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| Chris Evans who quit as Top Gear host earlier this year |
Well yes...at least away from politics. Following the latest series of Top Gear coming to an end, lead host Chris Evans announced he's stepping down.
I'm aware of the views of many; people who've criticised Evans's form of presenting and linking this to the slump in viewing figures.
I don't agree! This slump has been brewing for a while and I don't think it's fair to pin all the blame on Evans, (someone who's a huge petrolhead and car collector in his own right).
For a while now, I've thought that the show's format has become rather tired and jaded. The over-the-top challenges, the heavy focus on high end, very expensive cars. Even the Stig and the presenters gags are now past their best.
You can't necessarily blame the BBC for not wanting to tamper with a winning formula. BBC Worldwide made many millions selling the show and its format around the world. Top Gear brought in huge viewing figures for the BBC; the show regularly being the most watched programme on BBC Two during the Clarkson/Hammond/May era.
I'd say there's definitely room for a motoring show on television, one that can entertain and inform in equal measure. Clearly, it would be wrong to revert the show back to what Top Gear used to be like in the 1980's, when men in cardigans analysed boot volumes in machines as glamorous as the Renault 19 Chamade and Vauxhall Belmont. Remember those?
Top Gear should keep the humour, keep the interviews with celebrities and of course, review the exciting supercars of the day. It should be tempered though with reviews of more attainable, yet interesting models, cutting down on the challenges and making greater use of the clearly informative, yet likeable Chris Harris and Rory Reid.
Oh, and please....no more challenges featuring Reliant three-wheelers :)