Remember Top Gear?

After an enormous and successful relaunch, Top Gear as we know it is dead. Gone is the lads-mag style tomfoolery and “walking the line” anti-PC remarks.

But don’t be sad.

As James May himself said;

Top Gear existed before us and I’m sure it will continue without

After a series of denials on his breakfast radio show, Chris Evans was soon announced as the new host. He would take Top Gear into a new era.

“I’ll be there for you” said Matt Le Blanc, confirmed as co-host from left field.

Top Gear fans weren’t happy with Le Blanc’s inclusion. That was until someone reminded them of Matt’s title as the faster EVER celebrity lap.

Ever.

A new roster of co-co-presenters also filled promotional shots. Recognisable faces such as Sabine “I could beat you round the Nuurburg Ring in a van” Schmidt.

And then we waited.

Clarkson was busy promoting the new show on Amazon, with a cheeky finger point at “that”.

Finally, on Sunday the 29th of May 2016, Top Gear was back on TV.

It was familiar. The same production values. The same mad stunts. Wild analogies. Grunting. Shouting.

It felt weird.

Like your ex girlfriend that you’re not quite over yet, introducing you to her new boyfriend.

And finding that he’s actually quite cool and likeable.

The pressure is on Chris Evans. As the local boy he has to keep the show aligned with its past whilst introducing new ideas.

Fresh off the presses is A Star In A Rally Car. 2 guests appear and walk on set. Chris sets about with their car history. Images of cars appear on a giant screen behind them. This helps people like me that don’t know their Datsuns from their Nissans. There were some jibes and lots of audience participation.

I felt this segment needed work; more questions from Chris please. There were a few awkward pauses and the crowd are too far away for my liking.

The lap itself makes perfect sense. Going off road means there’s no interference from the weather, no wet and dry laps. It was strange that we weren’t shown the layout of the course beforehand though. This was saved for a new spin-off sho on BBC 3.

As for Matt Le Blanc, he’s coming to Top Gear fresh. There’s no baggage. Expectations are low.

And he excels.

On your mark, get s… nah let’s go.

Matt gets our humour but doesn’t try to be our friend. He plays up to the confused American stereotype well without over doing it. His piece with the Atom off road car was one of the best in the past few years. He looks at ease next to Chris Evans.

The Brits vs USA challenge felt thin on the ground, but still Le Blanc shone. I would have liked seaside clothes despite the weather. Ice creams in the rain.

Swapping scientist assistants for the local mayor was a masterstroke. Cue more confused American quips.

It’s hard to comment on what’s new without comparing to the old Top Gear. There’s still the larking about. There’s still a few edgy (but much less risky) jokes. In its first episode back there’s areas that still need fleshing out. A few pauses that would benefit with smoother editing.

On the whole I quite like it. Top Gear is still loud and brash, silly and fun. And it has a show on BBC 3 called Extra Gear. A more in-depth view of the cars featured in the show. It lets Top Gear be the pastry to the Extra Gear’s meat filling, if you will.

It’s new, it feels familiar, and the possibilities are endless.

Meet the new boss; it’s the old one in drag.