BBCS’s ‘Top Gear’ motors across Nordics with remake deal

Top Gear UK

BBC Studios’ long-running motoring show Top Gear is being remade across the Nordics as part of a three-country deal with Discovery Networks.

Banijay Group’s Nordisk Film TV will produce the three versions for viewers in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, with the shows set to air in 2020. Discovery Networks Nordics’ Kanal 5 will be the home of the Danish and Swedish versions, while TVNorge will host the Norwegian remake.

Each version will feature local talent, with Norway’s Top Gear starring stunt driver Fredric Aasbø, musician and TV personality Esben ‘Dansken’ Selvig and TV host and vintage car collector Petter Schjerven.

Sweden’s presenter line-up includes a Speedway World Champion Tony Rickardsson who will be joined by actor, comedian, musician Marko Lethosalo and TV personality Adam Alsing. In Denmark, TV host and car enthusiast Felix Smith features, with actor Dar Salim (Game of Thrones) and former race car driver Jesper Carlsen.

The show, like the original UK version that airs on the BBC, will feature stunts, challenges, road trips and competitions. BBCS, which sells both the UK series and format rights, claims the show has a global audience of around 350 million people. It has previously sold to over 200 territories around the world, with local versions produced in China, South Korea, USA, Australia, Russia, Italy and France.

Eivind Landsverk, Nordic programme director at Discovery Networks Nordics, said: “Our mission at Discovery is to power people’s passion, and auto is one of our core fields of entertainment. That said, the magic of Top Gear lies in the show’s ability to attract not only the motor and engine superfans, but also those who do not know the difference between a Lada and a Lamborghini.”

Jan Salling, head of BBC Studios Nordics, formats & productions: “To have one local version of Top Gear land in the Nordics is exciting but three at once takes it to another level.”

Peter Hansen, chief creative officer at Banijay Nordics, added: “Building on our existing partnership with BBC Studios Nordics and relationship with Discovery Networks Nordics, we look forward to adding our own spin to the brand to fuel three new must-watch series.”

Top Gear‘s UK version is into its 27th season and is now fronted by Chris Harris and new presenters Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff. It premiered on BBC Two in June with a peak audience of 2.8 million viewers.