Amazon Hires Ex-Top Gear Hosts for New Show

Amazon Prime Video is going to be the surprise new home of ex-Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

The company has signed the trio for three 12 episode seasons so far.

The programme is scheduled to go on air next year and is expected to go head to head with BBC's revamped Top Gear which will now feature Chris Evans.

Fans will be required to sign up for the show which may cost them $99 for the streaming service in the US.

Clarkson changed his Twitter bio to "I am a presenter on an Amazon motoring show" and said of the move away from terrestrial television: "I feel like I've climbed out of a bi-plane and into a spaceship."

May added, "We have become part of the new age of smart TV. Ironic, isn't it?"

Hammond joked, "Amazon? Oh, yes. I've already been there. I got bitten by a bullet ant."

Andy Wilman, former executive producer of Top Gear will also be part of the new show.

Talking about the new broadcast service, Wilman says, "Everyone we have talked to has said to us, 'They leave you alone to make your show.'

"That's a big one for us - we don't like interference. We don't need to be policed."

In a separate interview with Radio Times, he said: "No-one telling us what we can and can't do, just us hopefully producing great programmes - it feels really liberating."

Jay Marine, vice president of Amazon Prime Video EU, said: "Customers told us they wanted to see the team back on screen, and we are excited to make that happen.

"Millions of Prime members are already enjoying our ground-breaking original shows. We can't wait to see what Jeremy, Richard, James and the team will create in what is sure to be one of the most globally anticipated shows of 2016.