Amazon gives Clarkson a new set of keys
Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond will present a new car show for Amazon Prime Video after signing a "landmark global TV deal". The programme will air next year and could go head-to-head with the BBC's revamped Top Gear show presented by Chris Evans.Clarkson said of the move away from terrestrial TV: "I feel like I've climbed out of a bi-plane and into a spaceship."Top Gear's former executive producer, Andy Wilman, is also on board, but rights to The Stig remain with the original BBC version.The deal is a coup for Amazon, though the presenters were hamstrung by a clause in their old BBC contracts that prevents them from hosting a motoring show for a UK television channel for the next two years.That clause scuppered their plans to move to the UK's commercial ITV channel.Netflix was also said to be interested in signing them, but Amazon got there first with an offer they couldn't refuse.Details of the trio's pay deal have not been disclosed but Amazon is said to have made "a significant investment".The signing with a private company is believed to be considerably more remunerative for the trio than their contracts with the BBC, a public broadcaster. ..
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