The Open Letter: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May

The Open Letter is a semi-regular feature on MattDowse Live!

Dear Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.

So the grand tour premiered a couple months ago, and I think we can all admit it’s significantly better than the bbc’s motoring output for 2016. The shows good, and it’s great to see a high budget really being used well by the crew.

My issue however, is with the overall tone and direction. Richard Hammond ofcourse got in trouble for his comment that ice cream is a gay thing. You three are no strangers to controversy, but this time it wasn’t even earned. The joke wasn’t that funny. What’s more, is that I’m not even sure Hammond came up with it? It didn’t feel like the style of humour that we got with old top gear. I’m all for dark and offensive humour, I think that’s some of the best comedy, but this line felt like it was written by a writing team.

That’s my major issue with the grand tour. I want to love this show, I really do, but the scripting is just ridiculous now. I don’t feel like any of the films are really showing you guys having fun. I’m sure you are, but when the setup is so similar; one of you makes a film and the others gatecrash EVERY SINGLE WEEK? That doesn’t work. Be yourselves. You’re funny enough to do that, but it feels like top gear by committee, and then makes me doubt every other, possibly natural part of the show.

The Namibia special was awesome. You three suffered, but previous weeks had left me totally doubting that i could believe what I was seeing. Clarkson getting arrested in the Stuttgart episode is a funny gag, but it’s a sketch. The film in episode 2 was a sketch. You guys don’t need to try to be funny, it comes naturally.

#radio