http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml.../ntopgear11.xml

 

Interesting.

I too heard the continuity announcement about a new series in the summer.

Is Clarkson's contract up for renewal maybe and he's flexing his muscle for a raise.

One thing is certain, TG without Clarkson would be shit.

 

It did seem odd that he said "We don't know when we'll be back" and that was immediately contradicted by the announcer. I assumed that was because of Hamster's crash delaying the series and messing up the schedule.

Does sound like he's holding out for money. Did James May get the huge rise he was after?

Maybe they're starting to feel that there's not much further they can go, and the show would only go downhill from now on.

 

My money's on the contract thing.

 

I think they've reached that point already, I think the previous series was probably their high point.

But if the figures are correct in the article that Mark posted then they are pulling in 7 million viewers. I doubt there are many other shows, especially of a niche nature, that can claim that.

Some interesting information on viewing figures here

 

More than double anything else on BBC2, and second only to Eastenders in BBC programmes.

Plus they sell it all over the world, and obviously it runs endlessly on UK Gold.

 

As has been proven by it being hosted by Julia Bradbury and god knows who else, Top Gear without Clarkson is utter, utter shit.

 

They're giving away tickets to the filming of Top Gear on Radio 1 at the moment (was announced about 10 mins ago on Vernon Kaye's show).

Would they really film something like this that might not go to air?

 

Oh I do hope this is true No more JC on the tele. The bloke is the biggest pr-ck on the plant IMHO

 

Publicity stunt?