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‘Top Gear’ reportedly cruising to German TV

British motoring TV show Top Gear has become a worldwide phenomenon with it unique blend of cars, humour and antics. Now there are reports that a German broadcaster will try to ape its success.

Published: 11 February 2015 12:01 CET

'Top Gear' reportedly cruising to German TV

Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. Photo: DPA

Focus reported that RTL is the broadcaster behind the supposed plans, although a spokesman would neither confirm nor deny that it was developing a programme, saying only “we're developing and piloting a lot of things”.

A spokesman for the BBC, which produces the original version of Top Gear, said on Wednesday that they were unable to confirm whether a German version was being planned.

Sources told Focus that the new project was not a simple dubbing of the British version of the show – already broadcast on men's lifestyle channel DMAX – but a specially-produced show for the German market.

Matthias Malmedie, presenter of RTL's motoring show GRIP. Photo: DPA

RTL already has a highly-successful car show, “GRIP”, broadcast on RTL 2 and hosted by racing driver Matthias Malmedie.

But none of German television's plethora of car shows has quite the character of Top Gear, which is loved by fans for its irreverent humour and forays into Monty Python-style wackiness.

That particularly British blend might be tough to replicate for German tastes, although viewers here would be certain to love the regular segment in which celebrities are invited to drive around the programme's test track in ordinary cars.

The news follows reports last year that the BBC would create a French version of the show.

SEE ALSO: East-West spy drama to get American debut

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Norwegian reality show introduces sexual consent rule for contestants

The show has introduced on-screen consent requirements. Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash

Contestants in the latest series of Paradise Hotel, which aired on Monday night, will require contestants to demonstrate on-screen with a thumbs up to the camera that they consent to any sexual activity.

“We were told from day one that if we were to have sex, we had to consent with a thumbs up to the camera from both parties,” Stian Trulsen, a contestant on the hit reality series, told newspaper VG.

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Earlier this year, it was alleged that a male contestant abused two female participants on the Swedish edition of the show. Swedish prosecuting authorities are investigating the alleged abuse.

Christian Meinseth, program manager for production company Nent which makes the show, said the new rules weren’t directly introduced because of what happened on the Swedish programme.

“No, but we have, of course, worked with the series and looked at our practices around the format, so we ensure that Paradise Hotel is both a good watch and fun to be a participant in,” Meinseth told VG.

“We are very concerned about the participants’ safety, and we have not had any challenges around the new rules,” Meinseth added.

The program manager added that the production company wanted the show to reflect a more modern approach to sex.

“At the same time, we are also careful to monitor language use and how the participants describe each other. Everyone should show respect for each other, and there will be more focus on the game itself. Viewers can look forward to an exciting and entertaining season,” he said.

The 15th season of the show, which has been on Norwegian tv screens since 2009, will also include a “paradise talents” week where there is a focus on inner values as part of several on-screen and off-screen measures to try and promote more healthy sexual relationships.

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