# Top Gear - Who should replace Clarkson? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 26, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065 "2015-03-26T21:12:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Alex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atomic_alex/32/175_2.png) [@Atomic\_Alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Alex)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/1 "2015-03-26T21:12:26Z")
Well he’s gone anyway, I generally liked the guy and found him pretty entertaining but as the saying goes, there are no indispensable men. As much as I like Top Gear _(apart from the news its basically all I watch on TV)_ I did feel that the format was becoming somewhat tired and could do with a shake-up, its just a pity it ended the way it did and not on a high _(three-way McLaren P1, Ferrari La Ferrari and Porsche 918 duel anyone?)_. So the BBC has the opportunity to have a fresh go at it with new presenters, who would you suggest and why, feel free to suggest a Clarkson replacement only or three entirely new presenters. The BBC had an article on it today: > **[Top Gear: Who will replace Jeremy Clarkson?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32064440)** > > The BBC has confirmed Top Gear will return in 2016 without Jeremy Clarkson - but who is likely to fill his leather brogues? Not following the media closely I don’t know much about some of them but Jodie Kidd or Vicki-Butler Henderson could be good choices, a female presenter could be interesting, just as long as the powers that be didn’t feel the need to focus on that aspect at every opportunity (they have a presenter who is female, not A Female Presenter). And I always liked VBH when she appeared on the series before. It could work so long as they don’t try to just recreate the Clarkson/Hammond/May era and style with new faces, they need to revamp the show from top to bottom while keeping the general feeling. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/2 "2015-03-26T21:42:18Z")
They should ditch all of the main three hosts and have the Stig do the show solo. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/3 "2015-03-26T22:44:18Z")
_ **me! Me!** _ ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/4 "2015-03-26T23:03:28Z")
I think they should just call it a day. I know that Top Gear predates Clarkson, May, and Hammond, but the show as it exists today, the show that is successful world-wide, is the show with the current hosts. And a great part of that success is due to the interplay between the three hosts. Any time one of them is missing, it’s just not the same. If they replace Clarkson with another host to work with May and Hammond it just won’t be the same show. And if they bring in three new hosts, then it’ll basically be Top Gear USA or Top Gear Australia, but with the proper accents…an nobody really wants to see those shows. They had an incredibly great 12-year run; it’s time to move on. The only way I could see the show continuing to be a success is it they ditch the entire format, and recreate it as a completely different show…\*and \*manage to get lucky with a new winning formula. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/5 "2015-03-27T00:39:40Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > I think they should just call it a day. I know that Top Gear predates Clarkson, May, and Hammond, but the show as it exists today, the show that is successful world-wide, is the show with the current hosts. And a great part of that success is due to the interplay between the three hosts. Any time one of them is missing, it’s just not the same. > > If they replace Clarkson with another host to work with May and Hammond it just won’t be the same show. And if they bring in three new hosts, then it’ll basically be Top Gear USA or Top Gear Australia, but with the proper accents…an nobody really wants to see those shows. > > They had an incredibly great 12-year run; it’s time to move on. The only way I could see the show continuing to be a success is it they ditch the entire format, and recreate it as a completely different show…\*and \*manage to get lucky with a new winning formula. Rarely do I totally agree with any post on this board but ---------- this. ---
**Author:** ![PlumBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@PlumBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlumBob)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/6 "2015-03-27T15:04:47Z")
Anyone remember the episode that was supposed to feature a Rolls vs. A Mercedes vs. Bentley but Bentley pulled out at the last minute? They replaced it with a Yugo but referred to it as a Bentley for the rest of the show. That’s what they should do with Clarkson! Replace him with a mumbling parody and pretend he’s the real thing! ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/7 "2015-03-27T15:13:31Z")
> [@PlumBob](#): > > Anyone remember the episode that was supposed to feature a Rolls vs. A Mercedes vs. Bentley but Bentley pulled out at the last minute? They replaced it with a Yugo but referred to it as a Bentley for the rest of the show. > That’s what they should do with Clarkson! Replace him with a mumbling parody and pretend he’s the real thing! But would the Albanian Mafia approve? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/8 "2015-03-27T15:26:06Z")
Anyone but Chris Evans. It can’t be that hard to find a tall right-winger who makes funny faces and can get along with James May, can it? ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/9 "2015-03-27T15:34:30Z")
> [@PlumBob](#): > > Anyone remember the episode that was supposed to feature a Rolls vs. A Mercedes vs. Bentley but Bentley pulled out at the last minute? They replaced it with a Yugo but referred to it as a Bentley for the rest of the show. > That’s what they should do with Clarkson! Replace him with a mumbling parody and pretend he’s the real thing! Instead of **Gatopescado** , ME! Like Clarkson, I’m opinionated, hard to get along with, sometimes funny, and a completely average racing driver. Unlike Clarkson, I’m shorter, more fat and far more bald. If that doesn’t make me a low-rent Clarkson, what would? Alas, even if I could arrange an audition, I think my drawl would probably be the deal breaker for the BBC. In all seriousness, why not ask [Michael Gambon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W7pLkFkVjg) if he’d like to try a steady gig? No, I don’t really have a serious suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/10 "2015-03-27T15:39:42Z")
They shouldn’t replace anything for the time being. The format had gone very tired and stale again anyway, they should let it rest for a couple of years like they did before, and then they can bring it back with a fresh format when the time is right. Its my belief that the BBC were thinking along these lines anyway, the whole Clarkson thing just sped up the process. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/11 "2015-03-27T15:45:32Z")
There’s no way in hell the BBC were thinking along those lines. You don’t kill your golden goose even if you are concerned about its artistic integrity. You squeeze every last egg you can out of it and then worry about later, later. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/12 "2015-03-27T15:50:47Z")
I see that Rowan Atkinson is on the list. That would be…interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/13 "2015-03-27T16:05:12Z")
He’s already damn near 60. I’d love him in the role but they should really find somebody younger. The program is popular enough that the BBC doesn’t need the replacement to bring in viewers with his/her (okay, probably his) own name. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/14 "2015-03-27T16:11:37Z")
I’m rooting for Helen Mirren or Dame Judi Dench. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/15 "2015-03-27T16:26:14Z")
How about Paul Hollywood? He’s a petrol-head, as shown by his recent programme on John Surtees. Plus, we know he can do doughnuts. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/16 "2015-03-27T16:30:59Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > I’m rooting for Helen Mirren or Dame Judi Dench. I do think it would be cool to have a woman. Just not Vicki Butler-Henderson. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/17 "2015-03-27T16:58:44Z")
The kid that just left One Direction. Perfect timing, and it’d certainly attract a younger demographic. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/18 "2015-03-27T17:28:16Z")
What’s Cameron Diaz up to these days? ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/19 "2015-03-27T17:32:41Z")
[Charley Boorman](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charley_Boorman) would be an interesting choice. The other two presenters (May and Hammond) already have an enthusiasm for motorcycles, so the show could evolve into more of petrel-head in general show rather than just being car focused. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065/20 "2015-03-27T17:36:44Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > There’s no way in hell the BBC were thinking along those lines. You don’t kill your golden goose even if you are concerned about its artistic integrity. You squeeze every last egg you can out of it and then worry about later, later. What, like they did with Fawlty Towers and the Office? This isn’t America and the while the BBC is a business it is not a slave to the dollar like your american channels are. They took Top Gear off the air before and they could easily have done it again. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-gear-who-should-replace-clarkson/716065.md?page=2)