Matt LeBlanc has announced that he is stepping down as main host of iconic motoring magazine show Top Gear after the next series, citing family reasons, even though he’s currently dating one of the show’s producers, Aurora Mulligan. The former Friends and Episodes star, now 50, is thought to be missing life in LA and his daughter.
However, his imminent departure has opened a gap to work alongside motoring journalists Rory Reid and Chris Harris – will BBC bosses want another recognised ‘name’ to carry the show forward, or will they be looking at someone with solid car credentials?
One good fit would be former model Jodie Kidd, who has appeared as a guest on the show several times. The BBC are bending over backwards nowadays to prove that they don’t discriminate against anyone over gender, race or religion. Bridging parity between the sexes with regards to salaries is one of their highest priorities and what better way to show discrimination no longer exists by giving a top presenting job to a woman. Kidd is car-mad and as competent as any likely male presenter behind the wheel. Though she is thought to have turned down the role three years ago, the time may be right to make a commitment this time around and her regular presence in the studio would certainly entice back some of the petrolheads who deserted Top Gear when Clarkson, May and Hammond jumped ship (or were pushed in Clarkson’s case), though Rebecca Jackson’s credentials are equally impressive and she did do one season as a guest presenter on the now-defunct Fifth Gear.
With reports suggesting that Clarkson et al’s Grand Tour may be axed, this is a big chance for Top Gear to corner the market again in its genre so it’s important that the choice to replace LeBlanc is the right one.
TV chef James Martin is also well to the fore in the betting (also 6/1 with William Hill). Comfortable in front of the cameras and behind the wheel, he also knows the difference between an M5 and an E-Class. Guy Martin – daredevil, engineer and speed fanatic – is also 6/1 with William Hill to be Next Top Gear Presenter but this is a fast-paced show which may not have time to watch the former motorcycle racer take apart every nut and bolt in the cars they road test. Disputing favouritism is Jenson Button but the former F1 driver’s lack of regular broadcasting experience may count against him, though Reid and Harris were hardly household names when they got the job on Top Gear. However, they weren’t employed to hold the show together and headline the previews.
Next Top Gear Presenter Current Best Odds
Jodie Kidd 6/1
Guy Martin 6/1
James Martin 8/1
Jenson Button 8/1
Rebecca Jackson 9/1
Philip Glenister 10/1
Steve Coogan 16/1
Jay Leno 25/1
Eddie Irvine 25/1
David Coluthard 33/1
Johnny Vaughan 33/1
Jimmy Carr 33/1
