Just weeks after Freddie Flintoff, Chris Harris and Paddy McGuiness reunited for their second series together hosting Top Gear, it’s been reported the show will be moving to a primetime slot on BBC One for the first time in its 18 year history.
Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond first presented the show when it began in 2002 until they left for their Amazon Primes series The Grand Tour in 2015.
Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc took over hosting duties before stepping down and being replaced by Freddie, Chris and Paddy.
Now, Deadline has reported the popular series will be switching channels after BBC director of content Charlotte Moore was impressed with its performance amongst younger viewers.
Freddie, Chris and Paddy attracted an average of 3.8 million viewers with their first season.
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This was 1.5 million more on average than Matt’s final series the year before.
Top Gear returned last month with 4.2 million viewers which is a promising start for the motoring series.
BBC is yet to confirm the move but it is expected the next season will broadcast later this year on BBC One.
Express.co.uk has contacted the BBC for comment.
The shake-up comes after former executive producer Andy Wilman revealed he and Jeremy decided against moving the series to BBC One in the past.
He told Deadline: “We never went to BBC One, we always wanted to be big dog on BBC Two.”
Before the latest series aired, Chris spoke press including Express.co.uk about changing the show’s format slightly.
Instead of having guests on the show each week, viewers will get to see more of the presenters out on the road.
He explained: “More of the same. Good mixture of outlandish ridiculous stuff, some slightly rigorous car chasing.
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“Probably more electric cars because that’s where the world’s going.”
“Every episode doesn’t have a guest in this new series because we want to let the film’s play a little bit,” he continued.
“If you’re going to places like Peru, and what you want to see a little bit of that so we’ll have a guest every other episode.”
Meanwhile, last night’s instalment of Top Gear was slammed by fans over a Richard Hammond reference.
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The episode saw Chris race the 250mph McLaren Speedtail against an RAF fighter jet – similar to a task Richard did in 2007.
Paddy remarked: ”Now back in 2007, on this very programme you may remember Richard Hammond raced a very fast car against an RAF fighter jet.
“That fast car was a Bugatti Veyron. And it lost. But as you can see, things have moved on in the last 13 years and I thought it was time for a rematch.”
One fan commented on Twitter: “Since the ‘famous’ three left @BBC_TopGear, it’s just constant rehashing of what they did but with a new crew yet again. Basically, same song but different singers.”
Top Gear continues Sunday on BBC Two at 8pm.
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