Discovery’s long-running motoring format Fifth Gear is to relaunch as an electric vehicle (EV) show and has installed former Top Gear host Rory Reid to present.
Fifth Gear: Recharged will air episodes weekly on streamer Discovery+ in the UK and Quest later this year as All3Media-owned producer North One looks to take advantage of colossal growing interest in EVs, which has quickened due to the current UK gas crisis.
The original Fifth Gear ran for 28 seasons, first on Channel 5 and then Discovery channels History and Quest, before ending two years ago.
“Almost every car manufacturer in the world has bet their house on electric so this seemed like a sensible thing to do rather than a massive leap of faith,” said North One founder and Fifth Gear exec Neil Duncanson, who also produces coverage of EV sporting format Formula-E.
Porsche Taycan Turbo S (Image: Porsche)
“Electric was a byline in the original Fifth Gear but now internal combustion engines would be a byline. We are reflecting changing attitudes and audience behavior.”
Signing Rory Reid
Motoring journalist and presenter Reid, who hosted BBC format Top Gear from 2016 to 2019, will help broaden the show out to a wider audience, according to Simon Downing, Discovery’s SVP of Marketing and Head of Factual and Documentaries.
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