Jodie Kidd is not hosting the new look Top Gear on the BBC alongside Chris Evans, despite "conversations" being held about a role.

The Classic Car Show presenter has revealed she passed on Top Gear (via The Telegraph) because it would be "all-consuming".

David M. Benett



Kidd said: "If I were to accept Top Gear it would be completely all-consuming. I love doing all the different things I am doing in my life at the moment.



"Top Gear is the most brilliant show on this planet but it would just take over your soul. That would be it. Through ups and downs and lefts and rights I have got to an amazing place where everything is finally balanced, and balanced for my family too."

Steve Parsons



The 36-year-old said she made the decision "very recently".



"Everyone every day has been asking me, am I doing it? Am I doing it? I am not, okay," she explained. "But I feel greatly honoured that people think I could possibly be good enough to fill those shoes, especially as a woman."

She added she has felt moved to announce she isn't joining Evans on the show: "I've been in the public eye since I was 14. I've always been quiet and never spoken up or fought my own corner despite having loved to have done a million times… This is one of the few times where I've wanted to lay some things to rest."

But Kidd still maintains an interest in the show, saying: "Chris is going to completely turn the show around. He's going to Chrisify it. It is going to be so interesting to see what he does."

BBC Worldwide



She went on to say that she does expect a female presenter in the mix: "Times are changing. There are some great women such as Susie Wolff [a 32-year-old Scot who raced at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last year] coming through F1. Women are becoming brilliant drivers and loving their cars. I think it would be great to have a woman's perspective."



She also said she is sure the "beyond brilliant" Jeremy Clarkson will still be a success on his new Amazon Prime show alongside James May and Richard Hammond.

"It doesn't matter where or what or how. Just watching the three of them is great. You can sit down, relax and have wonderful entertainment," she said.

Top Gear continues to pull in viewers on BBC iPlayer, with the departing trio's last episode being the second most-requested show on the catch-up service in July.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io