Spoilers below for the Season 5 finale of Clarkson’s Farm for anyone who hasn’t yet streamed the final two episodes via Amazon Prime subscription, so be warned!

It’s somehow been over ten years somehow since Jeremy Clarkson lost his Top Gear hosting gig, but the UK personality has remained a big draw for fans around the world thanks in part to his reality series Clarkson’s Farm. Unfortunately, Season 5’s final episodes took fans and its host into darker directions than what we’re used to, and the Diddly Squat author warned fans ahead of time about the grim subject matter.

Taking to Instagram hours ahead of the latest episodes hitting the 2026 TV schedule on Prime Video, Jeremy Clarkson offered somber foreshadowing about what would be depicted in “Sickening” and “Reaping,” only without actually saying anything specific. So when that grim news turned out to be a medical diagnosis for an aggressive form of cancer, fans were even more floored than expected.

Here’s how he put it in his message:

The good news he referred to? It was about the World Cup, so nothing that actually pertained to his diagnosis.

But the latter portion of his message referred to his on-camera admission to co-stars Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland, within a conversation about plans for the upcoming harvest. Here's how he addressed the news in the Clarkson's Farm ep:

Only later did the host share that it was indeed prostate cancer, and he also shared that he went through a surgery to remove 10% of his prostate. It's unclear exactly what Clarkson's health is at present, and the finale didn't exactly end on the most positive note, as he was back in a hospital bed, revealing that "some of the treatment has gone awry."

That obviously isn't a guarantee that things are still going badly for him, since those episodes were likely filmed more than a year ago in early 2025. But without a more concrete update on his current health, it's all we have to go on.

But I doubt Jeremy Clarkson needs any reminders about how many fans are out there rooting for him, as the comment section on his post was filled with good vibes and well-wishing.

Jeremy Clarkson Fans Share Love And Support After Cancer Diagnosis

• Wishing you a speedy recovery Jeremy ❤️‍🩹 - @itv
• This is actual ‘reality’ television and I loudly applaud you all… - @theworldisyourlobster
• We’re all rooting for you Jeremy, stay strong mate 🤝 you mean so much to so many people, take care of yourself. - @andythesalemtechguy
• Holy f-ck.. Best wishes to you Jeremy. Fight that sh-t harder than Hammond fights the steering wheel of a Rimac. - @callumisraving
• I love this show. We are all with you Jeremy! You can beat this 🩵 - @liam.clear
• See you on season 6💪 speedy recovery🙌 also, the whole TB system also made my blood boil- truly unfair! I hope we can see a change in the future!! Devastating - @itsgigimay
• You’re a bloody legend and a patriot, Jeremy. Don’t give up! @rattlesnake.tv

Jeremy Clarkson has been about as outspoken as anyone in pop culture, to the point where his past comments about Meghan Markle sparked speculation that Amazon would drop Clarkson’s Farm, though that obviously didn’t happen. So it only makes sense that he would also get the final word on his own cancer diagnosis. It’s still unclear what’s to come, though, with Season 6’s production holding off until he’s in better health, according to The Telegraph.

Here's hoping for the best for Clarkson the person, the series Clarkson's Farm, and for the actual farm itself.

Hard to believe that it’s been nearly ten years since Jeremy Clarkson’s on-set punch got him fired from Top Gear, considering how successful his partnership with Amazon has been via the soon-to-conclude The Grand Tour and his rural unscripted series Clarkson’s Farm. (The latter will return on the 2025 TV schedule for Season 4, despite cancellation rumors fueled by his Meghan Markle comments.) Clarkson is used to making claims about others, but came to his own defense in regards to one of Top Gear’s more infamous segments.

Specifically, we’re talking about the fairly scathing review of Elon Musk’s early Tesla electric cars, which appeared in a 2008 Top Gear episode, and was later the subject of a lawsuit filed against the BBC by the billionaire investor. Chris Harris, who was part of Top Gear’s replacement crew from 2016-2022, appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience and agreed with the host’s claims that the Tesla test (which later led to a lawsuit) was faked, saying it wasn’t a standalone situation, either.

What Joe Rogan And Chris Harris Claimed About Top Gear

In the 2008 installment, Clarkson claimed to experience brake failure, that the engine overheated, and that the battery flat-out died upon reaching a speed of 88kmh on the track. During his podcast episode, Joe Rogan flat-out said the show pre-wrote that outcome and then filmed the segment to match it. In his words:

While Rogan spoke with the confiendence of someone who probably doesn't need to worry about being sued over his words, Chris Harris was slightly more wary about exactly how he worded his response. That said, he still supported Rogan's claims that Top Gear's segments were predestined, saying:

Joe Rogan's standpoint was tied to his belief that Top Gear gave an unfair review to Tesla's electric cars during that very early period for the company, and that the automaker's reputation was damaged by what he believes to have been falsified judgments.

The thing to remember here, however, is that Elon Musk did file a lawsuit against the BBC tied to Top Gear's review. In 2013, the Tesla complaint against Clarkson's on-air claims was dismissed, with the judge ruling that the company's reputation wasn't damaged.

How Jeremy Clarkson Responded To Claims The Show's Segments Are Scripted

Following the release and publicity of Chris Harris' Joe Rogan Experience appearance, Jeremy Clarkson took to his column in The Sun to call B.S. on the claims made in the podcast episode. But rather than directly stating that the two celebrities were telling stories, Clarkson's piece was focused on the prevalence of urban myths throughout history, from "Vikings wearing horned helmets" to those fishy John Bonham rumors.

While first giving Harris credit for his story about Freddie Flintoff's harrowing crash in 2022, Clarkson then turned to express his dismay over the idea that Top Gear's road tests were manufactured, saying:

It's not as if Jeremy Clarkson has spent years claiming that every single thing that happened within the scope of Top Gear was 100% realistic and natural. (He's talked in the past about the rigged Reliant Robin stunt, for instance.) But it's clear he sees the reviews and road tests as being on a different level of importance, as he continued:

Obviously the idea of "reality TV" has long been separated from the concept of unfabricated reality, with cast members from shows like 90 Day Fiancé revealing allegedly faked storylines. But when it comes to what are ostensibly objective reviews, the line between real and fiction gets that much thinner.

The Grand Tour and Clarkson’s Farm can be streamed in full with an Amazon Prime subscription, and fans will find plenty of other shows to enjoy throughout the rest of the 2024 TV schedule.

Jeremy Clarkson’s partnership with Amazon has been ongoing since 2015, when the TV personality left the BBC amidst alleged “fracas” with a producer allegations. For the last eight years, the star has headlined The Grand Tour and now another series Clarkson’s Farm for the streaming giant. Yet a few months ago, it seemed as if it could be crumbling down after the host wrote an essay about Meghan Markle allegedly being paraded through the streets naked. So, what exactly is going on with the series? 

The Essay That Led To Amazon Rumors

The essay the TV host wrote months ago for The Sun posited that he hated Megan Markle – he literally wrote “I hate her.” This line of thinking led into a separate line in which Clarkson likened the former royal to a popular TV series.

Interestingly, his comments echo another article published by The Sun in 2018, that had mentioned a similar sentiment. He’d noted at the time the then-royal had been popular briefly but “after seven minutes” of fame the Internet had turned on her.

Obviously, the naked portion of the essay rolled around quite widely and became a point of contention when it was published, garnering thousands of complaints and an investigation. This second comment above actually happened, however, years before Clarkson’s Farm actually premiered in 2021 for those with an Amazon Prime subscription. It was only when Clarkson repeated the sentiment in a different context that the post went viral in late 2022. 

Both comments seemingly reference the famous TV moment in which Game of Thrones character Cersei is tasked with parading naked through the streets. (Lena Headey used a body double for the scene.) Clarkson later apologized for the tact he’d taken, noting he’d “put [his] foot in it” with the comment in the feature, and The Sun removed the article, citing a request from the TV host. Some fans still believed the incident was enough to mark the end of Clarkson’s collaboration with Amazon.

Amazon Comments On The Jeremy Clarkson Incident

After the “I hate her” Meghan Markle article went viral and the Independent Press Standards Organization confirmed it would be looking into what happened, at least some people believed the sometimes-controversial TV host's career would be over. Just a few weeks ago, Amazon head honcho Fozia Khan was asked about Clarkson’s Farm and its potential future on the streamer. 

As the lead for unscripted content for UK Originals at Amazon Studios, she said at the Edinburgh TV Festival that the streamer was “shocked” by the comments but ultimately planned to move forward (via The Daily Mail).

Clarkson was alleged to be upset over this statement, and a newer report noted he reportedly had to be talked down over the intimation the show could go on without him. Still, the network certainly has skin in the game. Season 3 of Clarkson’s Farm is currently being filmed for streaming, and while perhaps not one of Amazon's best shows, past seasons have been the streamer’s highest-performing originals when it comes to UK content. 

So, Will Clarkson’s Farm Be Renewed By Amazon Prime Video? 

Per the latest reports, talks have been ongoing between the former Top Gear host and the streamer who has taken on the majority of his projects in recent years. Per a report at Deadline, "relations" have "improved," meaning all signs point to Clarkson's Farm being renewed for Season 4. 

So while the rumor mill has bandied around the possibility of another major 2023 streaming cancellation coming the way of the fans, that may not be the future for the series. At the very least, Season 3 will still be coming to Amazon and Season 4 will probably get the greenlight too, though sources have noted nothing has been finalized at the time of this writing. 

Honestly, the backstory behind the series might be more interesting than what's going on in the show itself. Unless you love piglets of course. 

In the midst of all the attention surrounding Meghan Markle and Prince Harry following the release of Harry & Meghan and the Duke of Sussex’s revealing memoir Spare, another point of attention and contention revolves around Jeremy Clarkson and a column he wrote about the Duchess of Sussex. The former Top Gear host wrote a scathing column about Markle in December, and now, following about 25,100 complaints, an investigation has been launched. 

Clarkson had a column published in The Sun almost two months ago -- around the time those with a Netflix subscription watched Meghan & Harry. Now, following major backlash over the critical column, an investigation has been opened. The column was met with major backlash and consequences, as different outlets cut ties with the TV personality, and others, like ITV said they do not approve of what he said. Now, the Independent Press Standards Organization has confirmed it will investigate The Sun and Clarkson's column, according to THR.

The reason for the investigation has to do with the number of complaints surrounding what the former TV host said following the highly talked about premiere of Harry & Meghan. For context, the article included Clarkson saying he thought the Prince was being “controlled” by Markle. He also wrote that he was “dreaming of the day when she is made to parade naked through the streets of every town in Britain while the crowds chant ‘Shame!’ and throw lumps of excrement at her,” via THR. 

The investigation will move forward based on complaints from The Fawcett Society and The Wilde Foundation, they explained the column impacted them because it breached the UK Editor’s Code on the counts of harassment, discrimination and accuracy. In a statement from the press watchdog, they explained the outcome of the investigation will be made public through their website and social media channels. 

Many public figures spoke out against what Clarkson said, along with many others on social media. His own daughter, Emily Clarkson, also made it clear she did not approve of her father’s words, posting on Instagram, via The Guardian: 

Clarkson has faced controversy before, as he got in trouble while working at BBC a few years ago, however, now he's facing major backlash for what he wrote. In terms of this column, he did say he apologized to the royal couple, however, according to The Independent, Prince Harry and Markle released a statement saying Clarkson only apologized to the Duke and not the Duchess. 

All these complaints and now the investigation are coming during the intense coverage of the royal couple due to the docuseries, Prince Harry’s book, and his many appearances on the 2023 TV schedule to talk about his family. As the investigation continues into the Independent Press Standards Organization's most complained-about article ever, according to the Independent, we’ll be sure to update you whenever a decision is made about Clarkson and what he wrote about Meghan Markle. 

In the summer of 2006, the worlds of stock car racing and computer-generated imagery collided, giving audiences around the world the clever and entertaining Pixar movie, Cars. Now, it has been 15 years since we first heard Owen Wilson (who was at the top of the world) lend his voice to the successful, yet overly-confident, Lightning McQueen as the hot-shot race car learned a thing or two about not always taking the fast lane, and you might be wondering what he and the rest of the Cars voice cast have been up the past decade-and-a-half. 

Well, you have certainly come to the right place, as we are about to get on the highway and get up to speed with all those familiar voices and everything they have done in recent years.

Owen Wilson (Lightning McQueen)

Coming out of the gate is Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, the hotshot, red race car who embarks upon the soul-searching journey after getting lost on his way to the final race of the Piston Cup. In addition to reprising his role in the second and third installments of the Cars franchise (as well as various short films), Wilson has gone on to team up with his old filmmaking buddy Wes Anderson multiple times over the past 15 years with another movie — The French Dispatch — on the way. In June 2021, Wilson joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the mysterious Mobius M. Mobius on the Disney+ streaming series Loki. If the shocking Season 1 finale is any indication, we’ll be seeing much more of Wilson in the MCU moving forward.

Paul Newman (Doc Hudson)

Paul Newman’s voice performance as Doc Hudson, the 1951 Hudson Hornet with quite a history, was the last non-documentary appearance by the Hollywood legend before his death in 2008. Archival recordings of the Academy Award-winning actor (The Color of Money) would later be used in 2017’s Cars 3.

Bonnie Hunt (Sally Carrera)

Sally Carrera, the law-practicing Porsche who represents Lightning McQueen when he brings chaos and destruction to Radiator Springs in Cars, is voiced by Bonnie Hunt. The longtime Pixar voice actor followed up her 2006 performance with the second and third Cars movies, as well as Toy Story 3 and its 2018 sequel, and 2013’s Monsters University. In 2021, Hunt lent her voice to the Disney+ streaming series Monsters at Work, reprising her role of Mrs. Flint from Monsters Inc.

Larry The Cable Guy (Mater)

There are few members of the Cars cast who have been connected to the franchise more than Larry The Cable Guy. Since voicing Mader, Lightning McQueen’s right-hand man and biggest supporter, in 2006, the Blue Collar Comedy star has appeared in all subsequent theatrical releases and a total of 11 short films, most of which centering on his character. He has even voiced the character in various video games and theme park attractions. He will reprise Mader once more in the upcoming Cars series on Disney+. Larry The Cable Guy has released multiple comedy albums and specials, documentaries, and reality shows since then. 

Tony Shalhoub (Luigi)

In the years since he voiced Luigi, the yellow Fiat who owns Radiator Springs’ premier tire shop, Tony Shalhoub has concluded his celebrated run on the USA crime comedy series Monk and joined the cast of another successful series: the Amazon original The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. With the Primetime Emmy Award-winning show’s fourth season on the way, expect to see more of the prolific actor in the very near future.

Cheech Marin (Ramone)

Cheech Marin, one half of the iconic comedy duo known as Cheech and Chong, has remained as busy as ever since voicing Ramone, the lowrider with a paint shop, in the first Cars movie. Like much of the voice cast, Marin has reprised his role multiple times over the years, but he has also been up to quite a bit outside of the Pixar universe. In 2019 he appeared in the documentary The Cheech: An American Icon’s Crusade for the Chicano Art Movement, which focused on the actor’s decades-long work to preserve the art style while also bringing it to new audiences. He is also set to appear in the upcoming romantic comedy Shotgun Wedding alongside Jennifer Lopez, Josh Duhamel, and Jennifer Coolidge.

George Carlin (Fillmore)

George Carlin’s portrayal of Fillmore, the Volkswagen Bus in Cars, was one of his final film appearances before the revolutionary comedian passed away in 2008. Even after his death, there have been multiple Carlin releases over the years, including the 2016 comedy album I Kinda Like It When a Lotta People Die. Carlin’s character Rufus from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure showed up (through the use of archival footage) in 2020’s Bill and Ted Face the Music.

Paul Dooley (Sarge)

In years since he first voiced Sarge, the old military Jeep that puts Lightning McQueen through a vehicular boot camp in Cars, Paul Dooley has continued to be one of the best character actors in film and television, though the majority of his output has been on the small screen recently. In the past few years, Dooley has popped up here and there on shows like Parenthood, Workaholics, Shameless, and Life in Pieces. 

Jenifer Lewis (Flo)

Jenifer Lewis is another member of the Cars cast that has been busy as ever in the years following the film’s 2006 release. Since taking on the role of Flo, the owner of Flo’s V-8 Café all those years ago, Lewis has appeared multiple times in the franchise as well as other animated movies like The Princess and the Frog and The Addams Family. Since 2014, Lewis has portrayed Ruby Johnson on the successful ABC sitcom, black-ish. On top of all of that, Lewis published an autobiography called The Mother Of Black Hollywood, which featured stories from her life and career, including experiences with everyone from Whoopi Goldberg to Aretha Franklin.

Richard Petty (Strip "The King" Weathers)

Strip “The King” Weathers, the Plymouth Superbird trying to get one more victory before retiring from the Piston Cup circuit in Cars, was voiced by NASCAR legend Richard Petty. Following a legendary career that saw him win a record 200 races, Petty retired from NASCAR in 1992 and has since become one of the brand’s most notable figures whether it be providing commentary during races or being a general presence at race tracks around the country. 

Michael Keaton (Chick Hicks)

In the years following the release of Cars, Michael Keaton, who played the race car known as Chick Hicks, has given some of the best performances of his career and it doesn’t look like he’s going to slow down anytime soon. Within the past decade, Keaton has starred in Birdman, Spotlight, The Founder, and The Trial of the Chicago 7. In 2022, Keaton will once again play Vulture in the upcoming Marvel movie Morbius, and return as Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Flash.

Katherine Helmond (Lizzie)

The role of Lizzie, the Model T Ford in Cars, is just one of the many performances from the late Katherine Helmond, who passed away at the age of 89 in 2019. The legendary actress appeared in movies like Time Bandits, Overboard, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas throughout her career, but the lion’s share of her work was on the small screen. With credits that include Who’s the Boss?, Coach, and Everybody Loves Raymond, Helmond was about as prolific as it gets.

John Ratzenberger (Mack)

John Ratzenberger, who has appeared in nearly every Pixar movie dating back to Toy Story in 1995, voiced Mack, the sleep-deprived semi truck in Cars. In the years following the film’s 2006 release, Ratzenberger has mostly performed voice work on the film side of things with the majority of those being in Pixar movies and shows like the 2021 Disney+ streaming series Monsters at Work. 

Joe Ranft (Red)

Joe Ranft, who wrote, co-directed and voiced Red in Cars, tragically passed away in an accident in August 2005, a little less than a year before the film’s release. The movie and subsequent video game were dedicated to his memory. Ranft was honored again years later in a Soul Easter egg.

Jeremy Piven (US)/Jeremy Clarkson (UK) (Harv)

Depending on where you watched Cars, Harv, Lightning McQueen’s manager (whom you only hear and don’t see throughout the movie) was voiced by Jeremey Piven (United States) or Jeremy Clarkson (United Kingdom). Piven, who won multiple awards for his performance as Ari Gold, a fixture of the Entourage cast, has gone on to star in shows like Mr. Selfridge and Wisdom of the Crowd in recent years. He will appear in a number of upcoming movies, including All-Star Weekend, The Walk, and Last Call. Clarkson, a former host of the British car show Top Gear, currently leads The Grand Tour on Amazon and the UK version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.

The Cars cast is one of the most insane to be put together, even for Pixar’s standards. However, this is barely making a dent in the list of race car drivers, media personalities, and celebrities who appeared in the movie. With cameos from Bob Costas, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and actors from earlier Pixar films in the Cars end credits scene, there’s just so many names. And who knows, maybe some of these names will pop up in upcoming Disney movies.

The Top Gear family just experienced a major loss, as Sabine Schmitz, the German racing veteran who served as one of the show’s presenters, has died. Schmitz had been battling cancer since 2017, something she made public just last year. The beloved presenter was only 51 at the time of her passing. Now, many Top Gear alums like Jeremy Clarkson and James May are taking the time to pay tribute to their late colleague.

When Sabine Schmitz first appeared on Top Gear, she joined Jeremy Clarkson, helping him set a lap time around the Nürburgring in a Jaguar S-Type diesel. Upon hearing the news of Schmitz’s passing, Clarkson posted on Twitter, remembering his former co-star with a sweet message. Check out the post down below:

James May’s tenure on the newer iteration of Top Gear didn’t intersect much with Sabine Schmitz. However, the journalist and TV host and plenty of respect for her as a person and as a driver. And his tribute reflected just that:

Top Gear vet Richard Hammond was also among those who paid their respects to Sabine Schmitz. Like his colleagues, Hammond expressed his sadness over hearing the news as he reflected on the racing pro’s legacy:

In another tribute, Paddy McGuinness reflected on the racing advice he received from Sabine Schmitz. He also shared a sweet photo of the two of them:

Like Paddy McGuinness, Chris Harris also shared a sweet throwback photo of himself and Sabine Schmitz. He also included an even sweeter caption in which he describe the late driver:

Top Gear executive producer Clare Pizey also reacted to Sabine Schmitz’s death in a statement (via Deadline). In the message, she fondly remembered the “The ‘Queen of the Nurburgring”:

To say that Sabine Schmitz was a major part of Top Gear would be an understatement. Her vast knowledge of racing and jovial personality were more than welcome on the show. While her loss surely cuts deep, it’s wonderful to see so many pay tribute to the Queen.

We here at CinemaBlend extend our thoughts to the loved ones of Sabine Schmitz at this time.

Jeremy Clarkson just can't stop coming out on top after his firing from Top Gear. First, the presenter moved to Amazon to start his own car series The Grand Tour, whilst his former network The BBC tried to experiment with new hosts that are still struggling to find their footing, and now Clarkson may soon be the host of a reboot of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? The series is currently looking to make a comeback in the United Kingdom.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? has only left American televisions very briefly since its debut in 1999, but the show's longevity in Britain is a different story. The show was canceled by ITV four years ago, so a reboot of the series could be a big deal to television audiences across the pond. With Deadline reporting that Jeremy Clarkson might be the host of the series, that's an even bigger deal for Brits as the presenter has been one of the more popular television personalities in the country. The television presenter, who has around 7.18 million Twitter followers, has not commented on the rumors surrounding him and this television reboot.

The Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? reboot is being produced by the folks at the Sony-owned production company Stellify Media, who are also behind the Jackass-meets-Wipeout style show set to come to Netflix. The reported move to snag Jeremy Clarkson could indicate that there are high expectations for this reboot, as the American version of the series has survived with far less notable hosts over the years. Someone with Clarkson's level of celebrity could even make for a reboot large enough to air for American audiences as well, although it would appear this reboot is entirely localized to Europe at the moment.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? began in Britain in 1998 and soon became an international phenomenon as several other versions of the series began to premiere in other countries. The British series was hosted by presenter Chris Tarrant, who hosted the series from its inception right up until its end in 2014. When compared to America's handful of hosts since the series' premiere in the States, Tarrant's run is quite impressive. Suffice it to say given the prestige of the original series and the success it celebrated, the reboot almost needs Jeremy Clarkson to have a shot at being as successful.

Jeremy Clarkson may have the time in his schedule to commit to a television reboot of the series, as there's not too much he's responsible for beyond The Grand Tour. Even then, The Grand Tour filming schedule and the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? filming schedule shouldn't conflict all that much with each other, so if Clarkson has quietly committed to this, it wouldn't be surprising. What would be surprising is if he somehow convinced fellow hosts of The Grand Tour Richard Hammond and James May to host as well, although the chances of that are slim to nil.

The Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? reboot is happening at ITV and no release date is available at this time. For some information regarding American television, visit our midseason premiere guide.

Amazon's unscripted series The Ground Tour was born of a tumultuous situation that saw former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson getting fired over an altercation with a producer, so perhaps it's not too surprising that the still-new series is already playing up Clarkson's antagonistic nature. For the upcoming two-part special that will take the show to Namibia, viewers will apparently get to see non-romantic sparks fly between Clarkson and his co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May. Check out the amusing awkwardness in the trailer below.

I mean, if you're going to start a trailer with someone declaring their hatred for Jeremy Clarkson, you'd better be able to follow it up, and this trailer teases some righteous smack-talking will go down between the trio. It's all somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but it wouldn't be surprising if those tongues were forked and sharper than needles, at least temporarily. We know that Richard Hammond and James May are tethered to Clarkson for the long haul, as they opted out of their own Top Gear returns to stick with him, but everyone here is outspoken and confident, so it's actually more shocking that every Grand Tour trailer doesn't feature an argument or two.

After that initial declaration, we see Clarkson getting left behind when his buggy doesn't start. He's later trying to smooth over a mystery situation, but Hammond has none of it, pointing out that Clarkson was to blame for whatever it was. May is next seen saying that everything was going well apart from Clarkson. FRICTION! And it all ends with Clarkson and Hammond poking fun at May's repeated use of the word "misfire," so that could very well be an inciting factor itself.

For the two-parter, The Grand Tour producer Andy Wilman points out how useless dune buggies are, and the three presenters attempt to prove him wrong by taking off on an epic off-road trek across southwest Africa using buggies that were built with each host's specifications. It's often hard to spend just a few hours in the same car as family and friends for the most pleasant of road trips, so it's understandable that this far-longer venture would take its toll. Especially when there is desert heat involved.

There was initially some speculation that Amazon paid way too much for The Grand Tour, but the show has proven to be the service's biggest breakout hit, with major global success. Not that all the attention it gets is legal, since The Grand Tour was also revealed to be the most illegally downloaded TV show of the year. So you can rest assured there will be millions upon millions of eyeballs locked on screens when May is pointing blame-y fingers at Clarkson. Now if you don't mind, all that sand has made me thirsty.

You can find The Grand Tour trekking up and down the planet when new episodes hit Amazon every Friday. The special will change things up a bit, as you'll be able to find Part 1 debut on Friday, December 30, with Part 2 hitting the very next day, on December 31. To see what'll be making it to the small screen in the new year, check out our midseason premiere schedule.

For several years now, there has been a sense of familiarity for the annual list of TV shows that are illegally downloaded the most, with The Walking Dead riding Game of Thrones' coattails on a regular basis. But this year, a major change has occurred, with HBO's fantasy epic no longer taking that top spot. Game of Thrones has handed the non-victorious pirating reins over to Amazon's record-breaking series The Grand Tour. This is quite surprising, especially considering Jeremy Clarkson's latest home still has that new car smell.

Astoundingly, the first episode of The Grand Tour was illegally downloaded 7.9 million times in the past few weeks, which is slightly less than the Game of Thrones Season 5 finale racked up last year in its first week of release. Episode 2 has already gotten beyond 6.4 million pirated views, while the third episode managed 4.6 million lawless downloads, according to The Daily Mail. While a TV show's legitimate ratings will generally dip steadily after a premiere, it doesn't look like there's even a vague sign of a drop in pirated copies acquired by non-subscribers. One one hand, there's a modicum of pride to be gleaned from putting out a show that can retain an audience, but that's definitely the wrong kind of audience.

Being the most illegally downloaded TV show necessarily means a giant chunk of change is being withheld from all deserving parties. It's estimated that Amazon lost out on $4.06 million from piracy of the first episode by Britain alone, which accounted for a majority of over 13.7% of the total number. It's unclear how those numbers were arrived at, but if that's a real indication of financial losses, things could definitely add up. It would be a lot more horrifying if Amazon wasn't one of the biggest companies in the world, but millions of dollars isn't chump change for anyone.

HBO wasn't too forceful or war-minded about piracy for those initial years when Game of Thrones regularly topped the lists, but the network later started taking steps to try to eliminate as much of it as possible, getting litigious when need be. It's extremely unclear how Amazon will move forward with this information, and there likely won't be a dip in unwarranted views in the near future, thanks to critical acclaim and positive word of mouth. So perhaps drawing up a strategy sooner, rather than later, would be wisest.

Amazon Studios had a ton of confidence when it picked up The Grand Tour, reportedly putting up $250 million for the unscripted series in the months after the controversial firing of Jeremy Clarkson from his long-running gig as co-presenter of Top Gear. Clarkson, along with Richard Hammond and James May, already had millions upon millions of international fans prior to The Grand Tour's premiere, and it seemed the company's investment was all for glory when the episode became the most-watched premiere of any Amazon Original. (As well, Amazon Prime racked up more new subscriptions on that Friday than any other non-Prime Day point in the company's history.) But for all that good news, there's always a flip side.

You can currently watch the first four episodes of The Grand Tour Season 1, with new episodes hitting Amazon every Friday. Game of Thrones fans will be waiting until at least the middle of 2017 to see Season 7 rear its brutal head. To see what else you'll be able to watch (legally) in the near future, check out our midseason premiere schedule.

Amazon has been slowly but surely growing its programming slate. This month the streaming service added The Grand Tour, the brand new series from former Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. Previously, the top-watched Amazon program was the well-reviewed Man in the High Castle, but we've just learned The Grand Tour has now superseded that scripted program. As well it should.

The Grand Tour just hit the schedule at the end of last week, and by Monday Amazon had good news. According to the subscription streaming service, the debut episode of the new automobile-based series is already the highest-rated premiere for an Amazon series in the streaming service's history. Helping this were a slew of new Amazon Prime subscribers, as the streaming service is also noting that the day that Jeremy Clarkson and co's show hit the schedule was the highest day for new subscribers sign-ups other than the famed "Prime Day."

Annoyingly, like Netflix, Amazon has adopted the tack of not telling us exactly how many original viewers are watching each episode. Of course, ratings are different for shows that are not on an advertising model and don't need to be viewed live each week, but it would still be nice to have a gauge for how many people are watching The Grand Tour. Did 1 million total viewers catch The Grand Tour premiere? Did 5 million? Did 10? More than 10,000 people have already reviewed the first episode, so you would think it would be a pretty substantial number, but we just have no way to gauge.

Unlike Netflix shows, The Grand Tour will be released on a weekly basis, with new episodes hitting the schedule on Fridays. Right now, the new episodes can be viewed in U.S., U.K., Germany, Austria and Japan; later the episodes will be expanding to more than 200 countries worldwide. The new global way Amazon will start releasing shows should help the service's originals reach whole new audiences.

The Grand Tour joins a steady lineup of originals that also includes Mozart in the Jungle, Bosch, the aforementioned Man in the High Castle, Red Oaks, Transparent and the soon-to-be cancelled Hand of God. Its real competition is, of course, Top Gear, which is still airing on the BBC in the wake of the three leads moving elsewhere. The reimagined version of Top Gear has gone through some growing pains during its first season and is replacing host Chris Evans; still, it will be back on the schedule next TV season. As for Amazon's new show, it seems the bets have paid off, as The Grand Tour is reportedly pretty expensive to produce.

Stay tuned on Fridays to see if the rest of the episodes are as beautiful and engaging as the first. And check out what else is headed to TV at midseason with our premiere schedule.

Producing a show about big, fast and impressive vehicles is far cost-friendly, with everything from extra fuel to gobs of insurance adding to the final tally. Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson and producer Andy Wilman know a thing or two about that, and they're learning some even bigger lessons with the upcoming Amazon series The Grand Tour. The show is reportedly extremely expensive, and Wilman revealed that a lot of it is coming from how the show is being made, not necessarily what's on it.

You gotta love the bluntness of a Brit who's been in the business a while. Most producers would probably speak quite highly of their outlet, championing every decision made, but Andy Wilman has no problem with publicly saying he thinks it's non-sensible to bring the ultra-modern 4K approach to the unscripted The Grand Tour. Perhaps part of that confidence comes from knowing Amazon is going to shell out the moolah and get the show produced exactly as its execs see fit, regardless of what's said about it. No one is lacking petty cash there.

It is kind of strange that Amazon is choosing The Grand Tour to be one of its original series given the super-fancy 4K gear for its episodes. Layman consumers have yet to fully embrace the upgrade in resolution, though it's expected the number of 4K TVs in homes will rise dramatically, and it'll be important for those TVs to have programming to show off the specs. We all know nothing looks better in the highest-definition possible than the faces of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

For what it's worth, too, Andy Wilman also claimed in this interview from the Edinburgh International Television Festival that the numbers being reported for the show - 4 million pounds an episode - aren't correct. In his words:

But hey, it's better to make headlines for possibly spending too much money on a TV show than the other news stories that have centered around Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear in the past year or so. Clarkson's exit from the hit BBC series resulted in a lawsuit (but nothing that really damaged the presenter's career) and the rebooted version almost imploded during its first season thanks to behind-the-scenes problems with new host Chris Evans, who was promptly fired.

The Grand Tour doesn't have an exact release date yet, though audiences can expect to find it hitting Amazon at some point in the next few months. In the meantime, check out everything else coming to TV soon with our fall premiere schedule.

When Jeremy Clarkson was initially fired by the BBC and his two onscreen pals Richard Hammond and James May ultimately opted to follow him out the door, the three men seemed destined for another car show. And since Top Gear episodes have proven to be a big hit for Netflix, a lot of people thought the subscription streaming service would land the new show. Over the past few months, Netflix has mentioned that Clarkson didn't necessarily fit into the demographics the series was trying to reach, but now it seems the company has a very different reason for saying no to Jeremy Clarkson and co. During a recent interview, Reed Hastings revealed that Netflix was actually outbid for the series.

Well, that's... fascinating. To tell you the truth, I'm a little surprised that Reed Hastings is openly admitting that Amazon actually outbid the subscription streaming service for the new car show, which is going to be called The Grand Tour. Formerly, Netflix's Neil Hunt had bluntly stated that the subscription streaming service didn't purchase the series because the data indicated it wasn't worth the money the auto show was wanting to move forward, but it now it seems that Netflix actually did put a bid in for the project, and lost.

Obviously, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond all made out pretty well with the Amazon deal. Previously, we learned that the deal was signed with $250 million dollars (or £160m) in play. The money will be used to produce 36 episodes for Amazon coming up. That's an average of $4.5 million per episode that can be used to make The Grand Tour the best series as possible. So perhaps it wasn't that The Grand Tour was worth money for Netflix, but just that it didn't want to go out of its way to try and compete with Amazon.

Reed Hastings also to The Guardian that this bidding and outbidding for shows is a thing that happens all the time among the major streaming services, and sometimes even networks get involved. Here's what he had to say:

They are in the bidding, but so is Hulu in the US, so is HBO, we were bidding [against] Channel 4 for Black Mirror.

Obviously, Netflix didn't end up landing the Jeremy Clarkson series, but the streaming service has a slew of other original programs hitting the schedule over the next few months. You can check them out here.

After Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May finished their runs on Top Gear, a lot of eyes were watching to see what the three men would do next. They ended up signing on with Amazon for a new car show, a series that has been seen as a rival to the BBC’s Top Gear despite the fact the BBC drama is filming the new season and Amazon’s show doesn’t even have a name yet. Now, there’s even more of a reason to mention a rivalry between the two productions. The shows will now be directly competing in the streaming space, as well. That’s right, Netflix recently noted that episodes of Top Gear will air on the streaming service internationally.

This week, we learned that Netflix has closed a deal with the BBC to stream all episodes of the new Top Gear. CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed the news to The Guardian on Tuesday, noting that the BBC series will air on Netflix internationally, as it falls under the umbrella of an existing deal with Netflix. The worldwide streaming service is also still in talks to get episodes of Top Gear into many of the countries internationally that don’t fall under the deal. From how it looks now, both shows will end up competing on opposite streaming platforms.

If you do live in the UK, episodes of Top Gear will still be available via the BBC, but if you live in the States, episodes of the UK version of Top Gear have been available on Netflix in the past and look to be heading to the streaming service in the future. The real question is whether or not fans will be able to get the episodes quickly or if it will take some time. For instance, while recent seasons of Top Gear are available on Netflix, BBC America is actually the initial home for upcoming episodes of the show. Promotional materials, including trailers, have come through BBC America in recent weeks.

Still, the Netflix news is incredibly interesting, considering Netflix was initially the place where Jeremey Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May were expected to go. However, after they chose Amazon as their new home, Netflix made some blunt comments regarding how the company looked at the data and at how much a Jeremy Clarkson car show would cost and realized the series would not be a good fit for the streaming service. If you’d like to know more about why they passed, head here.

There’s obviously something to be said about being the first team out of the gate, of course. Top Gear already has its lineup cemented and has released the first trailer for the new iteration, while Jeremy Clarkson and co.’s show hasn’t totally come together yet, although filming has started. The Amazon show won't be hitting the schedule until next fall sometime. Top Gear is coming in May.

You can watch the catch the first full trailer for the BBC series, below.

Streaming services are still fairly new, and Netflix is far and away the most popular option. However, recently Amazon has started to make serious strides in terms of creating original TV programs. Stuff like The Man in the High Castle, Mad Dogs and Transparent have put Amazon Prime on the map in terms of TV content, and Amazon nabbed former Top Gear stars Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May to produce a new show a few months ago. Apparently, Netflix is a little flummoxed about Amazon’s success, or at least the subscription streaming service is looking to compete. This week, we learned Netflix is in talks to syndicate the BBC’s new version of Top Gear.

The BBC has been busy getting Top Gear together over the last several months. Recently, we finally learned the "Magnificent Seven" who were cast to headline the new show, including the already-known Chris Evans and Episodes actor Matt LeBlanc. With the new BBC show getting ready to premiere, the network wants to sell the rights to Top Gear internationally, and The Guardian reports that Netflix is interested in signing on. The show would not air on the BBC and internationally simultaneously; streaming episodes would premiere some time later. 

Negotiations are still in the early stages at this point, but theoretically Netflix would be a good fit to purchase, since the streaming company already has some episodes of Top Gear available for streaming. In addition, we already know that Netflix was tentatively interested when Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May were shopping a car show some months ago. That deal fell through, and Amazon swooped in to pick the popular car show hosts up. 

Interestingly, there’s already been a bit of a rivalry set up between the two car shows. A lot of people would argue that Top Gear was so well-liked only because Jeremy Clarkson and his two co-hosts were beloved by the fans. However, others would argue that it is the Top Gear bits—including stuff with the Stig—that make Top Gear the top car show, and Chris Evans and the BBC have retained the rights to those segments moving forward. 

If Netflix scoops Top Gear up, that should only serve to deepen the rivalry between the two shows (and the two streaming services). Netflix and the BBC might have the edge in terms of getting the show out to higher numbers of people; then again, we’d never know that, because Netflix is unwilling to reveal its ratings. In addition, if Clarkson and co.’s new show is the better show, does it really matter if the audience is smaller? If it was on network TV, the answer would be yes. But thanks to streaming services not having to rely on advertising dollars, sometimes bragging rights are enough. 

It’s likely that Top Gear will hit the air before Amazon’s show does. In fact, we don’t even know the name of the Amazon show, yet. We’ll let you know as soon as the BBC version of Top Gear gets a premiere date (at least in the UK), though. In the meantime, you can check out what else the networks have coming up with our midseason TV premiere schedule.  

While the former Top Gear trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have been popular for quite some time, the events leading to Clarkson’s firing from the BBC and May and Hammond’s decisions to also sign off from the series have made them infamous. And with infamy, comes the rumor mill, including allegations that Jeremy Clarkson was off his rocker and possibly even dealing with an alcohol problem around the time he punched Oison Tymon in the face—something Jimmy Fallon can likely sympathize with. Now, James May is coming out to defend his TV partner, explaining in an interview that he isn’t off his rocker.

I love that he calls his co-worker and pal deranged but totally put together at the same, which is the best descriptor I think I’ve ever heard regarding the loud and amusing host and how he could have gotten into the situation he did. Clearly the situation when it happened was messed up, with highstrung emotions on either side. If you’ve kept up with the events leading to Clarkson’s firing from the BBC, he wanted a hot meal at the end of a long day and producer Oison Tymon apparently didn’t make it happen. After punching Tymon, Clarkson came clean to the BBC and lost his job because of it. Oison Tymon later sued Clarkson and the BBC over the incident, dragging this whole thing on even longer. James May and Richard Hammond ultimately opted to follow Jeremy Clarkson out the door.

Weirdly, the BBC has spent a lot of time nodding at Clarkson and co. in the months since Top Gear as we know it ended its run and Chris Evans was signed on as the host. First, there was a Top Gear special that aired over the summer that gave fans some closure. Then, as reported by the Radio Times, the network spent the winter holiday playing compilations of the series, and May told the outlet it's a little awkward.

Currently, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond have signed on with corporate giant Amazon to produce a brand new car-oriented series. Unfortunately, we’ve gone several months without knowing the title of the upcoming project, but we’ll share that as soon as Amazon makes the big announcement. In the meantime, we do know that the former Top Gear hosts have had to rework a lot of their most popular segments for the new show, as the BBC has retained the rights to most of the show’s popular segments.

Clearly the guys are ready to release their next big TV production and move past all of this BBC stuff, and Hammond has even stated he’s ready to move on. We’ll let you know as soon as the new Top Gear and the new Amazon series gets the show on the road.

A lot of unscripted TV doesn’t actually mimic reality and is doctored somewhat for the entertainment of its viewers. We expect reveals like these to come from shows from all different kinds of genres, including big name programs like Pimp My Ride. However, I wasn’t expecting former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson to come out and explain in detail that a segment the show created was 100% rigged. But that’s what he recently did. The stunt in question? The now-famous clip of the Reliant Robin rolling over again and again. Here’s what the man had to say:

Jeremy Clarkson’s skill sets extend beyond TV hosting, and the above quote comes from an editorial the man penned for the Sunday Times, which also reveals that he was asked to carry around a hammer in case he needed to break some glass while filming the dangerous segment. It later flew past his face, which was probably more dangerous than the rolls themselves. Obviously, this segment was shot more for humor than as a review or test drive of the actual vehicle itself, so the fact that this was pure fantasy isn’t so outrageous. Still, I’m a little surprised the story is coming out, now, as Clarkson prepares to launch another "reality" car series. All in all, if your kid ever asks you whether or not the Reliant Robin moment was real, you can now feels perfectly honest when answering with a snort and a “nope.”

If you haven’t seen the incredibly amusing segment, you can watch it in full, courtesy of the original BBC show, below.

I guess the number of times the car is shown totally off-kilter should be a pretty big indication that this bit was rigged, but I’m still amused that Clarkson is now straight-up admitting it. Plus, he says he liked the experience so much that he’s done the bit more than once.

Jeremy Clarkson is currently gearing up to give us more entertaining car moments. He and his onscreen chums James May and Richard Hammond have a new show heading to Amazon sometime in the near future. As soon as we get more juicy details regarding the title and more we’ll let you know. In the meantime, you can relive way more Top Gear favorites, here.

Well, it’s taken the better part of a year for this, but it’s finally happening. Jeremy Clarkson is now in the middle of a lawsuit over the altercation that first got him suspended and then fired from the hit auto series Top Gear. It’s not exactly the knockout punch heard ‘round the world, but it’s apparently still haunting Clarkson eight months later.

Both Clarkson and the BBC itself are being sued by show producer Oisin Tymon, and legal teams from all sides met on Friday at a London employment tribunal, according to BBC News. No financial terms were revealed, so it’s entirely possible that all of the nitty gritty of this case could be handled behind closed doors, but the fact that it’s happening now is still pretty surprising. To be expected, the BBC released a statement that said they’ll be “responding to this claim,” but that was the extent of their input.

For those who are unfamiliar with the case – and if you’re a fan of Jeremy Clarkson, it’s kind of impossible to still be in the dark – Top Gear was filming back in March, and during a particularly long day of work, Clarkson went a tad apeshit over there not being any hot food at the hotel for the cast and crew. He punched Tymon in the face, which caused his lip to bleed and swell up. Tymon drove himself to the hospital afterward, thinking that the incident cost him his job, and stated at the time that he didn’t want to press charges. Looks like he’s changed his mind, which is hardly surprising, given how much verbal and social media abuse Tymon received after the incident. Being the reason that Clarkson got ousted from Top Gear is not a good mark to have on one’s record in the U.K.

Two unnamed witnesses to the incident are taking part in the inquiry. The matter has been so heavily publicized, with little going in Clarkson’s favor as the facts came out. I mean, he did have to publicly ask his fanbase to stop harassing Tymon, which was a nice move, but obviously not enough to calm the waters.

Whatever the outcome of the case, it likely won’t have any effect on either the updated version of Top Gear with new host Chris Evans, which is set to premiere in 2016, nor the new Amazon show that Clarkson and his fellow former Top Gear co-hosts are currently putting together. That show is also set for a 2016 premiere.

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are currently gearing up (if you will) to air their brand new car-related series on Amazon. The darned thing still doesn’t have a title, but Clarkson recently revealed that fans are not going to be seeing Top Gear 2.0 when the three men return to the small screen. The show is going to be very different from Top Gear, in fact, and there’s a good reason for that. Clarkson says that most of the segments fans loved from the BBC series are actually proprietary to the BBC.

Unfortunately or fortunately, this means that if you were a fan of the “Reasonably Priced Car” or other popular segments, you’ll probably still be able to see them, just without Jeremy Clarkson at the helm. Over the summer, the BBC announced that Top Gear will be returning to the network, with a new host at the helm. The show will soon boast radio and TV personality Chris Evans as its new host. Doubtless, he’ll bring some of his own flavor to the long-running show, but he can also have all of Clarkson and co’s old segments, if he wants them.

Meanwhile, over at Amazon, Clarkson, May and Hammond reportedly have a lot of money to help them to create a brand new show for streaming audiences. Still, despite all of the new segments and changes, Clarkson told The Sunday Times that the first day of shooting was very familiar for the host. They were shooting with a Ferrari, a Porsche and a Land Rover, and all seemed back to normal with the crew:

So, while segments and names are changing and the guys have had to be a little inventive with their Amazon formatting, the basics of the trio’s interactions and the joy they are able to have while spending time with some sweet vehicles will essentially remain the same. Since I’m pretty sure that’s why people tuned in to watch Clarkson, Hammond and May on Top Gear, that’s certainly a good thing.

We’ll let you know as soon as the new Amazon show gets an official release date. In the meantime, you can see what has yet to premiere this fall with our fall TV premiere schedule.

Whenever it became clear that Jeremy Clarkson’s firing fired from Top Gear meant that he and his co-hosts’ days on the BBC were over, no one thought for a second that it would actually be the last we’d see of the speed demon trio. But while many assumed that Netflix might be their future home, they headed over to Amazon for an enormous price. And Netflix isn’t upset about that in the least, and the company has a solid reason for not diving into the bidding war headfirst.

Netflix has seemingly no problems with getting behind projects that don’t have built-in fanbases, and you’d think that a show formed around the internationally known Top Gear guys would have been a great fit in their library, but the service wasn’t convinced that the audience is as rabid as public opinion says, and execs don’t think they were worth the money that Amazon shelled out (which came out to around $250 million for three 12-episode seasons). Here’s how Netflix’s Chief Product Officer Neil Hunt put it to DigitalSpy.

Shots fired, yeah? But shots that come from an organically intelligent place. If Netflix knows that its subscribers aren’t extremely interested in the Top Gear seasons that they already have on there, there’s no reason to think that the customers would become even more excited for a series that isn’t even under the Top Gear brand. Granted, it’ll be in the same ballpark (or highway, as it were), but it’s still a risk.

Netflix has made it clear in the past that they aren’t that interested in getting invested in reality TV shows anyway, although I guess this skews closer to the mold of their docu-series Chef’s Table. In any case, it’s clear that no one at the company felt the need to test those waters with Jeremy Clarkson and his often outspoken ways.

Hunt obviously thinks that Amazon wasn’t making a brilliant move by dropping that much money on the trio, and he doesn’t seem to be worried in the least that the rival is able and willing to spend that much on its own original programming.

Kaboom. It’s unclear when Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s new show will be released on Amazon, but you can bet that Neil Hunt won’t be watching. Meanwhile, the BBC is apparently pleased with their newest Top Gear host Chris Evans, and the new iteration of the show will premiere in 2016.

Holy guacamole! We knew the former Top Gear trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond were a pretty hot property when they left the BBC, but I don’t think anyone realized how big of a budget they could commandeer. After weeks of talking deals with various networks and streaming services, the well-liked TV hosts ended up landing over at Amazon and, as it turns out, the company paid a pretty penny to hire them. News broke this week that the deal was signed with a budget of $250 million dollars in play (that’s £160m for those who are in the UK).

To be fair, Amazon has big plans to produce a ton of episodes for the currently untitled car series, which is expected to hit Amazon Prime in 2016. Thirty-six episodes and three seasons have been ordered so far, which is a lot more than even network TV usually signs on for at a given time. However, 250 million dollars spread across 36 episodes still means that each episode of the new car show will have a budget of 4.5 million dollars, and that’s for a show that does feature some big names but doesn’t really need a lot of hefty camera work or CGI.

To give you an idea of how much money this is, the average hour-long budget for a Game of Thrones episode costs $6 million dollars to produce (“Blackwater” reportedly cost $8 million). Another big drama, Breaking Bad, reportedly cost roughly $3 million per episode. A car show requires permits and insurance and more, but $4.5 million dollars still seems like a ton of money per installation.

The Daily Mail reports the new show is expected to go into production this fall. We won’t get new episodes for a while, but considering the budget, I think it’s safe to say that once the episodes hit the air, the show should be fabulous.

One thing’s for certain: the guys will definitely have enough gas money to do what they want moving forward. In addition, the team has also reportedly brought with them Top Gear executive producer Andy Wilman for the new series, which is a pretty happy ending to the Top Gear mess that unfolded over the last few months. Here's the team's final BBC goodbye:

We’ll let you know when the new show gets a title and an official premiere date on the streaming service. In the meantime, here’s what’s coming up this fall.

Good things come to those who wait, especially when those who are waiting are three of the more popular personalities in the worlds of television and cars. Former Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have a new show coming, and after months of fans wondering where it would go, it has now been confirmed that Amazon Prime is getting into the passenger seat with the trio for their next venture, which is set to arrive in 2016. Hope they have enough gas money.

The announcement was made by both Amazon and Clarkson himself, who shared the news via his Twitter page. Following his initial post, Clarkson had a little fun with it.

Watching Jeremy Clarkson maneuver a drone from behind a computer would almost definitely rope in a ton of viewers, but that’s not a very fun approach. Unfortunately, that message makes us more aware of what the show isn’t rather than what it is, as no further information was given as far as what fans can expect to see the trio up to, nor was a title shared. (An Even Higher Gear Beyond the Top One, maybe?) We do know that longtime Top Gear producer Andy Wilman is involved, so it seems like this new show won’t miss a step (or a wheel rotation) in getting these presenters back at the forefront of automotive badassery.

In true Clarkson style, the often outspoken host took an amusing little jab at his former home at the BBC in the release.

Clarkson was suspended-turned-fired from Top Gear by the BBC a few months ago after the host assaulted a producer during a long day’s shoot. Even though Hammond and May were offered a sizeable amount of dough to return, they stuck with the guy they’d been working with for the past 13 years, and now it’s paid off. Meanwhile, Top Gear will have famed British radio host Chris Evans taking over the show for Season 23 and beyond.

Amazon claims the new show will “go into production shortly,” so perhaps we’ll see these fan favorites zipping around tracks in the earlier days of 2016, rather than later. Are you guys pumped to see Clarkson, Hammond and May back on your TVs?

The long tenure of the popular former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson is quickly shrinking in the rear-view mirror. However, the publicly pink-slipped presenter recently took some final laps on the test track. Yet, it seems that his anticipated arrival came with an implied message from the show's staff that was none too nice.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Clarkson discusses a charity auction event he attended last week taking place on the Top Gear test track in Dunsfold, Surrey, England. While Clarkson's dramatic exit from the series was the stuff of enmity-inspiring legends, he nevertheless admitted to getting choked up as he went through the familiar gates to his former workplace. However, it seems that his imminent arrival was not met without some potentially insulting precautions. As Clarkson explains:

Yes, in a move equivalent to hiding the good silverware from a low-class dinner guest, it seems the producers of Top Gear did not want to let the former hosting asset anywhere near the setup where the show was created. A person of the irascible temperament that Clarkson is rumored to be might have been inclined to make an irate display of indignation at the presumption that he would pilfer knick-knacks from his former employer. However, it seemed to roll off of his back, as he was apparently more preoccupied with a different set of emotions related to nostalgia for his longtime gig.

Having been involved with the longtime BBC staple Top Gear since the tail end of its original incarnation in 1988, Jeremy Clarkson became the centerpiece of the show’s 2002 relaunch for 215 episodes, creating an irresistibly infectious rapport with co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond. The result was 13 hilarious years of test driving and often demolishing an eclectic array of automobiles, ranging from the most beautiful machines ever hitting rubber to road to some of the industry’s worst four-wheeled failures. However, that all came to an end earlier this year, due to a behind-the-scenes incident in which Clarkson allegedly hurled a haymaker at the face of producer Oisin Tymon over a lack of a hot dinner at the end of a long day of filming. The scuffle became the cold-cocked catalyst for his eventual involuntary exit from the show.

The axing of Clarkson resulted in a torrent of tirades from infuriated fans, with some even going so far as to issue death threats to a BBC executive. However, in another example of passion that has proven to be more of a testament to the loyalty and friendship from his two co-hosts, May and Hammond have opted not to return to the show, which has prompted rumblings that the former Top Gear trio are shopping around a potential new car-centric project to alternative streaming outlets. Thus, Clarkson’s wistful run down the test track will not likely be his last on TV.

Yet, for Top Gear, the story will also go on, since the show recently announced that it has acquired the first replacement for Clarkson and company in UK television and radio personality, Chris Evans. Brandishing an apparently worthy resume of gearhead enthusiasm, Evans is also clearly just the initial piece of what is expected to be a major overhaul for the controversy-embroiled show. Thus, it appears that for Clarkson, those offices potentially full of cold dinners are staying locked.

Jeremy Clarkson has been pretty open about where he would like his career to go in the weeks following his firing by the BBC. He’s mentioned he’d like to do a new series on a new network with his Top Gear pals. Still, hoping for a new show is not the same thing as actually working toward a new show, which is why some recent information regarding the Top Gear team is a lot more compelling. Apparently, a decision regarding a new series is expected to be made sometime over the next few weeks, and a few big companies are vying for the popular host.

New reports indicate that Clarkson, along with his former Top Gear co-stars Richard Hammond and James May, are currently in talks with three big companies to produce a new show. According to The Guardian, those three large companies are:

While ITV is an interesting wrinkle, as it would keep the three men in the U.K. and on traditional television, Netflix has long been thought to be a frontrunner. The outlet also notes that whichever company picks up the series will be looking to bring it to audiences worldwide, not just on the home front.

Meanwhile, Clarkson cheekily stated that the BBC had asked him back before the network opted to sign on a new Top Gear host in an interview with The Sun. The BBC denied such news, and has already hired a host to replace Jeremy Clarkson in radio and TV personality Chris Evans.

While the trio made headlines after May and Hammond reportedly turned down a lot of money in order to stick with Jeremy Clarkson, that doesn’t mean the whole crew is totally done with the BBC. In fact, a new Top Gear episode is set to air on the BBC2 in its usual timeslot this weekend, and is expected to break ratings records. Beyond that, presenter James May has gone ahead and signed on with the BBC to appear in a 90-minute special called Building Cars Live, so even if Top Gear isn’t the same on BBC2 in the future, familiar faces will be around for at least a little while.

We’ll let you know as soon as Netflix or one of the other contenders announces the brand new series.

The controversy centering on the actions of Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has clearly hit the brakes on the show’s muscle car momentum. But while his involuntary departure resulted in rippled effects that could sideline the show permanently, the BBC announced that they will, at the very least, release a new episode cobbled together from the last shoot to cap off the short-changed Season 22.

Check out the first of two trailers for the extended episode below!

As we can see, hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond remain firmly competitive friends. The trio are seen in inappropriately suave suits, ready to race some budget-friendly junkers they acquired through a mud-mired countryside course with the serious consequence of making an after-dinner speech ready to be bestowed upon the loser. Yet, almost apropos to Clarkson’s status with the BBC, it seems that rough driving has broken his vehicle’s protective windshield, resulting in mounds of mud being flung in his face.

And now for trailer 2.

This second clip seems to highlight the ignominious end that the trio of hosts have in store for their budget acquisitions, as we see them rolling down a hill for a gravity-induced collision course. The episode’s collection of clips show footage taped just before the shoot was derailed by the incident in which Clarkson allegedly punched producer Oisin Tymon in the face over an apparent lack of hot dinners. The clips are full of the maniacal mayhem that car-obsessed fans of Top Gear have come to expect from the eccentric series, which should be a nice, poetic way to end the unavoidably abbreviated season.

However, as fun as the clips appear, depicting the humorous hosts in repertory rambunctious form, the signature car carnage depicted here could very well represent the last of this show for the trio. In a clear sign of solidarity, Clarkson’s two fellow hosts, May and Hammond, have apparently refused to continue shooting without their third man. In fact, the duo reportedly turned down a two-year offer to return that is said to be near £4 million. Thus, the overall future of Top Gear now remains in question, with the BBC tasked with the problematic possibility of moving forward with replacement hosts, whose reception could be unwelcome; especially considering that BBC director general Tony Hall has received death threats over Clarkson’s dismissal.

At the moment, there are rumblings that the Top Gear trio may be looking to tell the BBC where to stick their unheated dinners, with rumors suggesting that they are in talks with other outlets such as Netflix on which to showcase a new car series. That idea, however, is still very much hypothetical, as the drama over the initial incident continues to unfold. For now, this upcoming extended episode will have to satiate fans of Clarkson/May/Hammond road-based mayhem long enough for some kind of resolution.

Other than the vague promise of "soon," no official date has been announced for the episode’s airing in the U.K. on the BBC or, for that matter, in the U.S. on BBC America.

Jeremy Clarkson has been in the news a lot lately, thanks to the brouhaha surrounding his exit from the popular BBC series Top Gear. In the aftermath of Clarkson’s firing from the show, the TV personality has been a bit more reflective than reactive, and now says he is looking forward to the future… and another series about automobiles. Here’s what he recently said:

Just a few weeks ago, Jeremy Clarkson was fired from Top Gear after an incident occurred on the set of the long-running show. Jeremy Clarkson turned himself in after punching producer Oisin Tymon in the face after a long day of filming. Initially he was suspended over the incident, but Clarkson himself didn’t help his case after ranting that the network would probably fire him. A few days later, the BBC did just that.

At the time of Clarkson’s firing, the Top Gear host said he briefly thought about quitting the business, but is now ready to get back on the horse. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Clarkson did reveal that no plans for another series are currently moving forward. Regardless, he is certainly not ready to retire if and when someone gives him another go at chatting about cars.

In the meantime, the BBC is doing its damndest to try and find a replacement for Jeremy Clarkson and keep Top Gear on the air. It’s going to be a tough job for the network to try to replace Clarkson, not to mention potentially replace his co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond, who may not stick around now that their partner is out of the picture. The three personalities made Top Gear a worldwide hit, but Clarkson really brought Top Gear to another level, and it'll be tough for the show to continue without him.

While Jeremy Clarkson is hopeful that he’ll be able to find a new project soon, it remains to be seen whether a TV network will want to give the man another shot. While the TV personality’s boisterous personality has won him plenty of fans, his off-the-cuff manner of speaking and quick-to-anger personality has gotten him into trouble more than once. We’ll have to wait and see where he lands.

Update: This morning, the BBC did officially fire Jeremy Clarkson. The BBC also confirmed that the network will still attempt to put together new episodes of Top Gear without the famous host.

Today, several outlets are reporting that Jeremy Clarkson is getting fired by the BBC. The news comes several days after the popular Top Gear host was suspended from the series following a fracas on set. The problems on set have become very public at this point, and now multiple outlets say that the BBC has made the decision to cut Jeremy Clarkson from the Top Gear lineup.

The scoop has come shortly after news broke that Clarkson was actually responsible for punching Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon in the face after he was told he could not have hot food after a long day of filming. In the time since, Clarkson was put on leave from the series, and the network has been undergoing an internal investigation. According to The Telegraph, that investigation did not end up finding in Clarkson’s favor. The outlet is reporting that the BBC will let Clarkson go, although he will “be thanked” for his work on the hugely successful series Top Gear, which is popular in the UK but also internationally.

Of course, the BBC has not come out to make an official statement at this point; regardless, the deal seems pretty set in stone. Clarkson’s on set problems have been all over the media since his suspension became public. The TV personality may even have contributed to the media heyday when he spoke out at a charity event just the other night. During a speech, he called the powers-that-be in charge of the BBC “fucking bastards.” If he wasn’t in trouble before, he certainly didn’t help his situation with those inflammatory remarks.

It’s not as if these incidents are isolated, either. Clarkson has been in trouble with the media several times in the past for making comments that have not been politically correct. Examples of this include a racial slur that was caught on tape when he recited a children’s nursery rhyme. He’s even pissed off the Mexican embassador to the UK due to racial slurs before. Despite these issues, he’s been a well-liked on-air personality with an avid fanbase that enjoys the way he and his team discuss automobiles. His boisterous personality has made him popular even when his language has not.

The real question is where Jeremy Clarkson’s firing will leave Top Gear. The remaining two Top Gear presenters, Richard Hammond and James May, have reportedly refused to shoot new episodes while the BBC makes a decision regarding Clarkson’s fate. The Telegraph’s report indicates that the BBC2 will still continue to film new episodes of Top Gear, but the network isn’t saying anything about Clarkson’s co-presenters at this point. Whatever ends up happening, it’s unlikely to signal the end of Clarkson’s career, but his next move is certainly up in the air.

We’ll let you know as soon as the BBC confirms the firing.

Over the years, Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has offended many with his particular brand of political incorrectness, but he has entertained many more. The latter point is proven by how many of his fans have had his back during his current suspension, brought about over him allegedly punching a Top Gear producer earlier this month. Predictably, co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May are also on his side, and the duo are reportedly refusing to film any more episodes without him involved. Cue the screeching tire noise.

With the decision to suspend Clarkson, the BBC initially scrapped the final three episodes of Top Gear’s Season 22. But according to the Mirror, BBC execs were having discussions about saving those last few episodes by using mostly pre-recorded segments, with Hammond and May solely filming the in-studio parts. But that isn’t meant to be, apparently, and here’s how the Mirror’s source puts it.

The probe is currently being handled by BBC Director General Tony Hall, and people have reportedly been pressuring him and TV head Danny Cohen to get this case settled speedily so that audiences can one day again watch these guys race around in gorgeous cars. (Why isn’t anyone petitioning for me to go out and do such things?) Both Clarkson and producer Oisin Tymon have given their statements to investigation chief Ken MacQuarrie, who is now going to speak with witnesses. That seems to be the last step in the probe, and a decision will likely be made in the near future.

The incident in question, called a dust-up by May in interviews following the suspension, took place at the beginning of the month during a long day of taping. Clarkson was apparently told that there was no hot dinner ready for the crew, and that’s when he allegedly decked Tymon in the face, leaving him with a split lip. This was one of several last straws that Clarkson has been given by the BBC, with the one before this coming last May when he used a racial slur on-camera while saying the children’s rhyme “Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe.”

So now we wait to see where Clarkson’s wheels will end up next, and what Hammond and May will end up doing with that outcome. In the meantime, though, some fans have also started up a Change.org petition to have Steve Coogan’s hilarious film and TV character Alan Partridge take Clarkson’s place in future Top Gear episodes. Hell, we’d take him here on the American version if that doesn’t work out.