Well, there's been a bit of news since a month ago, but whether it's a sign that the Beeb is getting desperate or playing the long game, it's up to you.

The Telegraph reported last month that BBC producers had approached Phil Glenister, Jodie Kidd, and Guy Martin (their "dream team") to be the new hosts of a retooled Top Gear. But considering the next bit of news, odds are one or more turned them down for the job.

The latest bit of news is courtesy of The Guardian, who are reporting that Slow and Hamster have been approached with 2-3 year contracts that would pay them $1 million a year, roughly double their previous salaries. But while the show would maintain its old format, it would work a bit like Have I Got News For You with a guest host filling in the third host slot each week.

The reason I say that the Beeb might be playing the long game is that this format pretty much leaves the door open for Clarkson to be brought back to the show. The BBC's execs have said he could be back on the network, and he noted to Chris Evans just the other day that he never was officially sacked, the network just chose not to renew his contract. So the new approach could either yield an opportunity to bring him back again on a permanent basis, or they could find a guest host that the fans approve of. Or I could just be having one of my hopelessly optimistic moments, I can never be quite sure.