Veteran Newsnight frontman Jeremy Paxman has confided that the BBC2 motoring show would have been ‘a perfect fit’ for his irascible talents.  With his disdain for mainstream politics a long-known open secret, Paxman has revealed that he pitched the idea of joining Top Gear to BBC bosses. ‘It would have meant that May and Hammond could still have said “Jeremy” – and I think it’s about time that in-car SatNavs are held to account for all the misleading information they give.  If I am told to “turn right at the next junction” I am quite prepared to...

Better-known for her costume dramas and tough police procedurals, veteran actress Helen Mirren will be tackling a very different role this year. ‘Playing a motorcycle stuntman is certainly a new departure for me’ commented Mirren, ‘but I’m sure audiences won’t be put off by a 70 year old woman portraying a 35 year old man.  This is the age of gender neutrality, after all..’ To add further authenticity, Mirren insisted on performing all her own stunts.  ‘The studio was very nervous – especially about the Snake River Canyon jet cycle – but for me it...