Did quite like Freddy Flintoff in that cycling documentary he did with Rob Penn (?) in the Amazon a few years ago, he came across as good bloke, so will give it a go, i don't hold out a great deal of hope thugh!
there was a review in the Grauniad (I think)...seemed to think it was an improvement on the previous version, and they'd finally stopped trying to imitate Clarkson, May and Hammond
Not looking forward to all the moaners who don’t watch it yet still feel the need for a moan.
Oh but I watch it and moan about it so that is okay. I actually think it will probably be better as entertainment than the last few series have been. For stuff about cars I go to YouTube where there is a lot of very good quality content that is better that Top Gear has ever been at any point.
Thought that was pretty good! Worth it for the "Old Escorts" gag alone.
T’was okay. It’s a bit of a Paddy / Freddie love-in with Chris Harris as the outsider / straight man.
I ‘suppose it’ll never live up to expectations, TG was a bit old and stale 2/3 year before the first 3 left, and whilst the faces change it’s fundamentally the same show. It’s not bad, it’s just all be done before.
Not too bad and has potential. I was surprised how nervous Freddie appear to be in the studio. Lets see how it settles.
I miss Matt Le Blanc. He was genuinely funny and you could tel that he loved what he was doing. The studio bits weren’t great but the set pieces were excellent.
Enjoyed it. Yes it's formulaic but it's very much a vehicle (pun intended) for the presenters to make jokes. Felt like what some of what would previously have been outtakes were left in.
I enjoyed it. They seem to enjoy it as well, which helps.
I thought it was ace!
As per usual excellent cinematography, and scripts written by schoolkids, a huge improvement on the fun and games of the last few series, some some good funny bits as well.
Freddie is a real classic, and off the ball comedian, where you never know what hes going to do next.
I enjoyed it too, but then I'm northern...
Really liked it, and I’m southern.
That wasn't too bad even with the 2 guys from the midlands.
I enjoyed it too, but then I’m northern…
Pardon?
Didn’t watch it, and I’m southern.
Was there subtitles ?
So Harris is the only decent one left then.
🤷♂️
Is that it?
Surely you must have got out of your Volvo on your regular trips between the south coast and Harrogate? 🙂
Or do you only stop for light refreshments in Wilmslow?
Got rid of the Volvo 2 years ago.
Harrogate pretends it’s southern, but at its heart it’s northern.
Wilmslows in Cheshire isn’t it?
Yeah, never been there. In fact I’ve never been on the M6 further than the M54 turning. That whole west coast until you hit the lakes is lost on me..
Liked it, thought they had a good chemistry
🙂
Sorry, missed that. You southerners all sound like Janet Street Porter with a strangulated hernia.
Harrogate isn't quite tasteless enough to be southern, but it's getting there. If Brian Aldridge had ever left Borsetshire (apart from that time he knocked up Siobhan), he'd have found himself right at home.
Wilmslow is technically in Essex, but aspires to be in Surrey.
It is entirely populated by footballers, ****s and people who appear in soap operas.
Aren't stereotypes fun?
Forgot about it and started 1/2 way through. Sadly didn’t warm to it. Didn’t enjoy the Ethiopia jaunt and thought they were very forced. Might develop but not going to bookmark it.
Quite enjoyed it. Would actually have liked to see The Stig lap the Ferrari properly without all the stupid drifting.
Presenting top gear must be one of those jobs that celebs who have an interest in cars (and messing around) get excited about. Then they get on set and realise the show is bigger than they are and are somewhat lost for a while.
It was all a bit forced and scripted, as is always the case with the show. Found myself turning it off half way through. Will give it another go next week.
The show just needs to be axed for a couple of years, then it'll be watchable again. Flintoff is a big lad ain't he.
Was better than I expected it to be but then TG and TGT have long been shows I need to record and then be able to fast-forward through to make them watchable
It was all a bit forced and scripted, as is always the case with the show.
Early days, but the trio didn't appear to have any chemistry at all. Flintoff and McGuinness are just too similar to each other, and even to Harris, in a show where, at its best, much of the amusement came from the interplay between the very different 'characters' the presenters are playing.
Too much play fighting, especially at the end
Did I read somewhere Freddie is a flat-earther?
A lot better than I’d feared. Definitely should have shown the Ferrari lap since it’s the fast road car ever to go round.
I don't watch the links or the trips, so not much there for me.
Yep, odd there was no footage of the laps. For me it was more or less an Ethopia special with a car test shoehorned in. They did mention a guest for next week, so that might help but it all felt like a show that the last 3, would've made - perhaps barring the 'left in' bits but that's in the editing rather than the presenters.
Still it was better than the other show last night where a bunch of new hopefuls with questionable talent were trying to replace the last lot who fell out of favour.
Did I read somewhere Freddie is a flat-earther?
I think it was (humorously) discussed on this Podcast.
RM.
Certainly a lot more scope for the laddish behaviour and mickey taking. Those 3 seemed to gel better than the previous lot.
Could have been worse. What happened to the Stig though? Want to see laps.
Won't suit those that want William Woodard and co, but then they've been out of luck for over a decade anyway.
Won’t suit those that want William Woodard and co, but then they’ve been out of luck for over a decade anyway.
Dunno, I remember the episode where Angela Rippon stripped off to her undies and sat on Chris Goffey's head.
TBH that was far better than I expected it to be.
I dont mind the ladish behaviour, whilst it was a little forced at times (I dont think Freddie will ever be a natural TV presenter!) it was an improvement on the dying days on Clarkson / May etc.
Needs Steve Berry to make a cameo to complete the Northern trilogy 😉
Stig's lap in the Ferrari now up on the Top Gear You Tube channel. Looks a right handful, but got to admire the way he (she?) is nonchalantly flicking through the gears half way round corners.
I thought it was quite humorous ..and a million % better than the last series already ..
It's probably going to come up a little bit short in terms of two of the presenters not being very skilled drivers ..
I kind of enjoyed it. Think Paddy is a natural presenter, and will only get better at the role. But can’t help but think the ‘banter’ (probably manufactured) seemed to verge on the edge of bullying. I found it uncomfortable, and more so that it seemed to stereotype the northern lads (I’m from Bolton btw). What I liked about Clarkson et al is that they took the piss out of each other in equal measure, here though it’s just taking the piss out of Chris....maybe it’s just me
Thought it was good, Deffo as good as recent TGT stuff anyway. Liked the 'northern bants' between PM and FF. Just hope they dont make Harris the butt of all the jokes as he deserves much more credit than that, the only true motoring journalist and a hell of a driver too!
On a side note that import Mk2 looked a right bargain 😀
Only 1/2 way through as I’m watching with my lad and he had to go to bed but it seems pretty good so far. Ok the banter looks a little forced at times but it is the first of the series and Clarkson, May and Hammond were probably a bit awkward to start with. A lot better than I’d expected and shows hope for the future. It’s not been a car program for a long time, it’s car based entertainment but bringing in CH has given it a bit of that back and that’s to be applauded.
I will miss Matt LeBlanc as I thought he and Chris had a pretty good chemistry by the last series and they were pretty enjoyable together. I won’t, however, miss Rory as he was just painful to watch in front of the camera. I’m not looking forward to the return of Sabine but that’s probably just me.
All considered it’s a thumbs up from me. It certainly could have been worse.
Works for me 🙂
Speeder..you are not alone regarding Sabine ..I think that the "girl beats boy" England v Germany angle has pretty much run its course ..besides which she is extremely irritating ( notwithstanding the fact that she is a very good driver ) ..but obviously the production team think otherwise ..
I caught a bit of it & it looked like a low rent version of Jackass.
Parts of it were alright, other bits had me thinking I was watching a lads show from the 90's/2000's.
Enjoyed it.
A lot better than the last lot.