'Top Gear' China to roll onto local TV screens

Last year the UK's infiltration into Chinese homes came in the form of “Pop Idol,” imported by Dragon TV (a second season is on the way for this year). Now, another hit show from the UK is staking a claim for Chinese eyes -- “Top Gear." 

The Emmy award-winning "Top Gear" series features just about every motor vehicle you can think of -- although it primarily focuses on cars -- doing outrageous stunts. 

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This is not the first international spin-off of the show, with other successful productions having been produced in the United States, Russia and Australia. 

Boys are enjoying themselves to great extent in our show. They pushed a Maserati to the top roof of a three-floor building and then, broke it.— Cao Jinyun, "Top Gear" China host

'Top Gear' China details leaking out

According to the English publication newspaper “Global Times,” a sister publication to the State-run Xinhua news, one of Chinese staff from the Chinese “Top Gear” has confirmed that the show isn’t a rumor, and production will take place in Beijing.

The Chinese automobile website “thetycho.com,” also reported that an unnamed staff member confirmed that CCTV has purchased the copyright to “Top Gear.”

Although the cars are great, it’s the hosts that make the show, and for that China’s “Top Gear” will turn to Cao Jinyun, a Beijing-based cross talk (comedy) performer, singer Huang Zheng and Li Rui, a host from Hunan Weishi.

According to the information posted on Baidu on the Chinese version of the show, the pilot Chinese “Top Gear” episode wrapped up production in late 2010.

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Some Chinese netizens have posted photos online already and they suggest that the recording studio here will be similar to the British one.

The antics of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, the hosts of 'Top Gear,' are too extreme for Chinese censorship requirements.— Cao Jinyun, "Top Geat" China host

Localized humor

What to expect in the first episode?

Cao Jinyun suggested that viewers should tune in to see a millstone-pushing race between a Cadillac and a donkey, in order to see which would be more useful for farm work -- but he declined to release the date the first show will hit the air.

“Boys are enjoying themselves to great extent in our show. They pushed a Maserati to the top roof of a three-floor building and then, broke it,” said Cao to the “Global Times.”

Cao also told the Telegraph that much of "the antics of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, the hosts of 'Top Gear,' are too extreme for Chinese censorship requirements.”

“In China, the so funny program might appear to be of some violence," he continues. "We will make effort to localize the humor in our context.”

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Concern over the show's content, reports the Telegraph, means that it will broadcast after midnight when it does hit the air. 

In addition to the challenges the show faces from Chinese censors, who don’t look kindly upon outrageous stunts and irreverent humor, two key characteristics of the British program, some are also wondering how the hosts’ northern humor will translate to southern Chinese audiences.

Maybe "Top Gear" China will consider inviting Zhou Libo as a guest on the show to balance things out.