Ex presenter James May says new crew are 'doing an increasingly good job' on Top Gear

James May
(Image credit: PA Wire/PA Images)

The Grand Tour co-presenter James May has given his seal of approval to the direction of the new Top Gear

James May has given his seal of approval to the new Top Gear.

The latest series of the BBC motoring show – fronted by Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris and Rory Reid after Chris Evans bowed out – ended in April.

James, 54, told BBC Breakfast he had 'tried to be quite philosophical about' the end of his run on the programme with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond.

Matt LeBlanc with fellow Top Gear presenters Chris Harris and Rory Reid

Matt LeBlanc with fellow Top Gear presenters Chris Harris (left) and Rory Reid (right) (Peter Byrne/PA)

 

“What we’ve ended up with is us refreshing ourselves a bit and having a bit of a rethink about how we do it, making space for some other people to take over our old programme,” he said, “where they’re doing an increasingly good job of it.

“I do think that the viewers now have two shows to watch, where they had one before. We can spark off each other a bit.”

The Grand Tour host added: “I don’t really see that anybody loses out.”

Jeremy was sacked by the BBC for an 'unprovoked physical and verbal attack' on a Top Gear producer.

James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond (Amazon Prime Video/Press Association Images)

James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond (Amazon Prime Video/PA)

 

Patrick Holland, controller of BBC2, recently said the show with its current presenter line-up could not be compared to its previous incarnation.

“You’re looking at two completely different shows,” he said. “We have turned over a new leaf. It’s a new team. Chris and Rory have been fantastic and Matt has been terrific in the films and he’s really started to enjoy the studios more and more.

“The audience is younger. Young people really love the new Top Gear.”

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