Top Gear's James May to host brand new BBC motoring show

 
New show: James May will host a brand new BBC motoring show (Picture: STEFAN HEUNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
STEFAN HEUNIS/AFP/Getty
Jennifer Ruby19 June 2015
The Weekender

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James May will front a brand new BBC motoring show after stepping down from his role on Top Gear.

The presenter will team up with Kate Humble to host the new programme Building Cars Live, which will focus on the manufacturing of cars and the motoring industry as a whole.

BBC bosses have confirmed that May has signed up for two 90-minute episodes, looking at the history of car production and showing how a new car is built every 67 seconds.

Kim Shillinglaw, BBC Two controller, said: "Broadcasting live from the car factory is a really exciting way to reveal the science, engineering and expertise behind the cars on our roads."

May and former co-host Richard Hammond reportedly stepped down from their roles at Top Gear after Jeremy Clarskon's dismissal following a 'fracas' with a producer.

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While Chris Evans has now been confirmed as the show's new host, Clarkson has claimed that he was recently offered his old job back by show bosses.

He told The Sun: "I had a meeting with a BBC executive last week and they asked if I’d come back to Top Gear.

“But it was never an option, even with the one million people signing the Bring Back Clarkson petition – for which I was extremely humbled.”

He continued: “Too much has gone on. After I’d been compared to Jimmy Savile by someone from the BBC and it was splashed all over a Sunday newspaper, how could I go back?

“The spotlight would have been on me and the show would end up being neutered."

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