Top Gear’s new drive-in audience could make the next series the best yet

Fans of the show will be familiar with the sight of the audience packed into a hangar on the now iconic airfield but social distancing has meant producers had to take a different tack.

This series, Top Gear’s studio scenes are set outside with a drive-in audience adding to the atmosphere.

More than 100 cars gathered to watch Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris present the latest series and I was lucky enough to join the audience.

Sitting in a brand new Porsche 911 convertible certainly built the excitement ahead of the show and with the roof down we had the best seats in the house.

The stars took to the stage accompanied by rapturous applause and a cacophony of car horns – if anything the atmosphere was better than previous shows set indoors.

The drive-in audience gave the added bonus of a cornucopia of motoring majesty – a combination of classic cars and brand new models meant there was plenty of eye candy to enjoy between takes.

Previews of some of the films set to be featured in the new series gave a flavour of what is to come – safe to say viewers are in for a treat with the three presenters taking on some phenomenal challenges and driving some beautiful cars.

I for one can’t wait to see the new series when it arrives on TV.