Paramount Upfront 2024: Paramount gets the keys to Top Gear Australia

Paramount+ and BBC Studios Australia and New Zealand have announced a new Australian version of Top Gear coming to Paramount+ Australia in 2024. BBC Studios' local production arm will produce the series.

The three new hosts joining the series include car enthusiast Blair Joscelyne, Beau Ryan and Jonathan LaPaglia. 

Joscelyne is the co-creator of the popular indie auto YouTube series Mighty Car Mods. With his best mate Marty Mulholland, the independent automotive series began back in 2007, when Marty and Moog started filming videos in Marty's mum's driveway.

Blair said: “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when you get asked to be part of one of the biggest motoring shows in the world. And I will take my job seriously of frying the tyres of any vehicle that the producers are irresponsible enough to hand me the keys to.”

Beau Ryan said: "I'm super excited to be part of such an iconic franchise and can't wait to bring it back to Australia. So, fasten your seatbelts, because this is going to be one hell of a ride!"

Jonathan LaPaglia said: “When Network 10 and BBC Studios asked me if I’d be interested traveling all over the world to test really cool cars and behave like an idiot I said, “Of course I’m interested. Where do I sign? Top Gear is arguably the biggest (and greatest) car show ever and as a massive fan, I used to fantasise about being on it one day as a guest racing the Reasonably Priced Car around their test track. I waited, that call never came. But 20 years later someone at Top Gear HQ screwed up, confused me with someone else, and asked me to be the host of Top Gear Australia? Buckle up, this could get bumpy!”

SVP of content & programming, Paramount Australia & New Zealand, Daniel Monaghan said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with BBC Studios to bring a localised version of the iconic series to Paramount +. Top Gear Australia promises to deliver everything fans love about the show but with an Aussie twist. We can’t wait for Jonathan, Beau and Blair to get behind the wheel of the world’s biggest car entertainment show."

The eight-part series will begin filming later this year.

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