If you had to pick a replacement for Jeremy Clarkson, what would be the most natural fit? Perhaps a bear with a penchant for power and two thumbs to hold a steering wheel? Well, if you asked the BBC, the best choice would appear to be a beautiful, svelte, blonde model.  

Jodie Kidd is purportedly in “advanced talks” with BBC execs as part of a replacement trio that includes actor Philip Glenister and TV presenter/motorcycle racer Guy Martin. That’s the news coming from the UK-based publication Express, which is reporting tidbits of a conversation overheard emanating from the show’s co-creator, Andy Wilman. Wilman quit the TV program last month following Clarkson’s firing and apparently spilled the news to Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay during a lunch in Sussex. 

Clarkson was dismissed from Top Gear in March following a “fracas” at a North Yorkshire Hotel that saw the 12-year TV veteran allegedly verbally and physically abuse a producer for the show. Co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond have both expressed their disinterest in continuing their posts without Clarkson onboard.

“To be clear amidst all this talk of us ‘quitting’ or not” there’s nothing for me to ‘quit.’ Not about to quit my mates anyway,” Hammond tweeted late last month. 

Speculation places the shows return some time next spring at the earliest. 

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Why it matters

And the great Clarkson Gate saga continues. While the source for this news is a bit questionable, the new lineup of Kidd, Glenister and Martin would fall in line with the more credible rumors swirling as of late. After nearly 22 seasons on the air, it’s clear the BBC won’t just cancel the show outright. But when it comes to the new form the show will take, well, that is open for debate.

The new hosts seem like pretty decent picks, all things considered. Kidd co-hosts “The Classic Car Show” on Channel 5 in the UK and appeared on TG before, laying down a quick time in the “Star In A Reasonably Priced Car” interview segment. Meanwhile, Glenister starred in “For The Love Of Cars” last year, while Martin is known for pushing the limits of vehicles sporting both two wheels and four, in addition to bringing copious television experience. But the real question remains: will audiences respond?

Either way, if I was to look into my crystal ball, I could definitely see Clarkson, May and Hammond team up with co-creator Wilman to create the new “baby” Clarkson wrote about last month. For the fans, it appears as though there’s lots of action just over the horizon. Stay tuned to TopSpeed for further developments.