Jodie Kidd Hints at Top Gear Return Over a Decade After Declining Offer

Jodie Kidd has ignited speculation about joining the revamped BBC series Top Gear, expressing renewed interest in the flagship motoring show more than a decade after she initially turned down a presenting opportunity.

Kidd, a 47-year-old model and avid racing fan, was reportedly in talks to join Top Gear in 2015 following the departure of hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. At the time, she declined the role, citing concerns about the all-consuming nature of the high-profile job, especially with her young son. However, she now appears more open to the prospect.

"Top Gear is such an amazing show. It was so loved and so adored, and it's something that we need," Kidd told the Daily Mail. "It deserves to come back. We're really missing, on terrestrial TV, a good, wonderful car show."

While Kidd admits she may not be able to perform complex mechanical tasks like changing a carburetor, she emphasized her passion for cars. "But I definitely bring the passion... We'll see. We'll see what happens," she stated, acknowledging the significant gap left by the show's absence. "That space needs to be filled."

The motoring program has been off the air since December 2022, following a serious accident involving former host Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff. Flintoff sustained significant injuries when the car he was driving overturned during filming. The BBC confirmed last month that Top Gear is scheduled to return to screens.

Kidd has a long-standing connection to the automotive world. She appeared on Top Gear as a "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" in 2003, impressing host Jeremy Clarkson with her lap time. She later obtained an international racing license and has competed in motorsport events, including racing for Maserati. She has also hosted motoring programs, such as Channel 5's "The Classic Car Show," and currently fronts a YouTube series featuring various cars.

Her experience in racing has, she noted, helped her manage anxiety, a condition that previously affected her during her early modeling career in the 1990s. "I think after learning to race cars, I've had to learn to turn anxiety and adrenaline into something positive," she shared. "And I think that's definitely come with age - and understanding what your body's doing when it's flooded with adrenaline."

Kidd joins a list of rumored contenders for the Top Gear presenting lineup, which has also included comedian Jimmy Carr and former England rugby star Joe Marler. The show's hiatus and past controversies, including the departure of its original trio and Flintoff's accident, have complicated its recent history, but Kidd believes the show is still "really needed."