After weeks of speculation, Jeremy Clarkson has confirmed that his new car show has landed at Amazon, reuniting him with his former Top Gear colleagues James May and Richard Hammond. The series will air on Amazon Prime.
Clarkson, whose BBC contract was allowed to expire after he assaulted Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, confirmed the news on his Twitter feed. “I’m very excited to announce that Hammond, May and I have signed a deal with @AmazonVideo,” tweeted the outspoken presenter. “@AmazonVideoUK now saying I can’t be their chief drone pilot. Apparently they want us to make a car show.”
Former Top Gear exec producer Andy Wilman will also return for the as-yet-unnamed show, which will go into production in time for broadcast next year. “I feel like I’ve climbed out of a bi-plane and into a spaceship,” added Clarkson on working with Amazon, in a thinly-veiled dig at former employees BBC.
“We have become part of the new age of smart TV. Ironic, isn’t is?’ quipped James May.
The deal, which covers worldwide rights, is for three seasons of the show. “Customers told us they wanted to see the team back on screen, and we are excited to make that happen,” said Jay Marine, VP of Amazon Prime Video EU. “We can’t wait to see what Jeremy, Richard, James and the team will create in what is sure to be on of the most globally anticipated shows of 2016.”
This is a coup for Amazon. Speculation has been rife over where Clarkson’s new show would land ever since he exited Top Gear under a cloud of controversy. Netflix, as well as ITV and Sky, were all mooted as possible landing posts at different times. By nabbing the popular trio, Amazon has got its hands on an instantly recognizable global brand for its premium Prime service.
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