Jeremy Clarkson’s old Top Gear team being 'poached' from the BBC for new Amazon Prime car show

The show is said to have a budget of £4 million per episode

Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May in the final Top Gear with its former line-up (BBC)

Jeremy Clarkson’s getting the whole band back together for Amazon Prime’s version of Top Gear, and we’re not just talking about Richard Hammond and James May.

Amazon bosses have reportedly poached the old Top Gear production crew from the BBC, luring them away with huge pay rises.

An insider told The Mirror: “Several of the crew who were freelance are now working on the Amazon Prime car show. It is quite common for freelancers to move and they were not contracted to the BBC.”

The new show is said to have a budget of £4 million per episode, estimated to be ten times what the BBC had. According to the source: “It’s like comparing first class to economy.”

Clarkson departure from the BBC came after his infamous fracas with a producer. Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans is taking over the flagship show, but it is unknown who will be joining him as a host.

A BBC insider reportedly said: “Nobody could accuse previous series of Top Gear as being unambitious in scale, stunts or international shoots.

“The brand’s global success allowed healthy budgets and the new show will be equally ambitious and well-funded.”

A spokesperson added: “We have a brilliant team on Top Gear and are confident we will have a great show.”

Recently leaked Government emails have revealed the chaos between diplomats and BBC in regards Top Gear’s controversial Christmas special in Argentina. The three ex-hosts had travelled to Patagonia with a licence plate said to reference the Falkland Wars.

According to emails, received through the Freedom of Information Act, limited contact with the BBC had been “part of the difficulty" for British ambassadors.