The BBC has announced a brand new show known as Extra Gear that will give Top Gear fans a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes.
Extra Gear will be hosted by Top Gear newbie Rory Reid and will ‘bring fans exclusive new footage, interviews, specially recorded films and behind the scenes access to Top Gear‘, the BBC revealed.
The show will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer and BBC Three’s web page straight after each Top Gear episode finishes on BBC Two. It was commissioned by BBC Three and BBC Worldwide.
BBC Worldwide said it will distribute Extra Gear to a number of international broadcasters, including BBC Brit and BBC America.
Reid, who is also the editor-in-chief of Recombu.com, said: “Extra Gear is hugely exciting. The Top Gear fans are some of the keenest in the world and with this show I’m giving them a chance to really get a peek behind the curtain.”
“I’m looking forward to showing them how the show is made and what goes on behind the scenes, giving viewers a different perspective on some of the coolest cars on the planet,” he added.
BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh: “Top Gear has always been a favourite with BBC Three fans so I’m delighted we can give them something new and innovative from BBC Three. BBC Three will allow fans to get closer to the Top Gear action and feel part of the show.”
Reid became one of the six new Top Gear presenters in the revamped show after submitting a 30-second video to the public audition process. The father-of-two has been a journalist for 18 years, originally writing about technology, video games and computers before moving into the automotive world.
In the Extra Gear announcement, the BBC confirmed Top Gear will launch at the end of May 2016 on a Sunday night, although a specific date and time remain unclear.
BBC Three was the first television channel in the world to go online as part of government-enforced cost cutting. It is aimed at viewers aged between 16 and 34 and has a focus on British comedy and drama.
Jeremy Clarkson’s rival motoring show, which is still unnamed, will air later in 2016 on Amazon Prime.
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