Jodie Kidd has revealed that Jeremy Clarkson warned her she would be "hated" by fans if she took over as a presenter on Top Gear, regardless of how well she performed in the role.
The model first became friends with Clarkson when she appeared on the show's 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' segment in 2003, where celebrities drive a lap of the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.
Kidd's Top Gear History
Kidd's lap of 1 minute 48 seconds, completed in a Suzuki Liana, made her the quickest celebrity at the time. She is now ranked the 11th fastest.
The 48-year-old said the appearance "opened up a whole new world" that she "dived straight in" and has not left over the last 23 years. It also led to speculation that she could be one of the presenters to replace Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
The BBC sacked Clarkson after he punched producer Oisin Tymon in March 2015. Hammond and May also quit the BBC in solidarity, along with co-creator Andy Wilman.
Clarkson's Warning
Back in 2015, Kidd was one of the bookmakers' favourites to replace the trio. Eventually, radio DJ Chris Evans and former Friends star Matt LeBlanc were announced as the presenters, along with Chris Harris, Sabine Schmitz, Rory Reid and Eddie Jordan.
Speaking to the Cars & Money YouTube channel, Kidd said she asked Clarkson for advice about the possibility of replacing him, and he issued a stark warning. She said: "There was talks (of hosting the show), but I obviously got a very close relationship with Jezza from that moment onwards, and he became a very good friend, and when they left, there was names bouncing around, I was one of them."
"There was initial talks, but I spoke to him and he was like: 'Look, Jodes, you can go and do the best job, you can do an amazing film, you'll be a great host, but you're going to get hated. It's going to be a tough, tough job.'"
Evans' Experience
Kidd also cited the criticism Chris Evans received, with the former Big Breakfast presenter quitting after just one season following the negative reaction. She said: "When Chris (Evans) took over, it was a very tough gig, to go in, and replace those three. No one is ever going to replace those three."
"People hate change, and especially such a brilliant dynamic the three of them had. I think there was still a lot of negativity with how Jezza departed from the BBC."
The BBC has confirmed Top Gear will return to TV after an extended hiatus following Andrew Flintoff's horror car crash. The former cricketer was airlifted to hospital and almost died after the incident at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in December 2022.
Future Prospects
Kidd was asked whether she would consider being one of the new presenters for the rebooted show. She admitted it would mean putting her beloved YouTube channel, Kidd in a Sweet Shop, on the back burner.
She said: "I love Kidd in a Sweet Shop. I've worked so hard to get that up and to get that you know where it is today. Obviously if I was to do Top Gear, it would be something that I'd have to have to put to bed, which I don't really want to do."
"So, I don't know. But, you know, it's one of those things that that it is an incredible show and I really think that people miss a Sunday night terrestrial car show."
