James May says BBC's Top Gear will be 'credible rival' to new big budget Amazon Prime show Mirror

• published: 20 Nov 2015
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The outspoken host revealed his new car show, presented alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, will begin in autumn 2016 James May reckons the Top Gear reboot will be a "credible rival" for his new Amazon Prime show. The former BBC presenter, 52, has already begun filming for the new big-budget programme alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond and said during an interview on This Morning he has no worries about the competition. "I think the really interesting thing about it is, I think it's going to be very healthy having two big, essentially, international car programmes. "The thing people don't realise is it's actually very good that we have a credible rival and the two can spur each other on." The new autumn start date for their show means it will air after BBC's Top Gear returns thought to be some time in the spring. "It will start roughly in the autumn of next year, but we don't know the exact date yet. We don’t know what it’s called yet, we've had a lot of brainstorming on names. "It's actually very difficult to come up with a name that hasn't already been taken by someone else." He reaffirmed: "We don't have a name, so I'm not just trying to be secretive, we haven't got one yet." Eamonn admitted he was shocked at the size of the Amazon budget: "I was given an insight into the budget you have for the programme is ginormous, it's amazing." "Well yes, it's quite big, it does cost a lot of money to make very high quality TV in exotic location," James replied. "I know everyone thinks we've been given a massive sackful of money and gone off and bought Lamborghinis but it isn't actually like that. "We don't get all the money in one go, a huge portion of it has to go on making the films and it just can't be done cheaply to look brilliant." Plans for the new show were recently revealed - instead of sticking to a set studio base it would be broadcast from different venues around the world. The Sunday People reported that Jeremy, 55, plus co-hosts James and Richard, 45, plus producer Andy Wilman, 53, are holding brain-storming sessions during breaks in their current live tour. Sources close to the show claim the former Top Gear favourites are desperately trying to steal a march on Chris Evans’ new BBC version of their old show. And taking the show on the road is seen as a way of capitalising on their huge global popularity. It would also make BBC 1’s Top Gear, based at Dunsfold Aerodrome, in Surrey, seem staid, old-fashioned and UK-focused, they hope. But the idea of his new show having a mobile home is causing hilarity among the team - as Clarkson’s hatred of caravans is legendary. A source said: “What better way to showcase the show on a flexible viewing platform than by being flexible about its filming … people will be able to view the show on the move, so why not make it on the move too? “Unlike the BBC there are no set rules, We can make out own rules. This is truly groundbreaking stuff. “Modern day technology means television shows can pretty much be made anywhere - and that is something that is very exciting. “If we want to film it in Los Angeles, Or Sydney or Warsaw - or anywhere we can, there are no jobsworths coming up with reasons why we cannot do something. It is very exciting. “But, it is very early days, there are many ideas being floated around for the new show - this is just one possibility.” Asked about the possibility of hitting the road with his new Amazon Prime show, Clarkson said: “It’ll be something or other. Everything is going well.” They started out as Top Gear Live seven years ago and now, after performing in 32 cities, in 19 countries to 2.2m people, the trio are finally calling time on huge arena shows. Clarkson, May and Hammond are currently on tour with live shows - and that is where inspiration came from - along with the fact that Amazon Prime is a streaming service that van be viewed on devices on the move.