Supermodel Jodie Kidd has fuelled speculation that she could join Top Gear after dropping a major hint about appearing on the revived BBC motoring series.
The 47-year-old racing fanatic teased a potential role more than a decade after previously turning down an offer to host the flagship British Broadcasting Corporation show.
Broadcasters at the BBC confirmed last month that Top Gear is set to return to television screens following a hiatus of almost four years.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Kidd praised the long-running program and expressed her belief that television audiences are missing a premier automotive series.
"Top Gear is such an amazing show. It was so loved and so adored, and it's something that we need. It deserves to come back. We're really missing, on terrestrial TV, a good, wonderful car show," she said.
Kidd, who rose to prominence as a Vogue cover star in the 1990s alongside fellow supermodels Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, was originally in talks to present the program in 2015. Those discussions took place following the departure of original presenting trio Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.
However, she ultimately decided against taking the job alongside co-host Chris Evans. At the time, her son Indio was four years old, and she explained that taking on such a high-profile role would be "completely all-consuming" and would "take over your soul."
Now, the former catwalk star appears far more receptive to joining the motoring series as the BBC prepares its revival.
"I'm a good translator. I love cars. Can I change a carburetor? Probably not. But I definitely bring the passion... We'll see. We'll see what happens," Kidd said.
A carburetor is a mechanical device in older internal combustion engines that mixes air and fuel, a technical detail Kidd acknowledged with humor regarding her own mechanical skills.
She emphasized that viewer enthusiasm for motor vehicle programming remains strong across the United Kingdom.
"I know there's a ginormous appetite for people that love cars. Top Gear is really missing. That space needs to be filled," she added.
Top Gear Relaunch History
Reflecting on the turbulent recent history of the BBC series, Kidd pointed to past presenter departures and serious production accidents that led to broadcast disruptions.
"It's just been a complicated one in the past, with the boys leaving and the terrible thing that happened with Freddie. So it's complicated, but really needed. I miss it terribly and I love the show," she said.
The original presenting lineup of Clarkson, Hammond, and May departed Top Gear in 2015 after the BBC declined to renew Clarkson's contract. The decision followed a physical and verbal attack on producer Oisin Tymon during an argument over catering at a hotel.
Hammond and May subsequently left the program out of solidarity with Clarkson. The trio later signed with Amazon Prime Video to create and front the streaming motoring show The Grand Tour in 2016, continuing until their final broadcast special in 2024.
Following their exit, Top Gear was relaunched with a succession of different presenters, starting with radio host Chris Evans and former Friends star Matt LeBlanc. In 2019, former England international cricketer Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff joined television presenter Paddy McGuinness and automotive journalist Chris Harris.
The flagship series has been off the air since December 2022, following a severe crash during filming at the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey. Flintoff was driving an open-topped Morgan Super 3 three-wheeled sports car when the vehicle overturned and slid along the track.
The former cricketer sustained serious facial and rib injuries in the high-speed incident, leading the BBC to halt production on the show and initiate a prolonged hiatus.
Potential Presenters and Motoring Experience
The BBC officially announced last month that Top Gear will finally return to television screens. Alongside Kidd, several prominent figures have been linked to potential roles in the new presenting lineup, including British stand-up comedian Jimmy Carr and former England international rugby union prop Joe Marler.
Kidd possesses extensive motorsport credentials that support her potential involvement in the program. The catwalk star has maintained a lifelong passion for cars and famously featured on Top Gear in 2003 during the popular Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment.
During her appearance, she recorded an exceptionally fast lap time around the track in the show's Suzuki Liana compact saloon, earning praise from host Jeremy Clarkson.
Her experience on the program spurred her to pursue motorsport further. In 2004, Kidd earned her international racing licence at the famous Imola circuit in Italy and began competing in professional racing events.
She went on to race for Italian luxury sports car manufacturer Maserati and established a career as a motoring broadcaster, hosting television series such as Channel 5's The Classic Car Show.
Kidd currently presents her own automotive YouTube channel, Kidd in a Sweet Shop, where she tests and reviews an array of classic and high-performance motor vehicles.
Overcoming Runway Anxiety Through Motorsport
In addition to shaping her broadcasting career, Kidd revealed that her time behind the wheel helped her manage severe anxiety experienced on the fashion runway.
She temporarily stepped away from fashion modeling during her late teens after suffering a debilitating panic attack during a runway show, later explaining that intense anxiety had affected her throughout her early modeling career.
Speaking backstage at London Fashion Week prior to walking in designer Ginny Litscher's runway show, held in partnership with the launch of Per-Fume Discovery sets by The Perfumer's Story by Azzi, Kidd explained how racing transformed her mental resilience.
"It is always there, but I think after learning to race cars, I've had to learn to turn anxiety and adrenaline into something positive," Kidd said.
"And I think that's definitely come with age - and understanding what your body's doing when it's flooded with adrenaline. That's something I've learned to deal with," she added.
