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Clarkson, Hammond and May sign new 3-year BBC deal to host Top Gear

George Kennedy — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings/Financials, UK, Celebrities

And now...the news! Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, a.k.a. the Top Gear blokes, have signed a new three-year deal to continue hosting the globally popular BBC2 program. The new deal specifies that Hammond and May will receive a share of Top Gear commercial revenue in exchange for promoting the show internationally.

According to the Guardian, the significance of this deal stems from the fact that while The Hamster and Captain Slow previously only received pay for their involvement in the hit show, Clarkson and his mate Andy Wilman were profiting greatly from the international marketing of the show. That's because Bedder 6, a joint venture set up five years ago between Clarkson, Wilman and the BBC owns the show's hugely lucrative commercial rights. The outfit derives its earnings from live Top Gear shows, DVD sales and worldwide marketing of the brand. Clarkson owns 30 percent of Bedder 6 while the BBC owns 50 percent and Wilman owns the remaining 20 percent.

In July, it was revealed that Clarkson's income jumped £900,000 (about $1.45M USD) following word that dividends from Bedder 6 increased from £6 million ($9.7M) last year to £9 million ($14.5M) this year. This, combined with his salary and his £350,000 ($566k) Bedder 6 fee, makes Clarkson the highest paid BBS personality, earning more than £3 million ($4.85M).

It should be noted that this news comes as many other BBC talent have received reduced pay amidst public scrutiny of the government-owned television operator. The BBC is quick to point out that the deal with the Top Gear hosts and Wilman was penned "without using a penny of license fee money." This new deal allows for Hammond and May to have a piece of the pie, without dipping into the BBC's budget. Even so, there has been some debate among British critics whether television personalities are worth these sorts of seven-figure deals - this, despite such salaries being commonplace in Hollywood.

Clarkson, Hammond and May sign new 3-year BBC deal to host Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear producer Wilman praises YouTube parody

Zach Bowman — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, UK, Celebrities, Humor

For all of its glory, Top Gear can be a bit formulaic. Any given episode likely includes Jeremy Clarkson saying something absurd about one vehicle/ethnicity or another, at least two of the hosts embroiled in a ludicrous challenge and, of course, plenty of quick editing and stunning videography. It's the hosts and the execution that separates Top Gear UK from its various international incarnations and keeps us coming back for more. Two of the show's fans recently demonstrated how easily the recipe can be applied to even the most bizarre premises by pretending to race two electric cars through the streets of London.

The parody, cardboard boxes and all, is genuinely hilarious, and we aren't the only ones who think so. We showed you the video previously, but now Top Gear UK producer Andy Wilman has released a quick video praising the duo for their creativity, which we think is pretty excellent. Hit the jump to revisit the original as well as watch Wilman's reaction to the clip.

Continue reading Top Gear producer Wilman praises YouTube parody

Top Gear producer Wilman praises YouTube parody originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear team apologizes for row over handicap space

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

Top Gear got in a spot of trouble recently when presenters James May and Jeremy Clarkson were shown parking their Nissan Leaf in a handicapped space. Getting into a spot of trouble is nothing new for Top Gear, and in fact it seems that the show enjoys jumping in and out of hot water while various groups stand up to voice just how offended they feel.

Rather than thumb their noses in the air, however, this latest bout of controversy has forced producer Andy Wilman to step up and steer blame away from the hosts of his show. According to Perth Now, Wilman claims his production team secured special permission to use the handicapped spots, choosing the spaces in question because they were quiet. Also, Wilman notes that three other handicapped spots remained open and available for use during the shoot. Should the spots have filled up, Wilman maintains that production would've cleared the area to allow for others to use the spots.

Both May and Clarkson reportedly expressed concern over the use of the spots before the shoot. Wilman assured the men that the handicapped logos would not be seen in the footage, but they still made it onto the screen. That's both his and the production team's fault, and Wilman wishes to apologize to anyone who was offended. He also wants to make sure that everyone concerned understands it was not a decision made by Captain Slow or Jezza.

Top Gear team apologizes for row over handicap space originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear producer Andy Wilman spills the beans

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:27:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities, Humor

It's hard for the Top Gear team to surprise us with outrageous tales since the show itself could almost be considered behind-the-scenes footage of some other, more traditional program. But producer Andy Wilman reveals 16 TG tidpits in the Telegraph, and it's hard not to be a little surprised at some of them.

Like #8, for example, about trying to get James May to chauffeur a Bengal Tiger in a range Rover Evoque through Death Valley. Or #1, in which he says, "I don't think anyone realises how much work goes into making these three look like f---wits." We'd never have guessed. You'll find the rest of Wilman's words here.

Top Gear producer Andy Wilman spills the beans originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top Gear producer drives... a 7 year-old Honda Jazz?

Dan Roth — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Honda, UK, Celebrities

Newsflash: Television production sounds more glamorous than it really is. Oh sure, there are some that cruise around in conspicuous rides, but most tend to drive workaday cars. It'd be natural to expect the producer of "Rinky-Dink Town Today" on Cable Access would be tooling around in something less than a Mercedes S Class, but the people that make car shows, especially the Top Gear franchise, why, that producer surely drives something outrageously fly, right? Umm... no.

Andy Wilman, producer of the current Top Gear incarnation (and a presenter for the original series), is probably expected to drive something exotic or bombastic like his mates Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May - but that's not how he rolls, apparently. A Honda Jazz (that's a Fit to you, Yankee) is at least a choice that car guys can still get behind, marrying utility and economy with a measure of fun.

Could Top Gear be headed for the same responsible, economical fate with all the new chatter about frugality? Not entirely, the exotics will always be there, and the entertaining road trips will continue to up the hijinks ante, but the show will be filled out by more economically-minded cars in light of the recent economic mood. There's probably more up Wilman's sleeve when it comes to Top Gear development, and he's also got his eye on a new Kia Soul, so it doesn't look like the Zebra's going to change his stripes much any time soon.

[Source: Independent.co.uk]

Top Gear producer drives... a 7 year-old Honda Jazz? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clarkson and BBC team up to take Top Gear global

Noah Joseph — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings/Financials, UK

A new business deal signed between the BBC on the one hand and Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson and producer Andy Wilman on the other could see the vast expansion of the Top Gear brand worldwide. The deal involves BBC Worldwide, the international commercial arm of the government-owned television network, taking a majority stake in Badder 6. The latter is a company set up by Clarkson and Wilman two years ago for reasons unknown, but will now act to channel all revenues from the Top Gear brand back to the BBC, Clarkson and Wilman.

The deal is seen as a necessity to keep Clarkson happy so he'll remain on the show amidst offers from competing networks and producers for the world's most famous automotive journalist. Badder 6, which now includes three top-level BBC Worldwide executives, will be responsible for managing the marketing of Top Gear around the world, including the magazine, the original British television program, the new program for the United States undertaken by NBC, an additional new series for Australia, and all related merchandising opportunities. Now reaping the rewards for his efforts, Clarkson will act in a direct capacity as the figurehead for the Top Gear brand around the world. Although the deal did not involve his co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May, the pair are reported to have secured more lucrative deals themselves in light of Clarkson's new arrangement.

[Source: The Guardian via Inside Line]

Clarkson and BBC team up to take Top Gear global originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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