The Herald Sun has reported today that SBS are looking to produce a “quintessentially Australian” version of BBC’s Top Gear motoring program. Australia is the first country in the world to secure the rights to a local version of the hit motoring show.

“This is fantastic news for SBS, for Top Gear fans and for Australian audiences. Top Gear is a unique show and one of the BBC Worldwide’s biggest global properties,” said SBS director of content Matt Campbell.

Top Gear has only be a worldwide hit in relatively recent times, thanks largely to the trio of presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May whose antics, banter and personalities have garnered a massive worldwide following. The idea of an Aussie version is at first a cause for some concern but if there is one channel to actually pull a rabbit out of the motoring program hat then it will be SBS.

“In making it we won’t simply replicate the UK series with an Australian version of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond or James May,” said Matt Campbell.

Thank god for that. It’s time for a new personality in the motoring scene not just another Clarkson rehash. Australia could and should produce the next hit motoring show, just leave Glenn Ridge and Michael Stahl in the audience.

The series will be produced by Freehand Productions, BBC Worldwide’s Australasian partner, which will transmit on SBS in 2008

[Source: Herald Sun]