Latest news with #TopGear
The Sun
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Woke BBC's new period drama will tick all PC boxes & have just the right bonnets but here's why everyone will switch off
A NEW book came out this week. It's called The Spider Covenant and it's about a group of sinister businessmen using money the Nazis squirrelled away after World War Two to fund a next- generation AI project which will put Hitler sympathisers in power around the world. 5 5 I'm bound to say, for two reasons, that it's a good read. Number one: It is. And number two: It was written by Brian Klein, who directed every single one of the studio segments in both Top Gear and The Grand Tour. Certainly, it would make an excellent mini series on TV. However, the BBC has decided instead to make a drama about a dreary Victorian woman from some god-awful Jane Austen book that I was forced to study at school. And which put me off reading for ten years. Yup. It's another bloody period drama. Of course it is. Horse and carriage pulls up on some gravel outside a big house. And then nothing of any great importance happens for about 16 hours. However, the producer of this new one, Jane Tranter, says there's a reason why period dramas are usually boring. She says that as soon as you put an actor in clothes from the olden days, they start to walk slowly and talk posh. Really? Michael Elphick didn't talk posh in The Elephant Man. And the only reason they move slowly is because you can't really rush when you're wearing a bustle or a stovepipe hat. There's another issue the BBC always has. They go to immense lengths to make sure the stitching on everyone's bonnet is correct for the time and that the swords are made from period metal. But then in their 17th-century story, they cast people in wheelchairs and people with Mexican accents. BBC releases new trailer for period drama Miss Austen starring Keeley Hawes And there's usually quite a lot of talk about global warming. There is, however, one period drama that got round all of this. Heath Ledger's movie, A Knight's Tale. Chaucer was a dude In that, the actors danced to music from Queen and David Bowie. They wore prog-rock clothes. Chaucer was a dude, and the heroine was played by an ethnically diverse American. 5 It was brilliant. Mainly because behind all the period cleverness, there was a good story. Which you're unlikely to get from a book that sends most readers into a deep sleep by page four. I fear that the BBC can make the characters rush about like Usain Bolt and talk like Jamie Carragher. But it won't make a ha'porth of difference. Unless there's an actual plot we care about, we'll all carry on watching MobLand. GEARS BOXING CLEVER THE headlines this week told us that cars with manual gearboxes will soon become a thing of the past. The figures seem to back this up. Back in 2011, only a quarter of cars sold in the UK were automatics, whereas today it's 80 per cent. As a result, one in every four driving tests taken today is automatic-only. Because why bother getting qualified to drive a car with a clutch pedal and a gear lever, that you have to move about like you're stirring soup, when you're never going to encounter such a thing? Aha. But there's more to this story than meets the eye. Because while a car may have a PRND automatic gear lever, the gearbox itself, in many cases, is actually a manual. Certain Minis fall into this category. So do various VW Golfs. So you could take your test in what drives like an auto and then claim that actually you are qualified to drive a manual. Worth a try because, technically, you'd be right. Reputation of French goes up in smoke I'M rarely shocked these days by a news story but when I heard this week that France has banned smoking in parks, on beaches and even in the street, I nearly fell off my chair. France ditching its love affair with the Disque Bleu? What's next? The Germans ban people from drinking beer? The Americans ban burgers? We are to be banned from going on social media and making jokes? No, wait, hang on . . . KICK UP A STINK SADIQ KHAN, the increasingly thin Mayor of London, has backed calls for a partial decriminal-isation of cannabis. Dear God, no. I've been to various cities in America which have adopted a similarly slack attitude to weed and they smell disgusting. Right now, London's got enough problems. Crime is off the charts, there are boarded-up shops everywhere, the pavements are rammed with what look like refugee camps, and the police do nothing because they're too busy probing a potentially offensive tweet. And I can't imagine any of these things will be helped if the place smells more revolting than a teenage boy's sock. PM NOT A RISK TAKER SIR Starmer is forever telling us that he knows what it's like to work for ten hours a day because that's what his dad did. Yes. But that's like me saying I know what it's like to leave school at 14 and become a butcher's boy. 5 Sure, it's what my dad did but I wasn't there. So what's it like to pedal around the streets of South Yorkshire delivering mince to miners? No idea, I'm afraid. And it gets worse because when you're Prime Minister what you really need to know is not what it's like to work in a factory, but what it's like to run one. Business is what's going to get this country back on its feet. People taking the risk, starting out on their own, making it work, employing someone and then someone else. And then one day passing the business they've built on to their children. Starmer has absolutely no idea what it's like to do that. And neither do any of his Baldricks. Lammy. Rayner. Reeves. None of them. Which is probably why they did a speedy deal with Trump to make British-made cars ten per cent more expensive in America. They claimed they had been extremely clever and got round his new tariffs. Yes, but every other country waited. And then found out this week that Trump wasn't allowed to impose the tariffs in the first place. Honestly, this country is being run by a shower of dingleberries. SO. The struggling high-street giant WH Smith is to change its name to TG Jones. Yup. That'll make all the difference. After all, the only reason I stopped buying magazines and DVDs is because I wanted the shop to sound a bit more Welsh. I guess that's what John Lewis needs to do if it wants to return to profitability. Change its name to Dai Llewellyn.
Motor 1
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- Motor 1
This Might Be the New Toyota FJ Cruiser
It's been almost two years since Toyota teased the shadowy silhouette of a small, boxy SUV during the Land Cruiser 250's debut. There have since been a handful of hints that the automaker is still developing that smaller off-roader, but now we potentially have our best look yet. This might be the new Toyota FJ Cruiser. The lone design image comes from a filing at the patent office in the Philippines . Toyota filed for the patent way back in January 2024, but Top Gear Philippines only recently stumbled upon the design. It looks very similar to the shadowy silhouette teased in 2023. The rear looks awkward from the provided angle, and the D-pillar appears massive compared to the rest of the vehicle, which would create equally huge blind spots. The rear bumper cladding also looks a bit too chunky at the back, but it does seem to have a spare tire mounted on the liftgate, alluding to its ruggedness. The vehicle looks plain in these patent images, admittedly, likely representing the base version. There are no fog lights and no roof racks. The wheels also look quite small for something supposedly suited for Moab. But the teaser (that we lightened in Photoshop) shows an appealing-looking addition to the Toyota lineup nonetheless. Shortly after Toyota teased its small off-roader, the automaker filed a trademark for the Land Cruiser FJ name . There's still a lot of mystery surrounding the vehicle, which is likely to borrow styling cues from the Compact Cruiser EV concept. However, a report suggested the SUV would feature gasoline and hybrid engines instead. All these hints will hopefully add up to something incredible. We don't doubt there's a market for a smaller off-roader with some of the kit and capability of the larger Land Cruiser . Check Out More Toyota News: The Toyota Supra Won't Stay Dead For Long Toyota Considering Small Pickup for the US to Rival Maverick Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: World Intellectual Property Organization via Top Gear Philippines Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Grand Tour reboot without Clarkson, Hammond and May has rumoured new line-up
The Grand Tour will continue without Clarkson, May and Hammond after a new reboot of the show was confirmed, and now their replacements are rumoured to have been found. A report in The Sun suggests that the new series will be revamped with a younger cast who are popular on social media, claiming that trainspotter Francis Bourgeois and YouTube petrolheads Thomas Holland and James Engelsman will take over. Former Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond left the Prime Video car series after five series in the driving seat as their contracts came to an end. But TV industry magazine Broadcast magazine confirmed in August 2024 that a reboot was in the works after Studio Lambert was awarded a contract to 'develop a fresh version' of the show. Read more: Will you watch The Grand Tour without Clarkson, Hammond and May? Studio Lambert are the production company behind hit reality shows The Traitors, Gogglebox and Squid Game: The Challenge. They are said to have to have won the contract after beating rival pitches from Shine TV – who make MasterChef and The Hunted – and recently founded Orchard Studios. Very few details are known about the new format of The Grand Tour. Hammond, May and Clarkson's special Sand Job was their last run, filmed in Zimbabwe in 2023 and aired on Prime Video in 2024. In May 2025, The Sun reported that a new trio had been signed up that would bring a younger, fresher vibe to the show. The newspaper claimed that TV insiders had revealed the revamped cast would feature Francis Bourgeois, Thomas Holland and James Engelsman in place of Clarkson, Hammond and May. Bourgeois, 24, is best known for his popular trainspotting videos on TikTok and Instagram, where he has interviewed celebrities including Louis Theroux and Tom Daley. Canadian car enthusiast Holland launched his Throttle House YouTube channel in 2015 and three years later was joined by British fan Engelsman after they met in Toronto. Throttle House has racked up 3.2million subscribers, meaning that the potential new cast could bring some healthy viewing figures with them. The trio confirmed that they had left The Grand Tour willingly in 2024 after deciding that their time fronting the show had come to a natural end. Hammond told Yahoo UK: "The key thing on that whole issue, [is] we had decided years ago that we wanted to be in control. Having set off on this incredible adventure that none of us thought would ever come our way, we all wanted to be the ones — and I don't just mean us three, all of us— to decide when and where and how we landed it, and we have done." May told the Radio Times in June last year: "I mean, some people have said we've been cancelled. But really we're getting quite close to the end of our contract, but we didn't really have any particular plans to keep going because we're all really just getting a bit old. It might be time to let someone else have a crack at it." Clarkson, May and Hammond rose to fame on BBC show Top Gear before they left in 2015 and signed a deal with Amazon Prime to host a new car show The Grand Tour instead. Clarkson had been suspended by the BBC that year after he punched Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon in an argument over food while filming on location. Top Gear continued with new hosts, but this year the BBC confirmed it had decided to "rest" the show after recent hit Freddie Flintoff quit following his injury while filming in December 2022. The retired cricket player was involved in a high-speed crash in a three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 which does not contain airbags. The TV star was reportedly left with broken ribs and facial injuries after being airlifted to hospital. Flintoff had hosted the show from 2019, along with Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris. After Clarkson, May and Hammond jumped ship in 2015, it was hosted by TV and radio presenter Chris Evans and Friends star Matt Le Blanc among others. All The Grand Tour series are available to stream on Prime Video.
Forbes
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Ex-Stig Ben Collins Returns To Top Gear Track In 700HP Praga Bohema Supercar
Ben Collins is more than familiar with the old Top Gear test track at Dunsfold The former Top Gear Stig, Ben Collins, has set the fastest production pure combustion road car lap at the Dunsfold Test Track in the Praga Bohema supercar. Collins set a remarkable time of 1:09:84, narrowly missing the Aston Martin Valkyrie's time of 1:09.70. With a dry curb weight of just 2,300 lbs (1,000kg) paired with a 3.8-liter V6 twin-turbo engine producing 700 bhp and 725Nm of torque, the Bohema is an impressive feat of engineering. In July, Collins will be involved in the handover for three customer cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Ben Collins, ex-Stig and Praga test driver said: 'Setting such a fast time at Dunsfold on regular road tyres was such a thrill. I knew the Bohema would be fast, but Dunsfold's tight turns and short straights are not ideal for a car that lives and breathes downforce. It shows how potent the mix of lightweight engineering, great aerodynamics, and pure combustion can be – even up against hybrid hypercars from established brands with more than 1,000 bhp. The owners taking delivery of their Bohema at Goodwood are in for the time of their lives as their new cars take to the Hill!' From all angles the Bohema is an incredible piece of art Praga is a Czech manufacturer that has been building vehicles for nearly 120 years. The world of supercars is a new area for the business but the Bohema's performance speaks for itself. Collins' lap time was completed on a set of road tires and he even drove to the circuit in the Bohema ahead of the track session. Collins said: 'We probably only did half a dozen hot laps in the time available, but with VBox timing I could see my purple sectors were looking good – if I had put together the perfect lap, we would have been at the top of the list. But, the fastest ever pure-petrol road car at the first attempt is a pretty good result too. I look forward to showing the crowds at Goodwood just what the car is capable of.' The fastest lap time at Dunsfold is held by a Renault R24 at 0:59:00 While the Bohema is road legal, it's designed to excel on the track with its racing-focused suspension and carbon ceramic brakes. The supercar can achieve 62mph from a standstill in under three seconds and produces 1,984lbs (900kg) of downforce at 155mph. Although it doesn't achieve the fastest top speed for a car of this class, the Bohema will still take your breath away when it tops out at 197mph. Tomas Kasparek, Praga Cars Owner said: 'I was delighted to see the time Bohema achieved at Dunsfold. It confirms the top level of performance capabilities of the car and it underlines its potential. More than the impressive number on the stopwatch, this highlights the incredible effort made by the whole team – and, of course, Ben's super driving skills. I'm extremely proud.' Ben Collins getting ready to take on Dunsfold Following the delivery of the first production model to a customer in the Netherlands in December, Praga will take three customer cars to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer. The handovers will see the first US owner take delivery of their new car and include an opportunity for the three new recipients to ride up the iconic Goodwood hill climb. Kasparek added: 'The Goodwood Festival of Speed is the best place in the world to hand over our Bohema supercars to our new clients. We've enjoyed working with our customers this spring, especially Herman van der Pavert, the owner of the first Bohema production car. As a new brand in the supercar market, every one of our customers is hugely important to us so, as we share the journey with them, we seek out ways to demonstrate our appreciation. I hope they enjoy going up the hill with Ben and that all the fans enjoy the spectacle with us.'
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Clarkson's Farm beauty Harriet Cowan hits back at sexist stereotypes, saying ‘Not all farmers are 60 year old men'
HARRIET Cowan has hit back at sexist stereotypes after joining the cast of Clarkson's Far. 9 Harriet Cowan is the newest member of the team at Diddly Squat Credit: YouTube 9 She quickly settled into farm life at Diddly Squat as Jeremy needed help when Kaleb was away Credit: YouTube 9 The farming personality wants to challenge stereotypes around the industry Credit: Instagram In series four of the show, the former Grand Tour star needed help to run His trusted right-hand man Kaleb Cooper was touring the country with his one-man show, The World According to Kaleb. As the farm hand travelled around the UK meeting his adoring fans, life became difficult for Jezza on Clarkson's Farm. Jeremy became overwhelmed as he tried to operate machinery, drive his new tractors, and deal with the animals with little success. READ MORE ON CLARKSON'S FARM So he brought in Derbyshire native When Kaleb eventually returned, although he was wary at first, they soon became acquainted as they developed a friendship. They even helped each other Harriet has received plenty of attention since her appearance on the show, and she says she wants to challenge farming stereotypes. Most read in News TV She told "A lot of the time that is it, but us women are out here and farmers too. Clarkson's Farm's Kaleb Cooper REPLACED by glam new farmhand in new series - as Jeremy's Top Gear co-star makes cameo "Just because I'm a small, blonde that likes to curl her hair and wear make-up , it doesn't mean I can't be a farmer." She added: "I'm trying to change the norm of the man being the farmer and the woman being the stay-at-home wife and cook. "When the war was on, women did all the farming, so we have always farmed - it's just changing that stereotype." Initially, the blonde bombshell was approached to join the Amazon Prime programme by another fan favourite, land agent Who is Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper? By Conor O'Brien Hailing from Chipping Norton, farmer The hit show follows Jeremy Clarkson in his journey managing Diddly Squat Farm - which he'd owned since 2008. Born and bred in the area, Kaleb has become Jeremy's right-hand man and sort of farming mentor. Viewers have watched the pair light-heartedly 'clash' - with Kaleb Three series have aired - with a fourth on the way - significantly raising Kaleb's public profile. Away from the screen, the farmer is also a father to two young children But it turns out, that she might not have known what she was signing up for, as she admitted that she had not even watched a single instalment of the factual reality show. Harriet revealed: "It worked so much better I think because I didn't know what to expect. I just went out and did what I'd do on my farm. "Every farm is slightly different but at the end of the day you all have the same goal. You're there to farm the land and look after your animals." She didn't even watch Top Gear growing up, so she looked at Jeremy as just another farm owner. Just because I'm a small, blonde that likes to curl her hair and wear make-up, it doesn't mean I can't be a farmer Harriet Cowan "Jeremy was no different," Harriet revealed. "He's the same as every other farmer I know. "He just wanted to achieve something with his farm and look after his animals and get the best out of it." She added: "Growing up, I never watched Top Gear and we don't watch a lot of TV, so he was just another farmer for me. Flat peak cap and a checked shirt. "Genuinely, that man just wants to achieve something with his farm. He really does want to learn as well, which is the best bit for me." Meet the cast of Clarkson's Farm Clarkson's Farm began streaming in 2021 and follows Jeremy Clarkson and his team managing Diddly Squat Farm in the Cotswolds. Here's a 'who's who' of faces in the Clarkson's Farm cast. Jeremy Clarkson: Presenter and journalist; also known for Top Gear, The Grand Tour and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? A former actress and Jeremy's partner, who assists in the running of the farm shop. A young farm worker from Chipping Norton, who forms a double act with Jeremy on-screen. He's later promoted to farm manager in series three. Gerald Cooper: Specialist in the construction and maintenance of dry stone walls and the farm's "head of security". Of no relation to Kaleb. Charlie Ireland: Nicknamed "Cheerful Charlie", a professional land agent who advises Jeremy on land management. 9 Kalep Cooper left Jeremy to tend to the land alone as he went on tour Credit: PA 9 When he returned, he developed a friendship with his newest colleague as they dealt with the 'psycho' pig together Credit: Amazon Prime 9 The new Amazon Prime star noted that women became farmers during the war Credit: YouTube 9 She says that Jeremy is like any other farm owner Credit: YouTube 9 She also never eve watched an episode of Top Gear Credit: Instagram 9 Harriet also admitted that she was first approached by land agent Charlie Ireland and had never seen the show before Credit: Instagram You can watch the first part of series four of Clarkson's Farm now on Amazon Prime
