Warney to host Aussie TopGear? Channel 9 taking over from SBS?

[Captain Stubing]

Here's something new, just off the internet presses!

Link

HE'S known for his love of fast cars, now Australia's spin king Shane Warne will be revving up our TV screens as the host of a new series of Top Gear.

Warne, whose stable of luxury cars includes a head-turning black Lamborghini Superleggera, is set to front a new series with Jeremy Clarkson.

He is believed to be hosting six episodes of the popular motoring show, the Herald Sun reports.

In a TV coup Channel Nine is believed to have snared the rights to the motoring franchise from SBS.

Nine and SBS were both believed to have been in discussions with BBC Worldwide, which owns the rights to the motoring show fronted by Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

First-run episodes of Top Gear regularly top one million viewers on SBS.

Nine has confirmed that it has held discussions with Warne to host Top Gear Australia.

No formal agreement has yet been signed, but he is their pick to host the series.

A Nine source says an agreement is likely to be completed within days.

Channel Nine would not confirm any plans for Top Gear.

No deal has been signed, however a Nine source said an agreement was likely to be completed within days.

Nine CEO David Gyngell has been chasing the rights to Top Gear for eight months and recently spent time in London to lock down a deal.

The role would mark the first TV presenting gig for Warne - who has previously worked in cricket commentating roles.

Warne would be well suited to the hosting gig with his passion for luxury cars well documented. Warne's collection of luxury cars started in 1996 when he bought a Ferrari 355 Spider.

He has since bought another Ferrari - a 360 Spider in titanium - two Mercedes four-wheel-drives, two BMWs, and a Holden VK Commodore. and last year's Lamborghini purchase.

But it hasn't all been smooth sailing for Warne, who made headlines last year when he crashed his Mercedes into a tram.

The Aussie version has had two seasons on SBS, fronted by Steve Pizzati, Warren Brown and this year joined by James Morrison.

[Gaz]

Interesting...

Thinking about it, I think he *could* be an alight host - he can present, but he is also very... how to describe it, ladish?

I wouldn't mind them keeping Steve and Warren but sorry James just didn't sit right to me. Steve and Warren worked well together but I think the writers let them down.

[Bundy]

I so want to get EXCITED!!.....but the inevitable disappointment holds me back

[xr6turbo2005]

just because he spends his money on luxury cars, doesnt mean he knows much about them.

wonder if they could get Eric Bana to host it

[R-Design]

They're finding hard to deliver a verdict on SBS, I don't think being on CH9 will make it easier.

Top Gear Australia presented by Toyota, "today we test drive an Aurion, Camry, Yaris, and Corolla... guess what, they're all fantastic!!!"

[79bluexd]

Top Gear Australia was one of the worst scripted shows i couldn't even watch the first full episode with those guys trying to copy Clarkson and the boys.

Even The Car show with glen ridge is better ....

Better to get 3 race car drivers ... maybe Mark Webber - Mark Skaife - Russel Ingal to host and thrash the cars ...... lol

[4.0i_SiX]

This show is only going to get worse ( somehow )

[Wretched]

I actually enjoyed the second series.
If they do move it to Channel 9 with Warney I wouldn't bother with it. I can't stand Warney (he's a good cricketer but that's it) he knows stuff all about cars and I can't imagine how bad Channel 9 will make the show. Ads, ads and more ads. It will eventually become a marketing tool for the company that pays the most advertising.

[FPV+fteT3]

Originally Posted by Wretched

I actually enjoyed the second series.
If they do move it to Channel 9 with Warney I wouldn't bother with it. I can't stand Warney (he's a good cricketer but that's it) he knows stuff all about cars and I can't imagine how bad Channel 9 will make the show. Ads, ads and more ads. It will eventually become a marketing tool for the company that pays the most advertising.

Would have to agree with this will only be adds for toyota and supercheap interupted by a half assed car show.

[Neeek]

More disappointed with the move to Ch9 than Warnie hosting it. Although it does say that Clarkson's in on it... does that mean that he'll be on it as well?

Personally I like Steve and James but Warren just annoys me. Not as much as the first "host" though - can't even remember his name, thank God. Good call for suggesting getting Eric Bana on there, but somehow I feel he wouldn't have the time these days..!

[Fev]

He has since bought another Ferrari - a 360 Spider in titanium - two Mercedes four-wheel-drives, two BMWs, and a Holden VK Commodore. and last year's Lamborghini purchase.

LOL. Is that supposed to be good? I'm assuming it's probably a HDT special though.

I'm not sure if i'll like Top Gear going to channel 9.. It's getting way too tabloid lately..

Atleast it's not going to Channel 7 though.. That would be a royal stuff up..

[robjh80]

Oh No .. Top Gear going to a Commercial Station!

Here we go ... 20 minutes of actual show and 40 minutes of ads!

[GTP-814]

Originally Posted by robjh80

Oh No .. Top Gear going to a Commercial Station!

Here we go ... 20 minutes of actual show and 40 minutes of ads!

I'm hopefull that 9 has onl,y got the rights to the Aussi version...then I dont care as it is a poor version of the show anyway & your right on the advert front.

Lets hope SBS keep the pommy version then all will be good with the world

[ltd]

Originally Posted by GTP-814

I'm hopefull that 9 has onl,y got the rights to the Aussi version...then I dont care as it is a poor version of the show anyway & your right on the advert front.

Lets hope SBS keep the pommy version then all will be good with the world

I doubt BBC will give various rights to two networks.
9 will get both.
Can you imagine Warne on it?
"Coming up next is lambo driven by stiggo, he'll ya know, go around and caaaawwww, look at the t|ts on that. What's ya mobile number"

Seems to me channel 9 has a twofer, it's also got a bastardised version of "Bogan Pride" in the mix.

[cs123]

Originally Posted by ltd

"Coming up next is lambo driven by stiggo, he'll ya know, go around and caaaawwww, look at the t|ts on that. What's ya mobile number"

How did you get hold of the script?

[Captain Stubing]

Apart from the extra ads, I wonder if Ch9 production will make it worse? Warney might be a competitive driver, being that he's been a successful sportsman... might.

[King Nothing]

Hopefully with Clarkson as a host, it will retain some credibility and won't become an advertising medium for the highest paying manufacturer. Clarkson doesn't seem to be the sort of bloke who will sell out for an Australian TV network.

If Clarkson wasn't in on it, i'd be seriously worried. With Clarkson, I'm just concerned. Fingers crossed.

[chevypower]

Well Jay Leno refused to do it for NBC with the thought that Top Gear cannot be replicated properly on commercial TV. The people paying for the show would either want some positive spin on things or they would stop sponsoring or supporting the show. I wonder if that's what the Australian version would become.

[ltd]

This will be a bad move, and it means that there will be a plethora of ads for channel 9. What worries me more is that SBS losing the rights to it means that we won't get repeats of UK top gear, we won't get 50 minutes of show and 10 mins of ads like SBS shows now, and we won't see the new seasons until 9 finds it opportune to maximise ratings against 7.
I hate channel 9; still the one to murder anything good and then drown us with CSI spin offs.
BTW Shane Warne, what an absolute farce. Imagine all the advanced hair plugs this little troglodyte will fill the show with.

[Swordsman88]

Originally Posted by ltd

This will be a bad move, and it means that there will be a plethora of ads for channel 9. What worries me more is that SBS losing the rights to it means that we won't get repeats of UK top gear, we won't get 50 minutes of show and 10 mins of ads like SBS shows now, and we won't see the new seasons until 9 finds it opportune to maximise ratings against 7.
I hate channel 9; still the one to murder anything good and then drown us with CSI spin offs.
BTW Shane Warne, what an absolute farce. Imagine all the advanced hair plugs this little troglodyte will fill the show with.

Yeah you are probably right LTD. There was a time Channel 9 was half decent. They have fallen a long way from those days....they went down the Ch 7 path in a bid to win ratings. Worst thing you can do is follow trends...you need to lead them. I don't think this will be a good move but i tell ya what, the series wasn't going that great on SBS anyway from a quality standpoint so maybe more money is a good thing RE some of the segments. Biggest problem will be too many ads and do they have th cahones to atcually go against their advertisers....particularly toyota that advertise very heavily but sadly, don't make very good cars...

[Highway]

great if 9 takes over we might get a 10 min aussie top gear YAY not!!

sbs takes on something that on other channel wanted only to get it ripped from them as they taking the *real* channels ratings..

[Zed7fiddy]

Sounds like they are purely marketing the show so as they can show it back to the Poms.... Being a cricket mad nation with the inclusion of clarkson and warney.....

I had high hopes for the show after the last season, though it wasnt perfect it was a million times better then the first season and it had improved immensley! i can only see me watching the next season for clarkson....

[79bluexd]

maybe if we put the V8 supercars onto SBS we will get decent coverage .. lol

[Raptor]

I so hope this news is wrong.

Warney and Channel 9 both make me wanna :

[xe351]

the first line didnt sound right, so i fixed it

Originally Posted by swanny

HE'S known for his love of fast women, now Australia's spin king Shane Warne will be revving up our TV screens as the host of a new series of Top Gear.

Warne, whose stable of luxury chick-pulling cars includes a head-turning black Lamborghini Superleggera, is set to front a new series with Jeremy Clarkson.

[GavL]

Warne was on Fifth Gear a while back, was quite funny because he showed an obvious lack of knowledge for cars :p.

This seems to be the place that all these reports originated from:
http://www.tvseriesgalore.com/blog/?p=2295

[mrbaxr6t]

warne is a fantastic cricketer and thats where it stops, he is a complete d.head pure and simple and I never liked him ever.


GET ERIC BANA

[prydey]

If they move the show to ch9, i'd like to see sam newman host it, or co host it. says it how it is and has been involved in motorsport.

[SilentDave]

Originally Posted by prydey

If they move the show to ch9, i'd like to see sam newman host it, or co host it. says it how it is and has been involved in motorsport.

Sammy sure knows about the cars alright both inside and underside of them

[mrbaxr6t]

if it is a load of plop, why is it on PAGE 2 of some paper, with warne pictured in a car and junk.... whats going on here... trying get name of paper from missus before submitting will edit in later