[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/flop-gear-the-rapid-decline\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/flop-gear-the-rapid-decline\/","headline":"Flop Gear \u2013 The Rapid Decline","name":"Flop Gear \u2013 The Rapid Decline","description":"Last Sunday marked the beginning of the brand new series of BBC\u2019s hit motoring show \u2018Top Gear\u2019. Armed with a brand new cast, new studio and even an improved test track, it was bound to be a success right from Gambon Corner, right? Wrong. From the get go, \u2018TFI Friday\u2019 presenter Chris Evans appeared to be trying way too hard to act like Jeremy Clarkson. The introduction analysing the content of the show was in Jezza\u2019s typical \u2018Blas\u00e9\u2019 fashion, attempting […]","datePublished":"2016-06-03","dateModified":"2016-06-07","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/feature-2-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/feature-2-1.jpg","height":643,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/flop-gear-the-rapid-decline\/","about":["LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":394,"keywords":["BBC One","chris evans","top gear"],"articleBody":"Last Sunday marked the beginning of the brand new series of BBC\u2019s hit motoring show \u2018Top Gear\u2019. Armed with a brand new cast, new studio and even an improved test track, it was bound to be a success right from Gambon Corner, right? Wrong.From the get go, \u2018TFI Friday\u2019 presenter Chris Evans appeared to be trying way too hard to act like Jeremy Clarkson. The introduction analysing the content of the show was in Jezza\u2019s typical \u2018Blas\u00e9\u2019 fashion, attempting (and failing) to give a comedic style opening to the show. With virtually everything else rebranded \u2013 why did they decide to keep the theme tune and the logo? The audience was the smallest that it has ever been, considering that the BBC had made improvements to the audience structure, allowing audience members to be standing above the gone-hangar-now-studio, looking down at Joey from Friends and that bloke that replaced Wogan.Packed full of little digs at Clarkson and terrible jokes, the show drew in a measly peak viewership of 4.7 million viewers whilst the last series drew in 5.8 million. Evans even made a comment last week saying that he would be \u2018disappointed\u2019 if the show received under 5 million viewers. Ouch. This would be easy to forget if the Radio 2 star hadn’t been posting mad rant-esque tweets after the show stating the \u2018FACTS\u2019.The \u201cStar in a Reasonably-Priced Car\u201d \u201cStar in an Overpriced Rally-Modified Mini Cooper\u201d segment seemed extremely scripted, and very little room for movement. Both Ramsay and Eisenberg seemed very uncomfortable and inadvertently awkward during the entirety of the interview, which made this segment in particular one of the hardest bits to watch. Cringe.Trying to focus on the positives, Matt LeBlanc did a pretty good job. Considering that LeBlanc is American and the show is focused on mainly British banter, he seemed to \u2018get\u2019 the show\u2019s format and humour more than Evans.All of this taken into consideration, it seems that the show will not last very much longer. It feels like the Top Gear bandwagon is on a sure path to demolition, and from here on out, the show will be travelling on a long road, quickly running out of petrol. It goes without saying that the magic of the show has been lost, at least for the moment. We\u2019re holding out for \u2018The Grand Tour\u2019. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Flop Gear \u2013 The Rapid Decline","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/flop-gear-the-rapid-decline\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]