Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May have signed a deal with Amazon to appear on a new show set to rival Top Gear.
It’s thought that Amazon fought off competition from Netflix for the trio after Clarkson was sacked from the BBC for punching a producer.
This morning Jeremy Clarkson tweeted:
I’m very excited to announce that Hammond, May and I have signed a deal with .@AmazonVideo
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 30, 2015
The programme will air in 2016 and will be produced by former Top Gear executive Andy Wilman.
The deal ends months of speculation about where the Top Gear trio would appear next – with Netflix, ITV and Sky all rumoured.
It’s not known how much the deal has cost Amazon – which is expected to show the new programme through its Amazon Prime service – but it’s thought the Top Gear threesome will be given free reign.
Amazon tweeted that it had signed the trio up for three series of the new car show, which won’t be called Top Gear or feature the Stig.
James May added:
Good news! I’ve got a job with @AmazonVideoUK. Bad news! So have the other two. #AmazonPrime #ItSaysHere — James May (@MrJamesMay) July 30, 2015
It’s still not known who will present Top Gear on the BBC alongside Chris Evans. However, Jenson Button is the latest to be tipped.