Jimmy Carr and Joe Marler have emerged as the leading contenders with bookmakers for presenting positions on the upcoming Top Gear series returning to the BBC.
The broadcaster announced last week that the well-established motoring programme would resume after a four-year hiatus, triggered by co-host Andrew Flintoff sustaining injuries during filming.
The long-running programme propelled former presenter Jeremy Clarkson to widespread fame, initially featuring him as a segment presenter before establishing him as the show’s prominent figure during the 2000s alongside Richard Hammond and James May.
Clarkson, May and Hammond presented Top Gear until 2015, when they were succeeded by Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc.
Flintoff subsequently joined alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris from 2018.
Production halted indefinitely after Flintoff sustained serious facial and rib injuries when he was pulled beneath an open-topped three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 vehicle for approximately 50 metres at the programme’s test track in December 2022.
The BBC issued an apology and provided compensation to Flintoff following the incident.
The corporation has now confirmed the programme’s return, though the presenting line-up remains undisclosed.
Nevertheless, several prominent figures have been identified as frontrunners by betting firms.
According to William Hill, comedian Jimmy Carr and former England rugby international Joe Marler are the two leading candidates to assume presenting duties.
Carr holds even-money status following reports connecting the comedian and automotive enthusiast with the role, while Marler sits at 6/4 in the betting after his profile increased following participation in The Celebrity Traitors.
Jodie Kidd represents the only other contender with single-figure odds at 4/1, having previously appeared on Top Gear in addition to her model and motoring presenter background.
Gordon Ramsay follows at 10/1, with Rowan Atkinson, John Bishop, Bernie Collins, Naomi Schiff and Jamie Chadwick all available at 16/1.
Lee Phelps, a William Hill spokesperson, commented that while the BBC had remained secretive regarding the new presenting team, betting markets had identified clear frontrunners.
Carr held the position of obvious favourite at even-money, particularly given the reported connections to the role and his previous appearance on the programme, while Marler’s 6/4 odds would introduce a distinctive dynamic to the presenting line-up.
Kidd also represented an intriguing possibility at 4/1 given her motoring television experience, with no shortage of notable names further down the betting including Gordon Ramsay, Rowan Atkinson, John Bishop and Jamie Chadwick.
BBC director of entertainment Ed Havard disclosed the programme’s return at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday, August 27, confirming that Top Gear would return while declining to comment on potential hosts.
Havard indicated that further details would be released shortly.