Top Gear hopeful Ant Anstead crashed out of hosting Chris Evans’ cursed show after £85,000 Mercedes prang
CHRIS EVANS’ reign over Top Gear had many car-crash moments in its brief run, but there was a major one he couldn’t be blamed for.
It was all to do with his television rival ANT ANSTEAD.
Producers wanted JAMES MAY’s mate Ant, right, to join the team after the departure of James, JEREMY CLARKSON and RICHARD HAMMOND.
After a 12-week audition process, Ant was within touching distance of the job until he wrote-off a Merc in a screen test at Surrey’s Dunsfold Aerodrome.
He said: “I was asked to take around the track an AMG C63 Mercedes estate. This is a brand-new car worth around £85,000. It’s fantastic — very fast and everything you want in a car.
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“Unfortunately I fluffed it and got it a bit wrong. I came off the track and the car hit the tyre wall full on the side.”
He admits to “having to swallow some pride” after the mishap.
Ant is now the host of Channel 4’s upcoming new teatime show The World’s Most Expensive Cars.
The programme, which begins on April 30, will see him help motor-specialist auction house RM Sotheby track down rare cars to sell, including a Ferrari worth up to £25million.
It’s C4’s attempt to pull in their own legion of petrolheads following the Beeb’s Top Gear and Amazon’s The Grand Tour.
CHRIS HARRIS eventually took the spot on the show that Ant was going for and is now one of a trio of presenters alongside MATT LEBLANC and RORY REID.
READ ON FOR THE REST OF DAN WOOTTON'S BIZARRE COLUMN
Mr A v Mrs B
I HOPE PETER ANDRE has been hitting the gym – he won’t want to lose to Mrs Brown in an arm wrestle.
Mrs Brown’s glasses came off during the mayhem.
The final episode of the chat show, tomorrow at 9.20pm, also features GARETH MALONE, NICK KNOWLES and STEPS. Mrs Brown tells the pop group: “I thought you were dead.”
They are most certainly not.
Biz Bit
JO BRAND will return to host Bake Off spin-off Extra Slice on Channel 4, saying: “As a completely mediocre baker myself, but lover of all things spongy and tarty, I am really looking forward to another Extra Slice and all the fun and frolics.”
Laura's up for Downton tour
HALF the joy of Downton Abbey was all the extravagant costumes the cast wore.
And now fans will be able to inspect them more closely.
LAURA CARMICHAEL, who played Lady Edith Crawley, has confirmed my story that they are being put into a touring exhibition.
I told last week how scripts and props would also be included in the showcase of the ITV period drama, which ended back in 2015.
Talking at Parkinson’s UK’s fundraiser Symfunny No2 at London’s Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday, the actress said: “They are doing an exhibition, I know that.
“I think you’ll be able to see costumes and things which I think will be really exciting because they are works of art.”
The tour is sure to please fans, especially as any Downton film appears to be a way off.
She said: “We haven’t seen a script yet. If it happens it would be marvellous.
“We all still really love each other and we are still very proud of the work that we’ve done.”
Biz Bit
PAUL HOLLYWOOD has a new series on Channel 4, tracking his progress from working in his father’s bakery to his TV fame. A Baker’s Life will give viewers an insight into Paul’s background as well as showcasing his culinary talents.
David's virtual debut
HE’S the king of natural history programmes – and now fans can enjoy a one-to-one session with SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH as he launches the world’s first virtual-reality museum.
The project will see Sir David as a 3D hologram, guiding VR viewers around the Natural History Museum in London for the Hold The World interactive experience.
It also gives viewers the chance to get “hands on” with rare specimens from the museum’s world-famous collections, while wearing the virtual-reality headset.
Sir David said: “I enjoy helping people to discover more about the natural world, and Hold The World offers a unique opportunity to examine rare objects, some millions of years old, up close.
“It is an extraordinary new step in how people can explore nature, all from the comfort of their own homes, and I am delighted to be able to help users uncover some of the treasures the Natural History Museum has to offer in a thrilling new way.”
Sir David has never let us down yet.
Biz Bit
THERE’S Towie trouble this weekend as AMBER TURNER and ex JAMIE REED row over rumours she wants to rekindle their romance after her split from DAN EDGAR. A TV insider said: “Jamie couldn’t get a word in. It was explosive.”
Soapbox
THERE’s shock on the cobbles as Adam is arrested for the attempted murder of Ken in CORONATION STREET.
Peter, Daniel and Tracy are all flabbergasted by the move.
Adam sweats when cops reveal they’ve found his fingerprints on the kitchen worktops that were only fitted on the night of the attack.
In EMMERDALE, Chrissie comes up with a cunning plan.
She is worried as Lachlan remains distant so gives Leyla a cash incentive to include him in a business deal.
But it’s uncertain how he will react to his mum’s meddling.
This has all the signs of a huge family bust-up.