Paramount+ and BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand have announced a new Australian version of Top Gear, the series known for its adrenaline-fuelled adventures and outrageous challenges, to stream in 2024.
The series will be produced by BBC Studios local production arm. The hosts for the Australian version of the show will be Blair Joscelyne, Beau Ryan and Jonathan LaPaglia.
Joscelyne, the co-creator of the popular indie YouTube series Mighty Car Mods, said: ‘I will take my job seriously of frying the tyres of any vehicle that the producers are irresponsible enough to hand me the keys to.’
Beau Ryan said: ‘I’m super excited to be part of such an iconic franchise and can’t wait to bring it back to Australia. So, fasten your seatbelts, because this is going to be one hell of a ride.’
Actor Jonathan LaPaglia said: ‘When Network 10 and BBC Studios asked me if I’d be interested in
traveling all over the world to test really cool cars and behave like an idiot I said, “Of course I’m interested. Where do I sign?”
‘Top Gear is arguably the biggest (and greatest) car show ever and as a massive fan, I used to fantasise being on it one day as a guest racing the Reasonably Priced Car around their test track. I waited, that call never came. But 20 years later someone at Top Gear HQ screwed up, confused me with someone else, and asked me to be a host of Top Gear Australia.’
SVP Content & Programming, Paramount Australia & New Zealand, Daniel Monaghan said: ‘We are thrilled to be partnering with BBC Studios to bring a localised version of the iconic series to Paramount +. Top Gear Australia promises to deliver everything fans love about the show but with an Aussie twist. We can’t wait for Jonathan, Beau and Blair to get behind the wheel of the world’s biggest car entertainment show.
The eight-part series starts filming later this year.