Rory Reid joins Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc in new show line-up
TOP Gear’s newest presenter, Rory Reid boasts he’s ‘going after’ Jeremy Clarkson as he brandishes two shotguns while smoking a suspicious looking cigarette, in this pic posted on Facebook.
Rory was unveiled as part of the new seven-strong rebooted Top Gear bumper cast alongside Chris Evans, Matt LeBlanc and Formula 1 pundit Eddie Jordan.
Old pictures on Rory’s public Facebook show him holding two shotguns on his shoulder while a suspicious looking cigarette hangs from his mouth.
He captioned the 2012 picture: “yippee ki yay” Bruce Willis’ catchphrase in the Die Hard films.
Friend Robert Follis commented on the snap: “Yikes, you going after Clarkson seriously then?”
Rory responded: “Taking no prisoners, Rob.”
Landing the job on Top Gear was a dream come true for Rory after he applied for the coveted job through public auditions.
He said: “When I submitted my 30-second audition tape, I knew the odds were very firmly against me.
“To be the only person to make it through the open audition process makes me immensely proud.
“I’ve been a Top Gear fan for decades, but more than that, I live and breathe cars in a way that is perfectly compatible with the show.”
After the announcement was made, Rory joked on Twitter: “Took the bins out. Fed my kid breakfast. Became a Top Gear presenter. Standard Thursday.”
This picture is sure to land Rory in hot water with his new bosses as well as embarrass the BBC, who wanted less scandal after drafting in the new line-up to replace Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
They left the show last spring after Jeremy punched producer Oisin Tymon in the face over a row about hot food.
In another incident which is sure to leave Rory red-faced, he said Clarkson, Hammond and May were irreplaceable as presenters.
In response to a tweet in February 2011, he said: “I can’t imagine a change of Top Gear cast. The amount of HATE a newbie would get for replacing one or joining would be insane.”
This is the latest in a long-line of problems for the motoring car show.
Radio 2 presenter Chris was hailed a hero for “rescuing” the BBC2 show, after Clarkson was axed.
But endless problems left executives worried it’s heading towards car-crash telly.
As well as losing the show’s well-respected executive producer after just five months, as well as their script editor Tom Ford, the bosses also had to deal with lead presenter, Evans crashing a brand new Jag and problems pre-recording videos.
They are also having to try to juggle Matt LeBlanc’s hectic schedule. The actor, who is getting £500k for his Top Gear role, is due to start filming the next series of comedy Episodes in April. He has also signed on for a pilot TV show in the States called: “I’m Not Your Friend.”
As well as Rory, German racing driver Sabine Schmitz, YouTuber Chris Harris and The Stig will join Chris Evans, the 48-year-old Friends actor and Formula 1 pundit.
If the show is commissioned for a 13 episode run, Top Gear will have to fit in around his filming commitments.
Top Gear is set to return to screens on May 8.