'Top Gear' will open its doors to Adlington

Having left the opposition trailing in her wake in Beijing, Britain's Olympic heroine Rebecca Adlington will swap her swimming costume for driving overalls with an appearance on the BBC's Top Gear.

In an interview with The Independent, the 19-year-old winner of two gold medals said she would love to go on the show and appear on Strictly Come Dancing. The executive producer of Top Gear was quick to say he would like to have her as a guest.

Adlington said: "I'd absolutely love to do Strictly Come Dancing. I don't dance at all but I watch it every time it's on. It's just the best programme on television. I never missed an episode in the last series when Alesha [Dixon] won. It's one of those shows that I actually miss when it's not on. It's just the best."

When it was suggested that, now she is the most successful British female swimmer ever, she could probably appear on the programme if she chose to, Adlington said: "Oh my God! That would be unreal. I've heard there's been an invitation to go on A Question of Sport but Strictly would be something else."

She added: "Do you think I could get on Top Gear as well? I'd love that. I think Jeremy Clarkson is really funny. I've read his books and everything. Do you really think I could?

Andy Wilman, the executive producer of Top Gear, said he would arrange a studio visit for filming – and, presumably, a run-out on the race track in the show's celebrity competition, Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car.

"She's a fantastic British hero, like Ellen MacArthur and Ranulph Fiennes, and we love that on Top Gear," said Mr Wilman.