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WSJ

Former ‘Top Gear’ Stars Set Up Deal for New Series

Jul 30, 2015  •  Post A Comment

The former presenters on the worldwide hit show “Top Gear,” who got the boot from the long-running U.K. car show amid controversy surrounding Jeremy Clarkson, are back in business.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Clarkson and co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May are headed to Amazon Prime with a new car series. The report cites unnamed sources who are familiar with the situation.

The three TV personalities parted ways with the BBC series in the wake of an incident in which Clarkson reportedly punched one of the producers of “Top Gear,” as we reported previously. BBC has since unveiled plans to continue “Top Gear” with a new on-air lineup.

Clarkson, Hammond and May, along with former “Top Gear” executive producer Andy Wilman, have formed their own banner, W. Chump & Sons Limited.

“Amazon beat out Netflix Inc. and major broadcasters in the bidding for the group’s new show,” WSJ reports, quoting one source saying: “We’ve never seen a horse race like this.”

WSJ adds: “Amazon won the global rights to the new series, meaning it will appear on Prime video in the U.S., U.K., Austria and Germany. Amazon can also license rights to the show to broadcasters or streaming services in other territories around the world where Prime video isn’t available. It also adds to Amazon’s content war chest if it does expand to new countries.”

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2 Comments

  1. Will they call the show, “The Top Punch!”

  2. That’s REALLY disappointing!!!!!!

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