It was the impossible job. How do you replace Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May? You basically don't. But in 2016, the BBC tried anyway. They threw a massive pile of money at a new hosting lineup and hoped the brand name alone would carry the weight. It didn't. Top Gear Series 23 became a fascinating, high-speed car crash of television history that people still argue about today.
Honestly, the vibe was off from day one. Chris Evans—the loud, glasses-wearing radio DJ, not the Captain America one—was at the helm. He was joined by Matt LeBlanc, who most people just knew as Joey from Friends. It was a weird pairing. On paper, it looked like a desperate attempt to grab both British and American audiences, but the chemistry was just non-existent.
The Chris Evans Problem and the Shadow of the Past
When we talk about Top Gear Series 23, we have to talk about the shouting. Chris Evans shouted. A lot. It felt like he was trying to manufacture excitement through sheer volume. Fans who were used to the effortless, bickering chemistry of the previous trio found it grating. It wasn't just the noise, though; it was the feeling that the show was trying too hard to prove it was still "Top Gear." They kept the track. They kept The Stig. They kept the news. But the soul was missing.
Ratings tell a brutal story. The first episode of the season pulled in 4.4 million viewers. By the finale? It had dropped to 1.9 million. That’s a catastrophic slide. You can't lose half your audience in six weeks and call it a success.
There’s this one specific moment in the first episode—a literal tug-of-war between a Reliant Rialto and a Jeep—that felt so scripted it hurt to watch. The old show was scripted too, obviously, but they were better at hiding the seams. In Series 23, the seams were bursting. Evans later stepped down after just one season, admitting that his best wasn't enough. He wasn't wrong. The pressure was immense, and the public's loyalty to the "old" Top Gear was a mountain he couldn't climb.
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Matt LeBlanc: The Unexpected Saving Grace
Funny enough, the guy everyone expected to be the weak link turned out to be the best part. Matt LeBlanc was actually... good? He was laid back. He clearly liked cars. He had this dry, understated humor that worked as a perfect foil to the chaotic energy around him. While Evans was screaming at the camera, LeBlanc was just driving a Nomad through the desert and looking like he was actually having a decent time.
The "Star in a Rallycross Car" segment was another sticking point. They replaced the "Reasonably Priced Car" with a Mini Cooper and a literal dirt track. It was messy. It felt like a local fair attraction rather than the world's biggest car show. People missed the simplicity of the old format.
Rory Reid and Chris Harris: The Real Car Guys
Hidden in the background of Top Gear Series 23 were two guys who should have been the focus from the start. Chris Harris and Rory Reid. Harris was already a legend on YouTube for Chris Harris on Cars. He can drive better than almost anyone on the planet and explain exactly why a differential matters without being boring. Reid brought a fresh, high-energy perspective that felt authentic, not forced.
They were mostly relegated to Extra Gear, the spin-off show on BBC Three, which was a huge mistake. Fans quickly realized that the "B-team" actually knew more about cars and had better chemistry than the main hosts.
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- The Ferrari F12tdf segment: Harris proved he was the real deal here.
- The Mustang vs. Focus RS film: This felt like actual Top Gear.
- The lack of screen time: It took the BBC way too long to realize what they had.
It’s crazy to think about now, but the BBC basically had the solution to their problem sitting in the green room while Evans was struggling to find his footing. By the time they promoted Harris and Reid to main hosts in the following seasons, a huge chunk of the audience had already moved on to The Grand Tour on Amazon.
What Really Happened Behind the Scenes?
Rumors of friction between Evans and LeBlanc were everywhere. Tabloids were obsessed with the idea that they didn't get along. While they both downplayed it, the lack of on-screen "spark" made the rumors easy to believe. If you watch the season back, they rarely seem to be in the same room for long. It feels disjointed. Like two different shows edited together.
The production values were still sky-high. The cinematography was gorgeous. But you can have the most beautiful 4K footage of a supercar in the world, and if the guy talking about it is annoying you, you're going to change the channel. That's the core lesson of Top Gear Series 23. It’s a personality-driven show, not a car-driven show.
Comparing the Numbers
| Episode | UK Viewers (Millions) | Main Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4.41 | Nomad vs. Ariel |
| 2 | 2.80 | McLaren 675LT |
| 3 | 2.37 | Audi R8 V10 Plus |
| 4 | 2.34 | Aston Martin Vulcan |
| 5 | 2.30 | Rolls-Royce Dawn |
| 6 | 1.90 | Ford Mustang |
Look at that drop after episode one. A loss of 1.6 million people in seven days. That is a "clear the building" level of panic for a network executive.
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Is It Worth Rewatching?
If you're a car enthusiast, parts of it are actually great. Specifically, anything involving Chris Harris. His review of the Aston Martin Vulcan is a masterclass in automotive journalism. He treats the car with the respect (and slight terror) it deserves.
But the "challenges"? They felt like pale imitations of the Clarkson era. The trip to Blackpool in roofless Reliants was supposed to be iconic. Instead, it just looked cold and miserable in a way that wasn't particularly funny. The "Best of British" theme felt forced. It lacked the genuine irreverence that made the show a global phenomenon in the first place.
Most people skip this season when they’re binging the show on iPlayer or streaming services. I get it. It’s the "awkward phase." But it’s an important part of the timeline. Without the failure of Top Gear Series 23, we wouldn't have gotten the much better LeBlanc/Harris/Reid era, or the later McGuinness/Flintoff/Harris era which finally found its own identity.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you are looking back at this era of television, there are some real-world takeaways here, whether you're a media student or just a gearhead.
- Chemistry can't be bought. You can hire the biggest stars in the world, but if they don't click, the audience will smell it.
- Don't ignore your niche experts. Chris Harris was the "internet guy" who ended up being the backbone of the entire franchise for the next decade.
- Format changes need a "Why." Changing the star car or the track just for the sake of change usually backfires.
- Authenticity beats volume. Shouting doesn't make a segment exciting; passion and knowledge do.
To truly understand the evolution of modern car media, you have to watch at least a few episodes of this season. It's a textbook example of how a massive brand can stumble when it loses its identity. Watch the Harris segments on YouTube if you want the highlights, but skip the studio banter if you want to keep your sanity.
Check out the Chris Harris review of the Ferrari F12tdf from Episode 2. It’s widely considered the moment the "new" show finally found its footing, even if it was only for ten minutes. Then, compare it to a modern episode of The Grand Tour to see how the two paths diverged.