Confirmed: Top Gear returns to TV on 8 May

Chris Evans
Chris Evans is the new host of Top Gear.

After a lengthy hiatus (Jeremy Clarkson and friends bowed out at the end of June), the BBC's flagship motoring show Top Gear is going to be returning to our screens on 8 May 2016, the corporation has confirmed.

New presenter Chris Evans spilled the news in an interview over the weekend, but we don't yet know who's going to be joining him in fronting up the programme - or even if there will be any new co-hosts.

16 episodes of the new-look Top Gear are scheduled to be broadcast on BBC2. One of those episodes will involve an inter-continental road trip filmed in North America, Evans said, with filming scheduled to start in January.

Prime time viewing

Of course, Messrs Clarkson, May and Hammond have not been idle: the trio are launching a new car show on Amazon Prime Video at some point next year, though we don't know yet what it's called or what format it will take.

The ex-Top Gear presenters have also been busy with a live stage show that's just come to a close, taking in 19 countries, 32 cities and around 2.2 million audience members. Amazon executives will be hoping that kind of pull translates to high viewing figures for the new series.

It looks like we'll get a true head-to-head contest during summer 2016 as the new Top Gear takes on the ex-Top Gear presenters in a battle of motoring action for the small screen. Which show are you most excited about seeing? Let us know your predictions below.

Via The Verge

David Nield
Freelance Contributor

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

Latest in Entertainment
This City Is Ours
How to watch This City Is Ours online – stream Sean Bean crime drama from anywhere
Canada's Val Sweeting competes during the LGT World Womens Curling Championship match for third place ahead of Canada's showing at the Women's Curling World Championships 2025
Women's Curling World Championships live stream: how to watch Uijeongbu 2025 online, schedule, streaming guide
Star Wars BDX Droids walking in Galaxy's Edge.
‘We only build technology in the interest of storytelling’ – Disney’s associate lab director of Robotics on the Star Wars BDX Droids and what lies ahead
Thomas Tuchel, Head Coach of England, reacts during a training session at St George's Park on March 17, 2025 in Burton upon Trent, England.
England vs Albania live stream: How to watch 2026 World Cup qualifier online and from anywhere today, team news
A collage of Eve Macarro in Ballerina and John Wick in his third film
New Ballerina movie trailer suggests Keanu Reeves' John Wick will have a bigger role to play in the spin-off film than we thought
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri driving on a straight in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix 2025
How to watch Chinese Grand Prix 2025: TV & live streams, schedule, start time, what channel is it on? Piastri on pole
Latest in News
Samsung HW-Q990D soundbar with Halloween theme over the top
Samsung promises to repair soundbars bricked by its disastrous software update for free – but it'll probably involve shipping
Google Gemini AI
Gmail is adding a new Gemini AI tool to help smarten up your work emails
DJI Mavic 3 Pro
More DJI Mavic 4 Pro leaks seemingly reveal launch date, price and key features of the triple camera drone – here's what to expect
Android 16 logo on a phone
Here's how Android 16 will upgrade the screen unlocking process on your Pixel
Man sitting on sofa, drinking coffee, looking at phone in surprise
Thousands of coffee lovers warned to stop using their espresso machines immediately after reports of burns and lacerations
Visual Intelligence identifying a dog
AirPods with cameras for Visual Intelligence could be one of the best personal safety features Apple has ever planned – here's why