Shane Warne To Host Top Gear Australia, Move To Nine Network Possible: Report

AUSTRALIAN CRICKETER Shane Warne is reportedly gearing up to host six episodes of Top Gear Australia.

Reports this morning suggest that Channel Nine is in discussions with BBC Worldwide to snatch Top Gear Australia from current rights holder SBS, and Warne has been confirmed as Nine's top choice to host the show.

Representatives for the Nine network have reportedly confirmed that talks with Warne are underway as part of the network's bid to secure rights to the show's next season.

An agreement is expected to be reached in the coming week.

Hosted by Steve Pizzati, Warren Brown and James Morrison - who succeeded Charlie Cox this year - the Australian version of the popular British television icon is the SBS network's most popular local production, averaging around 600,000 viewers.

SBS is understood to have been negotiating a third season of Top Gear Australia with BBC Worldwide for some months, but an announcement has yet to be made.

A move to Nine would see the brand moved under the PBL Media banner, where both the international and local versions of the Top Gear magazine are managed.

An experienced presenter with his past roles as a cricket commentator, the Top Gear Australia gig would be Warne's first dedicated on-screen role.

As a highly-paid sports star, Warne has owned a number of high-end cars, including a Ferrari 360, Mercedes-Benz four-wheel-drives, a pair of BMWs, and, not so high-end, but speaking to Warne's 'Aussie' personality: a Holden VK Commodore.

[news.com.au]