Michael Rochester

Extract from my email to TG office. I understand that Flintoff et al have signed up already for the next series, I see mixed reviews in the press and online of the current run …. for some blinkered viewers TG will only ever be Clarkson & Co, but I am of the opinion that that combination had run its course. What that crew DID bring to the programme though was a depth of knowledge and journalistic background singularly missing in the current guys. I feel there's room for better and deeper car reviews going beyond one supercar driven sideways around the track, and a lot less larks. Paddy & Freddie need to build their car knowledge and not leave it all to Chris. The stiff-upper-lip days of Raymond Baxter are long gone, but there are aspects of "5th Gear" that you could learn from.... there's still a bit of larking there, but with changes of pace and a veneer of maturity over the top. The chemistry between the lads is good if rather too constantly manic and, while perhaps it's natural and appropriate for Flintoff to take the lead, I wouldn't want to see him morph into the Alpha male / Head Honcho overweening bully that Clarkson became. Paddy occupies the middle ground but Chris is constantly being the fall-guy (as was Rory), he's better than that and should be treated with more respect.