BBC Allegedly Wanted Clarkson, May, or Hammond Removed from Top Gear Over ‘Too White’ Line-Up

Inside a Controversial Push for Change

Former Top Gear producer Andy Wilman has claimed that BBC executives once considered removing one of the show’s iconic presenters — Jeremy Clarkson, James May, or Richard Hammond — over concerns that the programme’s lineup was “too white.”

The revelation comes from Wilman’s new memoir, which offers a behind-the-scenes look at the tensions between Top Gear’s creative team and BBC management during the show’s most successful years.

The Diversity Debate Behind the Scenes

According to Wilman, senior BBC figures proposed replacing one of the three hosts with a younger presenter from a Black or Asian background, despite the trio’s global popularity and unmatched chemistry.

At the height of its success, Top Gear reached 350 million viewers worldwide, making it one of the BBC’s biggest international exports.

Wilman writes that he was called into a meeting with executives, who initially shared what they described as “tremendous news” — that the show was attracting young Black and Asian audiences. However, the tone shifted when one executive suggested that the programme should therefore “replace one of your line-up with a young Black or Asian presenter.”

Wilman Pushes Back

Wilman recalled challenging the suggestion directly. He argued that these diverse audiences had “chosen, seemingly quite happily, to watch three white, middle-class, middle-aged men” — and that changing the dynamic could backfire.

He reportedly asked whether it wouldn’t be “patronising to young Black and Asian viewers” to assume they required representation to enjoy the show.

In his book, Wilman notes that his response effectively ended the conversation, describing it as “checkmate” because he had “managed to get ‘patronising’ and ‘ethnic diversity’ into the same sentence.”

The trio — Clarkson, Hammond, and May — ultimately stayed together until 2015, when they departed the BBC and later reunited under Amazon Prime’s The Grand Tour.

BBC Concerns Date Back to the Beginning

Wilman also reveals that BBC management had expressed concerns about the show’s lack of diversity from the very beginning.

When he proposed bringing James May on board in 2003, executives initially resisted, worrying that Top Gear would have “three white, middle-aged males” hosting the programme.

Wilman said the management preferred a “chalk and cheese” dynamic — meaning a contrasting mix of personalities or backgrounds — but he successfully argued that “cheese and cheese” partnerships could work just as well, citing the success of other duo shows like Trinny and Susannah.

A Show That Redefined Motoring Television

Despite these early objections, the decision to keep the trio together proved to be one of the most successful moves in television history. Clarkson, Hammond, and May’s chemistry transformed Top Gear into a cultural phenomenon, blending high-octane stunts with humour, personality clashes, and cinematic production values.

Their on-screen rapport helped the show transcend motoring enthusiasts to become mainstream entertainment, appealing to viewers of all backgrounds.

Legacy and Reflection

Andy Wilman’s revelations highlight the ongoing debate within broadcasting institutions about diversity, authenticity, and audience expectations. While he acknowledges the importance of inclusion, Wilman suggests that representation must never come at the cost of breaking what works.

As he writes in his memoir, the Top Gear phenomenon succeeded not because of its demographic balance, but because of its chemistry, honesty, and shared enthusiasm for adventure and cars.

“Sometimes, the magic of television isn’t about ticking boxes,” he reflects, “it’s about the people who make audiences laugh, argue, and keep watching week after week.”