Top Gear trio's Amazon move 'very, very expensive'

Updated
Former Top Gear Stars Move to Amazon Prime
Former Top Gear Stars Move to Amazon Prime

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has admitted it was "very, very, very expensive" to bring Jeremy Clarkson and his Top Gear co-stars to his digital television service.

The entrepreneur tied up a deal for Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond to front a Top Gear-style motoring show for Amazon Prime customers.

Clarkson's BBC contract was not renewed after he punched a member of the show's staff during a "fracas", prompting the Top Gear trio to seek new ventures.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph's business supplement, Mr Bezos said the three stars were "worth a lot of money and they know it".

He added: "I think we're in a golden age of television so if you go back in time even just five years, you couldn't get A-list talent to do TV serials, or if you could, it was a rare thing. But that's flipped completely."

The new car show, which is as yet untitled, will be broadcast next year.

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