To think a �3m poun contract is too much license payers money for Top Gear job.

[fortyfide]

Nothing against Chris Evans but the way the BBC doles out our millions is worrying.

[TheFlis12345]

YABU. They license Top Gear out to dozens of other countries. It's one of the few shows that actually make the BBC a hefty profit!

[PtolemysNeedle]

It's not just licence payers money. Top gear makes a fortune for the BBC. I might be wrong but I think I remember reading that it was their biggest seller.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

It makes a fortune for the bbc, as far as I understand it.

YABU.

It had to be someone who commanded £££''s. It would be sad/bad business if it petered out to obscurity because the presenter was wrong.

[shitebag]

It had to be a hefty amount to get someone who would draw people in and that knew what they were talking about.

As others have said Top Gear was is a big money spinner for the BBC so they have to be willing to pay out more for it to work.

Personally as a Top Gear fan I think the cast change will be the programs downfall because it'll be hard to find the same dynamic between the presenters which was a huge draw to the show. Hopefully I'm wrong though!

[Hexenbiest]

www.theguardian.com/media/2015/mar/11/top-gear-bbc-jeremy-clarkson

Top Gear is the BBC’s biggest global brand with sales of the TV show, DVDs, books, live shows and other merchandise worth more than £50m a year.

The motoring show can lay claim to being the most popular factual television programme in the world – complete with a Guinness Book of World Records entry – watched by an audience of 350 million in 214 territories.


I can see the rational - if they get a personality that manages to keep it going even at 3 million it's going to be worth it.

I suppose it would be more of a risk to pay substantially less and take a punt on a less well known presenter/personality. They can still do that down the line once they know the show can keep going past the current presenter changes.

[TwinkieTwinkle]

YABU, Top Gear brings in a massive amount of money for the BBC, hence why a lot of people didn't believe they would actually fire Clarkson.

[googoodolly]

Top Gear is shown all over the world and makes the BBC millions. £3m is nothing in comparison to the shows profits.

[MNpostingbot]

YABU, as covered above you are applying some typically mumsnet economics. 3m is a bargain and Evans is giving a discount because it will be a passion project.

[scarlets]

I'm not a TG fan but it seems like a fair market price to me, based on TG's popularity and Chris Evans' strong track record in broadcasting.

[silveroldie2]

Yes, Top Gear USED to make millions and USED to have a worldwide audience of 350 million but it will never be the same without JC, JM and RH and if they set up a similar show on another channel, it's likely to be far more popular than TG.

[FarFromAnyRoad]

What everyone else said. Did that line of thought not occur to you OP?

[TTWK]

mumsnet economics

Love that phrase. I could write a book on it. Within the last few days we had "paying someone £3M a year to hopefully protect a £50m income is too much" and "anyone who spends £9K on a car is Roman Abramovic in disguise"

Basically, it's "anyone who has more than me doesn't deserve it and anyone who has less than me should get off their arse and work harder"

[Sparklingbrook]

I agree with silveroldie. Rehashing it with new presenters might not make the £££s of the olden days. Bit of a gamble.

[SpidySensesAreOff]

Don't know why they are bothering tbh. Top Gear is finished. Looking forward to C, H, M's new show though.

[silveroldie2]

Me too Spidy I just hope its not on Sky - I won't give Murdoch any of my money.

In the meantime I will watch TG repeats on Dave.

[InDespair]

cant stand Chris Evans.

I too will keep watching the repeats on Dave.

And no ones mentioning if Stig will be in it!