With over 200 episodes since it first aired in 2002, Top Gear has gone on to become one of the most popular and entertaining UK shows of all time. Motor enthusiasts have loved the show for the detail and news on the latest cars, while others have simply enjoyed the comedic aspect and the tasks that the hosts end up going through in each episode.
While it's obviously the cars, challenges, and amazing roads that are highlighted (which make the show what it is), the hosts themselves are what makes Top Gear the amazing show that it has become. Over the years, there have been 12 different people who have stepped up into that role for a period of time, but out of them all, who has been the greatest?
Jason Dawe (2002)
A lot of Top Gear fans may not even know who Jason Dawe is, and it's not a big surprise, as he was the weakest host that the show has had (to this point). Jason was actually part of the original lineup for the show. However, he was quickly replaced.
Jason wasn't someone who pushed the entertainment side of things as much as later hosts would do. Instead, he was a factual host. His information was always great, but the show has always been at its best in blending comedy with the facts.
Chris Evans (2016)
Another host that didn't last long on the show was radio DJ Chris Evans. He was brought in when Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson, and James May were let go, putting him in a hard spot. However, despite him appearing on the show several times during the Clarkson, Hammond, and May era, something just didn't click with him in this leading position.
While it was clear that Evans had a major passion for cars, and he had plenty of information to provide, he never fit in well in the entertainment side of things. He could give as many facts as possible while he drove around, but when it came to gripping an audience in a story or making people laugh, he typically fell short.
Eddie Jordan (2016–2018)
Eddie Jordan was only used as a semi-regular presenter, so he didn't have as big of a mark on the show as some of the other hosts. He is someone who already had a connection with the motor world due to his work with Formula 1, and that meant that his knowledge was always a great addition to the show.
He had a larger-than-life personality, and because of that, it made sense that he would be brought into the mix, as the series needed some energy at that point. However, Eddie Jordan never felt like a natural fit in the series.
Rory Reid (2016–2019)
Rory Reid was another host who had a lot of energy to provide the show, and, a lot of the time, he was presented as the young, upcoming host against Chris Harris and Matt LeBlanc. Typically, he was seen as someone who could provide a lot of comedy but wasn't quite as wise about the facts as others, although that wasn't actually the case.
However, as his time on the show went on, Rory ended up being pushed further out of the frame. He was often not involved in the big challenges, and that is the area where the hosts are able to shine the most. Nevertheless, Rory will still end up being remembered fondly by fans.
Matt LeBlanc (2016–2019)
There was tons of excitement surrounding Matt LeBlanc joining Top Gear, simply due to who he is and what he'd achieved in his career already by that point. With his acting background, Matt was always going to be a natural at the challenges.
However, inside the studio, he wasn't quite as entertaining as some of the other hosts in Top Gear history and his rumored friction with Evans didn't help this in the beginning. Still, his knowledge and passion for cars were unparalleled, and that allowed him to be a hit in the role.
Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff (2019–)
Adding Andrew Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness in 2019 felt like the last roll of the dice for Top Gear, but it's one that really worked out. The former cricketer has become a successful television host in recent years, and the fact he's so relatable is what made him a great presenter for the show.
Flintoff has great chemistry with both McGuinness and Chris Harris, and the jokes that he provides throughout the show make him one of the best hosts there has ever been. He says things honestly and openly, and that has proven to be a refreshing change.
Paddy McGuinness (2019–)
Paddy McGuinness has always been a born television host, and that has been crystal clear since he joined the Top Gear cast. He brings a great amount of comedy to the show, which has brought the entertainment factor back to the series that it had been missing for some time.
Paddy throws himself headfirst into every situation and that provides an amazing level of fun for the viewers. However, he's not just there for jokes, as he also brings tons of knowledge as well, making him well-rounded.
James May (2002–2015)
James May was part of the most popular trio to have hosted the show, and that group will always go down as the best overall set of hosts. However, James felt like the weakest of that trio, often being the butt of the jokes for others, although he was positioned that way.
He was nicknamed "Captain Slow" as he became known for not racing as much as others and taking things steady. James brought a great sarcastic tone to the show, and he always looked at things from a serious standpoint, which worked out well in balance with his co-hosts.
Chris Harris (2016–)
Chris Harris has been a fantastic addition to the series and he is a host who feels like he would have fit in perfectly with the main trio that everyone associates with Top Gear. Chris has the perfect balance between entertainment and factual information, and in the current setup, he is often the one providing a lot of the information and analysis.
That's what makes him such a great host because he's not just there to spout facts. He will also get involved in the jokes, he will engage well with the other hosts, and unlike the original trio, the jokes tend to be shared around a lot more with this group, giving Chris a level playing field, which helps him feel just as important.
Sabine Schmitz (2016–2020)
Sabine Schmitz is the only woman to have hosted Top Gear, and she did a great job at it. While she wasn't involved in the show as much as some of the other hosts, every time she appeared, Sabine made a big impact.
She brought tons of energy to the series, not to mention extensive experience from her career as a professional racing driver, and clearly loved being part of the show. The only thing that was really holding her back from being one of the greater hosts was the fact that she didn't get to feature as much. Sadly, Schmitz died of cancer in 2021. As a testament to how much she meant to the series, Jeremy Clarkson would return to Top Gear for a tribute episode dedicated to her, appearing on the show for the first time since his widely-publicized departure in 2015.
Jeremy Clarkson (2002–2015)
When people think about Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson is typically the first person that comes to mind. He was amazing in his role as the lead host, being able to bring a great deal of comedy and superb knowledge of cars together to be the ideal presenter.
While Clarkson wasn't for everyone, as he could be quite loud and bossy at times, for many, he absolutely made the show what it was. He would have great conversations with both Hammond and May, and the excitement that he brought to the role, particularly in the studio while talking with the audience, has yet to be truly recreated by anyone else.
Richard Hammond (2002–2015)
As one of the original hosts, Richard Hammond was incredibly popular on the show, and he wasn't as consistently controversial as Jeremy Clarkson. Hammond was someone who was always up for a laugh and a joke, and he happily put himself into every challenge and strange creation of the show, despite sometimes life-threatening dangers.
He was very informed about the cars he discussed on the show and humorous in his delivery, happily going back and forth with Jeremy Clarkson and James May. His ability to bring tons of energy to every segment he was in, without being over the top, was something that made him a joy to watch and allowed Richard to be the best overall presenter.