racer Sabine Schmitz in the new Audi R8 V10 Plus. Elsewhere, Rory Reid tests the new Ford Focus RS, while Chris Harris attempts to tame Ferrari’s savage F12tdf, and Matt LeBlanc gets a whistle-stop tour of London in Ken Block’s fearsome ‘Hoonicorn.’ Actor Kevin Hart and IBF heavyweight champion boxer Anthony Joshua are this week’s Stars In A Rallycross Car.
Episode Four
Season 23 | Episode 4 | Original Airdate: June 20th, 2016 | 9:00PM
The new season of the world’s biggest car show continues as Chris Evans, Matt LeBlanc and Sabine Schmitz buy cheap second-hand cars and head for Venice. The aim? To prove road travel can be more luxurious than taking the train. Elsewhere, Rory Reid heads to New York to sample the all-electric Tesla Model X, while Chris Harris dons his race helmet to drive the most powerful Aston Martin of all time, the fearsome Vulcan. Bear Grylls and Brian Cox are this week’s Stars In A Rallycross Car.
Episode Five
Season 23 | Episode 5 | Original Airdate: June 27th, 2016 | 9:00PM
This week, Chris Harris reviews the new BMW M2, Rory Reid retraces a historic journey against the clock, delivering the Jaguar F-type SVR to the Geneva Motor Show, and Chris Evans and Matt Le Blanc head to Dingle, Ireland to see whether the new Rolls Royce Dawn can out-class its ancestor, a 1976 Cornishe. Absolutely Fabulous star Jennifer Saunders and Great British Bake Off’s Paul Hollywood are this week’s Stars In A Rallycross Car.
Episode Six
Season 23 | Episode 6 | Original Airdate: July 4th, 2016 | 9:00PM
In this episode, Matt LeBlanc gets his hands on the new Porsche 911 R and Chris Harris puts Honda’s reimagined NSX through its paces. Meanwhile, Chris Evans discovers old-fashioned charm in the somehow new MGB Roadster, as Rory Reid heads to Scotland with the first ever right-hand-drive Ford Mustang. Actor Patrick Dempsey (Bridget Jones’s Baby, Grey’s Anatomy) and funny man Greg Davies (Man Down, Doctor Who) are tonight’s Stars In A Rallycross Car.
Today, BBC AMERICA announced the highly-anticipated premiere date of Top Gear–Monday, May 30 at 9/8c. Over the last 8 months, hosts Chris Evans; Matt LeBlanc; Sabine Schmitz; Chris Harris; Eddie Jordan; Rory Reid and The Stig have driven over 7500 miles, undertaken both on and off road challenges, tested the very latest cars and filmed in nine countries across four continents to create the new season.
For the first time Top Gear will be accompanied by an after show, Extra Gear – hosted by Rory Reid and airing immediately following each new episode of Top Gear on BBCA. Filmed at the famous Top Gear studio, Extra Gear will bring audiences exclusive new footage, interviews, specially recorded films and behind the scenes access to the world of Top Gear.
Chris Evans recruits a car-studded line-up for punchy reboot of world’s biggest car entertainment show
New York – February 11, 2016 – BBC AMERICA announced today that motorsport guru and Formula 1 commentator Eddie Jordan, world record-breaking German racing driver Sabine Schmitz, renowned motoring journalist and YouTube petrolhead Chris Harris, and car reviewer and TV presenter Rory Reid are all confirmed to join Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc for the eagerly awaited return of Top Gear.
The new team will cover the entire automotive spectrum, bringing with them their own unique and very individual love of cars that will resonate with every type of Top Gear viewer – from the family who enjoy the entertainment values of the show, to aspirational car lovers and fanatical petrolheads.
Formula 1 heavyweight Eddie Jordan comes armed with a trademark no-nonsense, richly experienced view of the motoring world (and life in general), which is guaranteed to be anything but boring. The colorful Dublin-born entrepreneur has flirted with cars all his life, and as owner of the former Jordan Grand Prix team gave many of the world’s most iconic drivers their first taste of the most powerful and loudest starting grid on the planet, including Michael Schumacher (who made his debut for Jordan in 1991) and Eddie Irvine.
Sabine Schmitz, the legendary Queen of the Nurburgring, re-enters Top Gear folklore by becoming the show’s first female presenter in 15 years. Another familiar face to Top Gear viewers following her unforgettable appearances in season five and season eleven, Sabine has already completed some filming with Chris Evans in a sequence that will leave even the most hardened speed–demons gasping for breath when it debuts on TV (sick-bags not included!).
Motoring journalist Chris Harris, the man whose very name sends shivers through many car manufacturers’ boardrooms, comes armed with a self-confessed determination to cause mischief and tell viewers insightful things about automobiles they probably didn’t even think they needed to know.
And newcomer Rory Reid, who was recruited to Top Gear from the show’s 2015 public auditions, is an award-winning journalist, has launched and presented for CNET’s Car Tech channel, and also had a starring role in Sky 1’s Gadget Geeks series.
Chris Evans said of his new Top Gear gang: “We really do have a bit of everything for everyone. A fellow lifelong petrolhead from the other side of the pond in Matt; a fearless speed-demon in the irrepressible and effervescent Sabine; the encyclopedic, funny and wonderfully colorful character that is EJ; Chris, one of the world’s top no-nonsense car reviewers; and Rory, who simply blew me away in his audition and fully deserves his place on the team.”
Eddie Jordansaid: “I’m giddy with excitement to be joining Chris and the team. I have such enormous respect for all my fellow presenters and I politely ask that they go easy on these old bones. Cars are in my DNA and although I’ve been fortunate enough to accomplish most things I ever aspired to in motorsport, presenting Top Gear is quite simply the icing on the cake.”
Chris Harrissaid: “Top Gear is the thing that helped shape my life with cars, my perception of cars and my obsession with cars, and I’m raring to give it a go. I’m also quite gobby and happy to get into trouble, so I’m hoping I can underpin the program with journalistic credibility – but still cause some mischief. And if it all goes wrong, well, I can say I was once on Top Gear, and just head back to being that annoying small bloke off YouTube.”
Sabine Schmitzadded: “I grew up next to the Nurburgring, and have been racing for most of my life, so the chance to combine both driving and filming was too good an opportunity to pass up. I’ve appeared on Top Gear a few times in the past, so I know we’re going to have a lot of fun.”
Rory Reidcommented: “When I submitted my 30-second audition tape, I knew the odds were very firmly against me, as the auditions were open to absolutely everybody. To be the only person to make it through the open audition process makes me immensely proud. I’ve been a Top Gear fan for decades, but more than that, I live and breathe cars in a way that is perfectly compatible with the show. I’m looking forward to bringing my brand of knowledge, energy and humor to what promises to be a very exciting new series.”
The Stig, clearly not wanting to be left out of today’s announcement, sent the following reply via electronic communication: “-.-. …. . .– .. . –..– / .– . .—-. .-. . / …. — — . .-.-.-”
Top Gear returns this May to BBC AMERICA and TV screens everywhere.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
BIOGRAPHIES
EDDIE JORDAN
Eddie Jordan is an Irish former racing driver, team owner and entrepreneur. As a champion of young talent, a host of drivers owe their breaks to Eddie, including Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine. Having suffered a number of major accidents whilst competing in racing, Eddie retired to set up his Jordan team in 1980. The team went on to be champions in Formula 3 with Johnny Herbert in 1987, Formula 3000 in 1989 with Jean Alesi – and in 1990 Eddie established Jordan Grand Prix and entered Formula 1. He sold Jordan Grand Prix in January 2005, and has since developed a portfolio of business interests, while also presenting the BBC’s coverage of Formula 1. He has been inducted into the Irish Motorsport Hall of Fame and in 2012 he was awarded an honorary OBE by Her Majesty The Queen in recognition of his services to charity and motor racing.
SABINE SCHMITZ
Sabine Schmitz is a German racing driver who is already well known to fans of Top Gear. She grew up in her parents’ hotel just 300m from the legendary Nurburgring track and has spent her life surrounded by cars and racing. She became the first woman to win the prestigious Nurburgring 24 Hours in 1996 and repeated the feat a year later. Sabine also became known as the ‘world’s fastest taxi driver’ by driving passengers around the track in a BMW M5 and has since presented several motoring shows for German TV. She has appeared on Top Gear several times over the years, becoming a firm favorite with viewers. Sabine still races successfully today and runs her own race team.
CHRIS HARRIS
Chris Harris is probably best known for his popular YouTube channel, Chris Harris on Cars, which he launched in 2014 (established with the help of longtime friend Neil Carey); the channel has already amassed over a quarter of a million subscribers and the content has been viewed over 20 million times. Chris began his career in motoring journalism at UK-based Autocar magazine, becoming their official road-test editor; this gave him the opportunity to do some “racing and skidding” before starting a website for fast cars the week Lehman Brothers went under in 2008, which obviously ended badly. He then looked to solve his new found indebtedness at Evo magazine before becoming a member of the Pistonheads.com crew and a regular feature on YouTube’s DRIVE channel.
RORY REID
Rory Reid is an award-winning journalist of eighteen years specializing in cars. Rory has written and presented for the likes of CNET UK, where he launched the company’s popular Car Tech channel, receiving a prestigious Association of Online Publishers (AOP) award for ‘Best Use of Video’ in the process. Rory has been featured in a number of car-focused television shows, including a starring role in Sky 1’s Gadget Geeks series, where he reviewed cars and consumer tech. He was also a presenter on the hugely successful Fast Furious & Funny YouTube channel, and now serves as the editor-in-chief of Recombu, specializing in car reviews.
Created in 1998, BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming like the ground-breaking un-scripted series Top Gear, the top-rated science-fiction phenomenon Doctor Who, and the fan-favorite Orphan Black. The influential channel has been the launch pad for talent including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, and Graham Norton — all adopted as American pop culture icons. A joint venture between BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm of the BBC) and AMC Networks, BBCA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including four Emmy® Awards, five Golden Globes® and 12 Peabody Awards. The irrepressible network has garnered one of cable’s most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many properties boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Available on cable and satellite TV in nearly 80 million homes, BBC AMERICA broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, is available On Demand across all major digital platforms and offers full episodes online at bbcamerica.com. Find out more by visiting press.bbcamerica.com or follow us on twitter.com/bbcamerica.
New York – February 4, 2016 – BBC AMERICA announced today that Matt LeBlanc is one of the new presenters of the upcoming and eagerly awaited return of Top Gear – the planet’s biggest car entertainment show. LeBlanc’s appointment marks the first time the show has ever had a non-British host in its 39-year history.
In what promises to be an explosive cocktail of car-obsessed entertainers and cultural clashes – the eagerly anticipated return of the revamped show is expected to noisily announce itself on BBC AMERICA and TV screens everywhere this May.
The Golden Globe-winning star of the popular BBC comedy Episodes, LeBlanc’s international appeal has never been stronger despite filming the finale of his global hit Friends almost 12 years ago. He’s already a familiar face to Top Gear viewers, having been a two-time guest on the show and the fastest celebrity to date around the Top Gear track in its reasonably priced car. LeBlanc also presents the standalone spin-off Top Gear: The Races, currently airing on BBC AMERICA, where he led fans through some of the most memorable racing moments from the previous 22 series.
He joins production immediately and additional Top Gear cast members will be confirmed shortly.
Chris Evans said of his new Top Gear presenter: “Matt’s a lifelong fellow petrolhead and I’m thrilled he’s joining Top Gear. Acting out our craziest car notions on screen is a dream job and I know we’ll both be debating some epic road trip ideas. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to on screen later this year.”
Matt LeBlanc commented: “As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I’m honored and excited to be a part of this iconic show’s new chapter. What a thrill!”
NOTE TO EDITORS:
BIOGRAPHIES
MATT LEBLANC Matt is an actor, comedian and producer, best known for his role as Joey Tribbiani on the NBC sitcom, Friends. In 2011, LeBlanc began starring as a fictional version of himself in Episodes, a BBC Two/Showtime television series created by the Friends co-creators. He won a Golden Globe® award for his work on Episodes, and was nominated for an Emmy three times for his work on Friends and four times for Episodes.
Matt holds the record for the fastest ever celebrity lap on the famous Top Gear track, having appeared as a guest in Season 18 Episode 2, setting a still unbeaten 1m42.1sec in the Kia C’eed. Matt also reappeared on the show in Season 19 Episode 4 when he was asked to test the new Kia C’eed on the track, against the old one.
Matt’s love of all things four and two wheeled will come as no surprise to Top Gear fans. Whilst on set for his guest appearance, Matt also spent as much time as he was allowed driving the McLaren 12C supercar around the Top Gear track, accompanied by The Stig.
CHRIS EVANS Chris Evans is one of Britain’s most high-profile and successful presenters. He was born in 1966, in Warrington, England. His entrepreneurial zeal emerged at an early age, when he ran the local newsagents in his home town of Warrington and set up his own Kiss-o-gram and Private Detective agencies. He started his broadcasting career at Piccadilly Radio then moved to GLR, where his infamous Round at Chris’ Saturday morning show attracted a huge cult following and he later took the format to Virgin 1215.
In 1993, Chris formed his own company called Ginger Productions to formulate a brand new variety show for Saturday nights: Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush. Devised, written and performed by Chris, the ratings peaked at a combined 6 million viewers. He revitalized BBC Radio 1 with his Radio 1 Breakfast Show before bowing out to concentrate on his unique end-of-the-week TV show on Channel 4, TFI Friday. TFI ran for 5 years, before finishing on December 22, 2000, with a show hosted by Elton John.
In 2010 he took over BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show following the retirement of Irish-born broadcasting legend, Sir Terry Wogan. His show is currently the UK’s most listened to – with over 10 million listeners tuning-in each week.
Top Gear is a BBC in-house entertainment production for BBC Television.
Created in 1998, BBC AMERICA is a hub of innovative, culturally contagious programming like the ground-breaking un-scripted series Top Gear, the top-rated science-fiction phenomenon Doctor Who, and the fan-favorite Orphan Black. The influential channel has been the launch pad for talent including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, and Graham Norton — all adopted as American pop culture icons. A joint venture between BBC Worldwide (the commercial arm of the BBC) and AMC Networks, BBCA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including four Emmy® Awards, five Golden Globes® and 12 Peabody Awards. The irrepressible network has garnered one of cable’s most curious, educated and affluent audiences, with many properties boasting super-fan levels of engagement. Available on cable and satellite TV in nearly 80 million homes, BBC AMERICA broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, is available On Demand across all major digital platforms and offers full episodes online at bbcamerica.com. Find out more by visiting press.bbcamerica.com or follow us on twitter.com/bbcamerica.
The first in-Tweet branded videos synced to an entertainment TV series
BBC AMERICA today will launch the first ever in-Tweet videos of the hit series Top Gear, timed to the season premiere tonight at 8:30/7:30c. BBC AMERICA is the first network to offer in-Tweet branded videos synced to an entertainment TV series. The in-Tweet videos will take fans closer to the action than ever before and offer new perspectives on the world’s biggest car show.
Tonight @BBCAMERICA will post in-Tweet videos synced to the season premiere broadcast. For the first episode, the videos will include the “Stig Cam,” a new perspective from the show’s iconic mysterious test driver. In addition, an “Action Replay” will highlight a top moment of the show and a pre-show sneak peak will feature a hovercraft, New York taxi splitting a stretch limo, a dirt bike jumping off a building and the boys turning a town into a street circuit.
At BBC AMERICA’s Upfront event in April, BBC AMERICA announced the deal with Twitter to offer the first in-Tweet branded video synced to an entertainment TV series. Top Gear is the first TV series to be featured in in-Tweet branded videos.
About Top Gear:
The new season kicks off in New Zealand as hosts Jeremy Clarkson and James May race a car against a boat in a nail-biting battle up the beautiful coastline to the very tip of the North Island. The boat is a state-of-the-art America’s Cup yacht while the car is of a type many of us are familiar with, yet never before seen on Top Gear. Meanwhile, back in the UK, host Richard Hammond attempts to find a hot hatch hero from a trio of newcomers and a cavalcade of top stars including Warwick Davies, Game of Thrones’ Charles Dance and Joss Stone assemble at the track to welcome a brand new Reasonably Priced Car.