Top Gear Returns To NZ Screens With A New Host

Top Gear will unveil its new look and a new host on Prime TV this year.

The show, returning for the first time without regular hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, will debut on New Zealand screens on Prime, the network confirmed today.

"As the series moves into a fresh new era led by self-proclaimed car nut Chris Evans, we look forward to introducing Kiwis to the new look for this multi-award winning much loved show where cars are just the starting point for having fun," said Head of Acquisitions Lisa Clements.

The 23rd season of the top-rating show will be hosted by Chris Evans, and is set to air in the UK in May this year.

Evans' co-hosts and a New Zealand screening date is yet to be confirmed, but Evans has said the show will focus on the cars, not the presenters.

"The car is definitely the star. It's not based on a person; it's based on those words: Top. Gear," NME.com reported him as saying.

"We're going to keep the Stig?," he added. "Yes, we're going to keep the stars. We want to work more with Los Angeles, too."

Clarkson, May and Hammond left the show after falling out with the BBC over an incident in which Clarkson had an altercation with a producer on the show.

NZ Herald