The Best (and Worst) Reactions to the New Top Gear

Now that we’re a couple of episodes into the new season of Top Gear, we’re starting to get an idea of how the BBC’s rebooted show will work. First impressions were not great and audience ratings dropped by a third between episodes one and two. However, Top Gear has kept some fans – including Captain Slow himself. We take a look at some of the best (and the funniest) reactions to the new Top Gear.

Twitter was split between the haters and those willing to give the new format more time to find its feet. Many felt that Evans was trying too hard to imitate former showrunner Jeremy Clarkson’s presenting style. Some of the Twitterati loved Matt LeBlanc, while others described him as wooden. Some people simply couldn’t stand the show, leading to some mean (but hilarious) tweets.

I'm sat here like... #TopGear pic.twitter.com/j7MTXCo4Ux

— Conor =Þ (@conorp42) May 29, 2016

Made a list of everything wrong with new #TopGear pic.twitter.com/8JCScI4HEb

— Josh (@JoshRae15) May 29, 2016

The show’s former star James May took a more measured approach.

I'm really looking forward to watching Top Gear without knowing what happens in the end. #NoSpoilerAlert

— James May (@MrJamesMay) May 29, 2016

He later told the MailOnline that he is a “massive fan” of the new show. Clarkson, meanwhile, has stayed quiet, claiming he is too busy working on The Grand Tour, his new car show for Amazon.

4.4 million people tuned in for episode one of the rebooted Top Gear, rising to 9 million once you’d included all the people who watched it on catch up. Only 2.8 million watched the second episode as it aired. In its previous incarnation, Top Gear was BBC2’s most successful show, attracting an average audience of 6.4 million.

One thing that many Top Gear fans seem to agree on is that German racing driver Sabine Schmitz has become the unexpected star of the new show. Her obvious driving skills, passion for cars and natural humour (“You can be anytime my wingman!”) shine through. Evans and LeBlanc don’t seem to have mastered delivering the laboured scripted jokes that have always been a part of the show’s charm, but Schmitz is a natural comedian.

Let us know what you’ve thought of Top Gear’s relaunch. We’ll be in our showrooms on the Sweet Briar Industrial Estate during the working week, and this weekend (18th and 19th June) we’ll be at the Peter Beales Rose Festival.

Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter at @AutoDoorsGates to tell us what you think of the new Top Gear.