Don't worry, I'm not going to bang on about Top Gear again. I'm going to let someone else do it for me

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/top-ge...enter.html

I agree with most of this, but surely they've missed the obvious female presenter candidate - Suzi Perry. She's a true petrol head, and will be presenting the BBC's coverage of Formula 1 this year. I think she'd do a great job.

But with which other presenters? Clarkson, I'm afraid, has passed his use-by date, and May isn't interesting enough. Hammond is at least chirpy, cheeful and amusing.

So whilst I'm not at all sure about Clare Balding for TG, I'd love to see what the combination of Balding, Perry and the Hamster could achieve! Or even let's go all female for a year or two, with Balding, Perry and VBH!

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I can't agree with this...

Personally I feel that changing any of the presenters would be the death of TG. You can carp about its predictability or its boorishness but in truth I think that, with the current trio, glues it together. Any change would make it 'not Top Gear' and so it would die.

It's not a serious programme. It's evolved into some 6th Form schtik. And I like it like that. Between them the 3 honchos deliver an interesting, sometimes very funny, often outrageous (and such a relief from the endless 'must be careful what we say brigade that are stifling variety of expression...), and something that many people look forward to every week.

They IMHO really care about doing a good programme. They care that people engage with it somehow. And at the end I believe that Clarkson REALLY means it when he says 'Thank you SO much for watching'... I'd rather that than some cheesy overdressed puffed up celeb.

Say what you like about Clarkson (and he IS responsible for the success of the format) there are good things about him:

1. He punched Piers Morgan. Top Marks
2. He can take a joke (see how he reacted when 'custard pied' at an awards ceremony)
3. He takes it as well as dishes it. When his bank account was hacked he took the hit
4. He is refreshingly straightforward (contrast with (eg) ANY politician, banker, 'businessman', cleric etc)
5. He was right about Brunel

So, Clarkson's irreverance & attitude + May's 'straight man' practical bloke + Hammond's 'enthusiastic chappie' makes for pretty good telly for me. Lots of people agree. Well done them.

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Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

As much as I thought the current series was lame (the Africa special wasn't bad) I can't imagine TG being TG without Clarkson etc. I know he winds people up loads but he's just a brand and a very successful one.
Maybe there's room for a serious old style car review programme like old TG. Call it something else and still have TG.
Current TG just needs to freshen up. I don't think they have the balance of fooling about v serious journalism right. It needs more balance. After all when they do something properly, they do it better than anyone else.
The FFRR feature was a case in point. It could have been a great feature but compared to the antics of what they did with the D3 (driving up a hill) it felt lacking.
Please, no more talk of Claire Balding. There's enough of her on air at the moment. Suzy Perry is very good at what she does and I believe well respected in the MotoGP paddock but again, I don't see her in a TG spot.
Now, the German chick who drove the van round Nurburgring, she'd be good.

TopGear IS Clarkson.
I wouldn't want that to change or else we will end up with another Fifth Gear.

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Clarkson is a legend and the show wouldn't be any good without him. He's mostly seen as a love him or hate him kind of guy. I always get his latest book and DVD each Christmas and his no nonsense attitude and saying things that others dare not, is a refreshing change.

I totally agreed with him when he laid into those people who kill themselves by throwing themselves in front of trains. He made it clear that if they have reached such a state of mind that they want to end it all, fine. Just don't ruin somebody else's day or life by jumping in front of a train. Poor train driver would be traumatised.

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Predictable responses - people don't like change. A long-running programme is no one person - there were many presenters before Clarkson and there'll be many more after him. That's just the way it is. Some people like the same old same old. I look at ways to make things even better - nothing's perfect.

The problem is that I too like Clarkson (his irreverent attitude is actually quite similar to my own!) when he's on form. But he hasn't been on form for some time now. It's almost as though he doesn't really care any more - he knows he can keep churning out the same old tired stuff whilst still banking the same big pay cheques. The programme needs a new injection of life, and unfortunately at least some of the presenters will have to change to achieve that. Programmes like this need to evolve (which TG has done successfully up until now) - stagnate and they die. (Tomorrow's World comes to mind - once very popular, but it sank into a rut and now is no more.)

Maybe Jezza will head off to the US soon where there's even more money to be had and host yet another talk show! He could invite Piers as his first guest.

I don't think anyone who has hit rock bottom, so much so that they are willing to kill themselves are that interested in what Clarkson has to say on suicide!! As far as Train drivers go, I'm afraid it has become one of those things that will happen.
Getting back on the topic though, going by the latest series and the antics, I'm assuming the show is now produced by 9 year olds...

If you think top gear team are bad try Lizard Lick Towing on Dave tonight at 8.00 I think.
Now that is daft as hell, also rather funny in another daft way!!!!!!!!