Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Top Gear

Ben Collins can't drive



I think Evans will be good for the show. He has shown genuine enthusiasm at Car Fest and even asked us to drive round Oulton last year (because we were 'quiet' and there is a noise reg relating to Sunday mornings).

Latest quotes say there WILL be a female co-presenter so Jodie or Sabine ( ) - I suspect Suzie would not want to give up the global life of F1?

Cheers

I have likewise had many valued female colleagues who would have hated any concessions being made for them. The times have changed for the better.

It is not a case of wanting to return to the 1950's but a case wanting, say cricket commentary on male cricket, carried out by people who have played the game or who have mixed with the players for years. As a union representaive in my early years I fought for equal pay and rights for women. Later, as a chartered engineer, I mentored female engineers who, without exception, were as good as, or better, than their male counter parts. I object to so called "balance" at every twist and turn. I see on the BBC website that Top Gear is not gauranteed to have a female presenter. Hurrah.

While I have no problem with a (gorgeous and sexy) female presenter, choosing an unsuitable lady simply because they need to have a woman would be a bit daft.

Sorry to say - in my career - there was a huge 'positive discrimination' in favour of women and while many of them were great and still are, a lot of them were selected for the wrong reasons and promoted above their ability or commitment. I think this is what John is alluding to... some sort of quota system as is now being proposed for High Tech Boards of Directors (whether or not qualified individuals in the right number exist).

My daughter aged 12 is soon to leave a school where all the girls do ballet and gymnastics, the boys do football and rugby and cricket, and the culture is ridiculously out of date. Many of the girls would already not dream of an engineering career or similar which is a terrible shame and think it's cool not to be good at maths or science. But forcing women into unsuitable jobs because of a quota is nearly as daft as perpetuating traditional stereotypes in little old middle England.

Oh, and by the way, only about 1 in 10 of the mothers at this school have salaried jobs, most drive Land or Range Rovers of one sort or another, most have personal trainers, private medicine and 5 holidays a year. Makes me cringe this spoilt and inconsistent society of ours. Off to the club now for a G&T before Tiffin...

Angela Rippon is available I believe for Top Gear (but for her that's Fourth.

I wonder if Stig will be in the new TG?
Could Stig change sex?
Would they need Stig? If they don't want a fast lap test of a car in a new format program then he may have to return home.
As for a female presenter.........doesn't worry me either way. The ability to do a good job is what counts and we are likely to move away from the adolescent boys style with new presenters.
VBH can drive and is capable of presenting views so perhaps she could replace Stig?
Just have to wait and see.

I quite enjoy having a female at every twist and turn, in fact I think it's obligatory

I quite like the idea of two Stigs. Either twin Stigs or one black (old Stig), one white (new Stig). It would be better for testing two cars together.


My daughter, (now aged 32) went to a middle performing Comprehensive, where posh cars could be counted on the fingers of one hand. I'm a 'frustrated engineer', but MissW obviously inherited my liking of science and maths. With a bit of guidance while at school - (me being a parent Governor did no harm) - she got a PhD and is an engineer with Rolls Royce. There are one or two women in the team, but not many. She loves it.

I hope they take this opportunity of thinking up a completely and exciting format, I got so tired of the old TG that I gave up watching two years ago, those stupid fixed races, and silly fixed stunts were just so easy to see through.

We don't just want the same old thing with new faces, let's have something new, please.

Not William Woollard then?

You mean you don't like programmes about caravans !