BBC’S TOP GEAR PROGRAM WILL PILOT IN THE US IN MAYBE MARCH
January 17th 2008 05:31
America’s NBC has ordered a pilot of Top Gear as BBC Worldwide continues to push local adaptations of the popular motoring television format.
BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, will produce the pilot of Top Gear for NBC with an all-US presenting team.
The Guardian reports that casting for four presenters and a racing driver is already under way and NBC plans to announce the commission at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Saturday.
Hollywood Reporter said that BBC Worldwide considered using UK hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, but Clarkson was reluctant to spend extended periods of time in the US.
Top Gear is also set to air in Australia later this year after a deal between the BBC and local channel SBS in November last year.
Sydney-based Freehand Productions will produce eight episodes of Top Gear for the state-owned network.
The production is the first by Freehand since BBC Worldwide bought a minority stake in the company in January last year.
Top Gear is a consistent ratings winner for BBC2, pulling in around 8 million viewers in its regular Sunday night slot. International audiences for the show are around 350 million viewers.
The show has been running on BBC2 since 1977 and relaunched with great success in 2002.
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