Jeremy Clarkson: Greta Thunberg has killed the car show

Jeremy Clarkson blames “idiot” climate change activist Greta Thunberg for killing the car show.

The former Top Gear presenter, who is returning with another series of Amazon Prime motor series The Grand Tour, claimed young people have been turned against cars by the 16-year-old environmental campaigner.

Clarkson, 59, told The Sun: “Everyone I know under 25 isn’t the slightest bit interested in cars – Greta Thunberg has killed the car show.

Read more: Jeremy Clarkson now believes in global warming

“They’re taught at school, before they say ‘Mummy and Daddy’, that cars are evil, and it’s in their heads.”

He added: “She’s an idiot. Going round saying we’re all going to die, that’s not going to solve anything, my dear.”

The Grand Tour co-presenter Richard Hammond, 49, agreed: “I hate to say it, but I think Jeremy is right.

“Young people don’t care about cars. How many kids now are growing up with posters of cars on their bedroom wall?”

Read more: James May ‘almost died’ filming during monsoon

But Clarkson conceded that global warming was “definitely a thing”.

He also claimed that Top Gear - now fronted by Andrew Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris - would struggle to match The Grand Tour in terms of production as it did not have the budget, and he blamed daytime TV shows for using up the BBC’s money.

Clarkson said: “The BBC has to spend money to make shows for two in the afternoon, so it can’t spend as much on the shows it’s very good at doing.

“Imagine how good they would be if they said, ‘We’re not making Cash In The Attic any more’ – which is sad, because I love Cash In The Attic.”

The Grand Tour presents: Seamen will be available on Amazon Prime Video from Friday December 13th.