The BBC’s Top Gear has never been quite the same since its star trio of Clarkson, Hammond and James left the show after its 22nd series. The revamped show hasn’t quite drawn in as many viewers as previously – its episodes have pulled in around fewer than four million viewers on average, whereas before the revamp the show was getting in excess of six million viewers for each episode. Though the show may not be as popular as it once was, it’s still a big hit for the BBC, especially worldwide, and show no signs of going anywhere fast. Here’s what we know about the show’s future.
The hosts
Matt LeBlanc has recently confirmed that the upcoming 26th series, his fourth, will be his last. So far, it hasn’t been announced who will be taking over the role of host from him. It’s assumed that other two main hosts, Rory Reid and Chris Harris, will sign on for the 26th series. The show’s two co-hosts, Sabine Schmitz and Eddie Jordan, are expected to stick around as well. Since the revamp, LeBlanc has been praised for his presenting skills, with many calling him the best thing about the show. Despite this, he’s decided to step down to spend more time with friends and family.
Future series
Series 26, the last one with LeBlanc, is set to air later this year. It’s unsure whether all of it will air this year, or whether it will start this year and end early next year. Nothing about the upcoming series has been announced as of yet; there’s no information on any special episodes, nor do we know anything about celebrity guests or any possible format changes. The trailer hasn’t been released yet, but when it does come out, it will give us a better idea of what to expect. Series 27 should be coming around some time next year.
