Ex-Top Gear trio begin filming new car show

Jeremy Clarkson has revealed the former Top Gear trio have begun filming Amazon Prime's new motoring show.

Clarkson, along with co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May left the BBC earlier this year, and signed a "very, very, very expensive" deal to make a car-themed programme with the online streaming service.

The 55-year-old presenter had previously insisted "much is already sorted" for the show, after May suggested the stars had got "nowhere", with decisions about content or a name yet to be made.

But Clarkson gave little away, tweeting his 5.6 million followers a picture of the hosts and crew next to three supercars accompanied by the words: "With a skeleton crew, filming for Amazon Prime's new motoring programme has begun."

Earlier he had shared a picture of a sunrise, saying: "Dawn. On a very special day." Some Instagram users suggested the photo had been taken in Portugal.

Hammond also posted a similar picture, saying: "The band is back together and it feels brilliant."

May added: "Great first day at work. I can't stop staring" - a reference to a picture he posted of a Ferrari on a race track.

Clarkson previously said the Amazon team, including former Top Gear producer Andy Wilman, had been "extremely busy" working on the new show.

Reports have suggested the name for the show could be Gear Knobs, but neither Amazon nor Clarkson has commented on the speculation.

The trio left the BBC after their contracts were not renewed following Clarkson's fracas with a Top Gear producer.

But the team's contribution to the BBC Two hit has been recognised with a nomination in the Factual Entertainment category at next year's National Television Awards.