Was skeptical but very impressed, it would never be the clarkson era but this is good, chemistry banter and cars, flintoff and mcguiness offer that natural and hallarious chemistry which is fun to watch and Harris has that technical insight! The only niggle is that I think both the new presenters need to read and get their technical and historical knowledge up to scratch as it is a car show!
32 Reviews
Not brilliant, but not bad!
stevesaywood17 June 2019
Top Gear has been stinking ever since Clarkson et al left the show, but for the first time since then, they finally have some hosts that actually seem to connect with each other. I was as sceptical as anyone about Paddy McGuiness and Freddie Flintoff, since neither are actually journalists, but they made it work. Chris Harris still seems like a charisma black hole though.
Annoying new cast members
ratm08518 June 2019
Really didn't enjoy the new cast. It was very obvious early on that this show would basically be Chris Harris versus the other two. And unfortunately it just got worse as it went on. Paddy and Freddie clearly get on well, but I'm not sure Chris fits with them, unlike before where he actually had formed a reasonably good sarcastic chemistry with Matt Le Blanc. I found Freddie and Paddy both just loud, annoying and obnoxious, and I'm sorry to say, but I can't stand Paddy's accent. I actually turned this off before the end as I couldn't sit through any more of it. The low point was when Chris and Freddie crashed and Freddie seemed genuinely pissed off. Unfortunately I think broadcasting this was an error. It showed me that these guys just don't get on, and that Freddie also has a temper which couldn't be curbed for a TV show. It looked amateur and unprofessional. Furthermore, I didn't find anything on this episode funny despite their attempts.
Getting better
joshstuart28-300-83635817 June 2019
Not sure if the other reviewers even watched the episode. This was good, still not as good as old top gear and I don't think they're trying to replicate it anymore. There is finally some chemistry between the presenters again and i'll definitely keep watching.
Good
danielmelonmlynar12 July 2019
From really bad to even worse
per-18120 June 2019
I was hoping for some improvement compared to the last lineup of presenters, but no. No!
OK, I'll admit that Chris Harris knows his stuff, and by now he has learnt a couple more adjectives besides "mega", but he is still the most boring, uncharismatic presenter on the planet.
Freddy Flintoff is obviously way out of his depth, not a true petrolhead, not a journalist, not a clever and witty person (like most sports "personalities") and obviously not fit to be a presenter at all.
And Paddy McGuinness - what's wrong with him? Apart from his accent that makes him sound stupid, everything he says and does is puerile and just plain idiotic. Almost makes you wish Chris Evans would came back.
The challenges themselves are getting absolutley inane - both stupid and unfunny! By now, this is a show for below average IQ 12-year old boys.
What a shame!
OK, I'll admit that Chris Harris knows his stuff, and by now he has learnt a couple more adjectives besides "mega", but he is still the most boring, uncharismatic presenter on the planet.
Freddy Flintoff is obviously way out of his depth, not a true petrolhead, not a journalist, not a clever and witty person (like most sports "personalities") and obviously not fit to be a presenter at all.
And Paddy McGuinness - what's wrong with him? Apart from his accent that makes him sound stupid, everything he says and does is puerile and just plain idiotic. Almost makes you wish Chris Evans would came back.
The challenges themselves are getting absolutley inane - both stupid and unfunny! By now, this is a show for below average IQ 12-year old boys.
What a shame!
Genuinely excited for Sunday nights again
sniknejarmy17 June 2019
Please note, this episode is more of a strong 8/10 than a 10/10, but I felt that the current rating for the episode has been skewed by trolls just rating it 1/10 with the reasoning being, "Northern people, yuck!".
So, take it from someone who both isn't northern (from Surrey), and is a genuine petrol head. This show is finally enjoyable again. Is it a fully focused car journalism show? No. But even with Hammond, Clarkson, and May it stopped being that a long time ago. What it is, however, is a very good return to form for a show which in the last 4 years has been mostly dire and cringe-worthy.
What was my biggest worry for this series ended up being an absolute masterstroke by the BBC, and that is the choice of presenters. In my mind, I felt that they should have gone with 3 actual car journalists, and let them build a chemistry between them over time (like the Grand Tour lot...). However, there was just an immediate feeling of chemistry between the new presenters, which I feel will only grow (as there are still some moments where you feel that maybe not everyone fully knows one another properly yet). But most importantly, the show didn't feel forced, everything seemed more natural. Whilst there is still childish antics and mucking around, it feels less like it's trying to be what Clarkson, Hammond, and May were, and more it's own thing.
Very promising. Good job BBC.
So, take it from someone who both isn't northern (from Surrey), and is a genuine petrol head. This show is finally enjoyable again. Is it a fully focused car journalism show? No. But even with Hammond, Clarkson, and May it stopped being that a long time ago. What it is, however, is a very good return to form for a show which in the last 4 years has been mostly dire and cringe-worthy.
What was my biggest worry for this series ended up being an absolute masterstroke by the BBC, and that is the choice of presenters. In my mind, I felt that they should have gone with 3 actual car journalists, and let them build a chemistry between them over time (like the Grand Tour lot...). However, there was just an immediate feeling of chemistry between the new presenters, which I feel will only grow (as there are still some moments where you feel that maybe not everyone fully knows one another properly yet). But most importantly, the show didn't feel forced, everything seemed more natural. Whilst there is still childish antics and mucking around, it feels less like it's trying to be what Clarkson, Hammond, and May were, and more it's own thing.
Very promising. Good job BBC.
Once beloved BBC show in tatters. Painful to watch!
ista4420 June 2019
Once beloved BBC show in tatters. Painful to watch!
I feel sorry for the short one who can drive... Surround sound grating voices from the two who can't drive!.
How many people must have been queuing up to to take the vacant spots and this is what we get?.. Please for the love of everything on four wheels, change the combination of presenters and do it now!.
In case I've not been clear... get rid of the two who can't present and who's voices made me turn off the program 30 min in when I realised it was not a test of endurance and was meant to be entertaining!.
I'd rather it be taken off air and the money give to OAPs for.... i don't know, a free TV licence maybe?
I feel sorry for the short one who can drive... Surround sound grating voices from the two who can't drive!.
How many people must have been queuing up to to take the vacant spots and this is what we get?.. Please for the love of everything on four wheels, change the combination of presenters and do it now!.
In case I've not been clear... get rid of the two who can't present and who's voices made me turn off the program 30 min in when I realised it was not a test of endurance and was meant to be entertaining!.
I'd rather it be taken off air and the money give to OAPs for.... i don't know, a free TV licence maybe?
Good Chemistry, finally!
dannyvvee17 June 2019
It's top bully time!
krky-286-10017517 June 2019
What we have here is really bad writing. To class bullying as comedy is just wrong.
The two new guys are not funny at all, they know nothing about cars.
Why are they on this show?
I am from the north-west and we don't pick on people because they are smaller or poorer than us. so writing in the northern blokes to pick on the southerner was just wrong and not funny.
Chris Harris knows what he's talking about the other two should just stay in the background, they didn't bring anything new to the show. maybe Chris could teach them how to drive that would have been funnier than what was written.
This was a car show and they didn't show the timed laps of the Ferrari 488 and McLaren 600LT. They just told us! (No Stig)
Matt LeBlanc & Chris Evens knew what they were talking about. the two new guys don't they're just cheaper and you can tell.
Top Gear has become Turd Gear
audiomixerdon25 July 2019
Decent effort, but so much wrong...
b_raven17 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Big issue #1:
There is only 1 actual automotive journalist left. Two other new hosts are "comedian" and pro sports player.
Issue #2: The accents - Yes, While it's maybe totally acceptable for British TV show hosts to lack clear pronunciation, having local dialects and speak borderline slang on what used to be #1 fact based TV show in THE WORLD, but clearly the producers "forgot" to consider global appeal or the lack of it then international audience needs subtitles AND a help from urban-dictionary to understand new hosts.
Issue #3: The "Chemistry" or nearly complete lack of it - the forced frat-boy house abuse isn't a chemistry. It's cringe-fest of abuse. It's not funny, just sad. It could only be possibly funny if you're a bully by nature. The thick sweater gag to be worn in one of the hottest places on Earth was cruel. I could see Harris in very poor condition.
Issue #4: Ethiopia - I get - it's unusual sight for people who barely ever even left the tiny island near European continent, but lets be frank, it got nothing on neither Columbia,Myanmar, or Vietnam. Basically a Nevada but in Africa, but the amount of praises on the landscape was dully overwhelming.
Issue #5: Car tests -just plain idiotic. nuff said.
Tl;Dr: It's still beats any Chris Evan episode and I don't miss "celebrity" guests. So overall 5/10 with score potential to improve if they actual develop real chemistry at tone down the abuse.
Issue #2: The accents - Yes, While it's maybe totally acceptable for British TV show hosts to lack clear pronunciation, having local dialects and speak borderline slang on what used to be #1 fact based TV show in THE WORLD, but clearly the producers "forgot" to consider global appeal or the lack of it then international audience needs subtitles AND a help from urban-dictionary to understand new hosts.
Issue #3: The "Chemistry" or nearly complete lack of it - the forced frat-boy house abuse isn't a chemistry. It's cringe-fest of abuse. It's not funny, just sad. It could only be possibly funny if you're a bully by nature. The thick sweater gag to be worn in one of the hottest places on Earth was cruel. I could see Harris in very poor condition.
Issue #4: Ethiopia - I get - it's unusual sight for people who barely ever even left the tiny island near European continent, but lets be frank, it got nothing on neither Columbia,Myanmar, or Vietnam. Basically a Nevada but in Africa, but the amount of praises on the landscape was dully overwhelming.
Issue #5: Car tests -just plain idiotic. nuff said.
Tl;Dr: It's still beats any Chris Evan episode and I don't miss "celebrity" guests. So overall 5/10 with score potential to improve if they actual develop real chemistry at tone down the abuse.
Unknown and obnoxious new presenters
oscar-montanez28 November 2019
The two new guys are completely unknown to someone not British, one is supposed to be a comedian but really he is not funny he is just loud and annoying, nothing to do with the great sense of humor exhibited by Clarkson, May and Hammond. The other is a forme cricket player with not so much as a talent for presenting shows. And Harris, well he knows about cars but his presenting skills and his physical appearance leave a lot to be desired, he could at least have a proper shave in his head or face before the show or at least trim the hair, some of which are really going nastily close to his eyes. Rory wasn't so much of a presenter but he was better than these two new ones.
I now mostly skip to the parts where they show new cars like the Tesla series 3 in episode 1. Interviews are really the worst part. Clarkson was and still is a great interviewer, but these three... they are awful. And the challenges, well they are similar to what they used to b, BUT these three are too annoying, they bully Harris too much and one can see he really gets angry most of the time. The former cricketer is absolutely spoilt because of his money at young age and the comedian thinks everything is a joke.
Given the international status of top gear, the BBC should have tried to find some more internationally known presenters, unless they don't care about the international audience off course. Unfortunately top gear has been a disappointment with the chosen presenters, Evans was probably the worst of them all, LeBlanc was ok, he loves cars and that gave him an advantage, but these two new ones, they don't know anything about cars, they don't even pretend to know, why were they chosen?
I now mostly skip to the parts where they show new cars like the Tesla series 3 in episode 1. Interviews are really the worst part. Clarkson was and still is a great interviewer, but these three... they are awful. And the challenges, well they are similar to what they used to b, BUT these three are too annoying, they bully Harris too much and one can see he really gets angry most of the time. The former cricketer is absolutely spoilt because of his money at young age and the comedian thinks everything is a joke.
Given the international status of top gear, the BBC should have tried to find some more internationally known presenters, unless they don't care about the international audience off course. Unfortunately top gear has been a disappointment with the chosen presenters, Evans was probably the worst of them all, LeBlanc was ok, he loves cars and that gave him an advantage, but these two new ones, they don't know anything about cars, they don't even pretend to know, why were they chosen?
Best chemistry I've seen for a long time.
ben212519 June 2019
Like a bad tribute band.
granty-9517113 October 2019
Paddy Mcguinness spends most of the time shouting, Andrew Flintoff spends most of the time bullying Chris Harris, and both know sod all about cars. Harris does know his cars but alas couldn't act his way out of a wet paper bag, and i've seen more animation in a Thunderbird puppet.
The latest reboot ( i've lost count ) doesn't have one shred of originality, and like a bad tribute band they try to rip off the real thing note for note. The BBC are desperately trying to keep the Top Gear brand afloat but on this evidence i can't see it lasting much longer than the Titanic's maiden voyage.
Why are they so far off the mark?
TriggerPullerUSMC3 December 2019
The beauty of the Clarkson era was they came across as goofy but smart car folks who at least seemed to be close. This new crew is way off that- The come across and low rent blokes trying to act like even lower rent lads. More like chavs with zero entertainment value. The horsing around seems forced and fake. As a Top Gear and car enthusiast who always managed to learn a bit from the show I didn't get anything good out of this episode.
If BBC can't manage to find 3 likeable real men then shut it down. A cricketer, a lame game show host and occasionally successful race car driver are a far cry from people who should be on a car show. It just all comes across as really fake and really lame. So much potential with this show and unfortunately it is so much potential lost.
If BBC can't manage to find 3 likeable real men then shut it down. A cricketer, a lame game show host and occasionally successful race car driver are a far cry from people who should be on a car show. It just all comes across as really fake and really lame. So much potential with this show and unfortunately it is so much potential lost.
Perfect chemistry!!!
shay796617 June 2019
All the people leaving bad reviews because of not been able to understand Paddy & Freddie need to sort their hearing out,the return to a proper Top Gear at last after the p*** poor previous incarnations,these 3 genuinely get on together & seem to want too entertain the viewers,back to the funny Top Gear & long may they continue *****
Just leave C. Harris do his thing!
markavensis20 July 2019
The other 2 are noobs, so they try to bring down Harris and entire show to their LEVEL ...
Just leave C. Harris do his thing!
and you other 2 do your own! noobie thing! being around ... and losing all the time!
what have you done with top gear ... C. Harris is my fav! he can drive like the STIG and he is not crazy like the other 2 ... whoever they are ...
like that bullying 2 meter individual!?!?!? who he thinks he is!? Watermelon on C. Harris head ? that intended to be funny ??? even i feel ashamed watching this "show"
don't try to make Chris Harris into Hammond!!!
the other 2 must try and step into Real TOP GEAR! if you can!
if not! there is the door ========>
Just fun !!
kagey-2876918 June 2019
I just don't know why some are so negative about this show .
At last we have 3 men who have an obvious chemistry which worked from the first second of the show
. The horrible comments about accents and people can't understand them is just rude , just because it's not Southern !
Don't think of it as a car show , there's lots of car shows , this was just a really enjoyable hour spent along with some fantastic scenery in a stunning country .
New format new fun !!
I like these boys...
jaytee-3026224 June 2019
Let it die
dom_ti200020 June 2019
Dear Top Gear producers,
WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!
It has come to this, you need subtitles for an English show. When that Paddy person opens his mouth, some noises come out and some of them sound familiar but ultimately he sounds like a stroke victim, let me correct that, I have heard a stroke victim talking way way-way clearer than this guy.
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