Bringing back Top Gear is a disaster for all involved - and continues a bleak trend for a desperate BBC

According to reports in The Sun, the show, which has failed to recapture the magic left by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May a decade ago, is returning.

This is despite its latest incarnation with Paddy McGuinness, Chris Harris, and Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff ending in disastrous circumstances three years ago.

The latter of the trio famously ended up with life-altering injuries after a horror crash while filming. Flintoff bagged £9m in compensation as a result.

The fallout has been bleak. Flintoff understandably disappeared from the public eye as he recovered, Harris lambasted the BBC for failing to adhere to his safety warnings, and McGuinness went on to front Question of Sport, overseeing disastrous ratings and yet another show's demise.

Therefore, it's no surprise that, according to insiders, Top Gear's return will be with a new presenting line-up in yet another exhausting attempt at a shake-up.

An insider has claimed: "BBC bosses are keen to revive Top Gear because they have never filled the space it left behind and so many viewers hanker after a motoring show.

"And it’s not just in Britain that the programme is much loved; it is a brand in its own right and watched by millions around the globe.

"Which is why it wasn’t just important to satisfy the needs of petrolheads, but also, specifically, fans of Top Gear. They’ll be thrilled to hear it is returning."

The BBC told GB News "there's no update on the TV show at this time", but did add: "The Top Gear brand continues to thrive across digital, publishing, and global formats.

"As a commercial producer, we’re always exploring new ways to develop the brand and reach audiences by leveraging such iconic IP."

At the time of writing, no names are being linked to the role. And it's no surprise, really, given that anyone with any sense would be slamming their foot down on the pedal to speed as far away from it as possible.

But knowing the BBC, fans can likely look forward to the likes of Romesh Ranganathan, Graham Norton, and Rylan as the new faces of the beloved programme.

Top Gear's supposed return represents just how tired, bored, or perhaps just incompetent decision-makers at the BBC have become.

It's the latest on the conveyor belt of TV gems from yesteryear that are being desperately repackaged for a modern audience - and will be the latest to fail.

Question of Sport. Gone. Football Focus post-Dan Walker. Gone. Robot Wars with Dara O'Briain. Gone. Survivor? £30m of licence fee payers' money down the drain.

Match of the Day is haemorrhaging viewers after Gary Lineker's departure, and MasterChef without Gregg Wallace and John Torode lost half a million eyeballs just last month.

Even a collaboration with Disney couldn't save Doctor Who from turning viewers off, and Waterloo Road hasn't come close to replicating the ratings success of its initial late noughties run.

The Weakest Link with Ranganathan has maintained a primetime Saturday night slot, but Anne Robinson he certainly is not.

Strictly Come Dancing has endured dwindling ratings year after year, and without Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman at the helm, it faces an uncertain future post-revamp.

Then there's the recent announcement that the BBC is launching a desperate attempt to recapture the magic of the 1990s by announcing that Big Break will be back, with none other than the so-called "TV grim reaper" McGuinness at the forefront.

Credit where it's due. Gladiators has proven a rebooted success, and Blankety Blank similarly manages to attract telly audiences.

Both have Bradley Walsh at the helm, so perhaps that's more telling than any sort of genius stroke from programming bosses.

But this clamour to seize on any semblance of nostalgic fondness among audiences isn't just wearing thin; it's completely counter-productive.

The BBC has produced a handful of decent comedies and dramas in recent years - Blue Lights and Amandaland are two personal favourites - and The Traitors is an undeniable triumph.

So why, oh why, does it feel the need to try to revive shows that are way past their heyday?

And when it comes to Top Gear, specifically, it isn't just the BBC's poor track record in rebooting shows that stands in the way of it replicating Clarkson-esque glory.

In the world of streaming, Clarkson, Hammond, and May have handed the baton over to a new The Grand Tour trio.

Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman and Thomas Holland will front all-new episodes of the Amazon motoring series after building impressive online followings.

Bourgeois boasts millions of followers thanks to his trainspotting and car-themed TikToks, while Engelsman and Holland tapped into the online market with their hugely successful YouTube channel Throttle House.

And what better endorsement could there be than from Clarkson himself? In a podcast appearance earlier this year, he urged motoring TV fans to give the new trio a chance.

"I’ve seen the guys being chosen in the early days, and I’ve seen some of the stuff they’ve been doing. And it’s very, very good," he said.

"Oh, it’s different. I mean, it’s different because they’re three completely different people to us. But they’re bl**dy funny... I’m pretty confident that that will work."

Former Top Gear boss Andy Wilman has been similarly glowing about the new The Grand Tour.

"We are properly happy to hand over the baton to Thomas, James and Francis, because quite simply - they are doing it right," he said.

"Not only do they have passion and knowledge, but more importantly, they are in no way cardboard cutouts of the old three. They have a delightful chemistry that's all of their own making."

So not only does the BBC have to contend with its dismal track record of revamping TV classics, it faces stern opposition in its quest to make Top Gear the top motoring show on-screen.

Broadcast television is in a fight like never before as it continues to battle against the appeal and financial backing of the streaming giants.

But if the best that the country's national broadcaster can come up with is to put a shiny new bow on something well past its sell-by date, then I fear Bezos and Sarandos will be rubbing their hands with glee.