Updated at 12.40pm
FOLLOWING MONTHS OF speculation, it’s been confirmed that former Top Gear hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are launching their next venture online.
Their new motoring programme will be shown via Amazon’s on-demand TV service.
However, as many fans of the team have noted, that throws up a problem for Irish viewers: Amazon Prime isn’t available here.
The new programme, announced this morning, is being described as an “all-new car show”.
It will be produced by the trio’s long-time executive producer Andy Wilman, who also parted company with the BBC in the wake of Clarkson’s dismissal earlier this year.
The three ex-Top Gear hosts have been linked with a range of companies in the months since Clarkson’s axing, including ITV and Netflix.
Prime problems
Amazon’s streaming video service is the internet giant’s attempt to enter direct competition with Netflix – and there’s no question that this deal is a major coup over the popular site.
However, speaking to the DailyEdge.ie earlier this year – a spokesperson for Amazon Prime said the company had no comment on whether it would be launched in Ireland at any stage.
So far, it’s available in the UK, US, Japan and a small number of other countries. Given its limited availability worldwide – it looks like Ireland could be down the priority list in terms of rolling out the service. (We’ve contacted Amazon again today for an update).
Production schedule
The first show will go into production “shortly” and the series will be broadcast in 2016.
Meanwhile, Top Gear is set to return to the BBC with an all-new presenting team, headed by Chris Evans.
Clarkson, Hammond and May have all taken to Twitter this morning, to share their thoughts on the breaking news:
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