Nelonen ignites engine for ‘Top Gear Finland’

Top Gear Finland

Finnish broadcaster Nelonen, and its streaming service Ruutu, have ordered a local adaptation of BBC Studios’ motoring format Top Gear.

The license to Finland marks the eleventh adaptation of the format globally, following adaptations in South Korea, France and America.

It will be produced for Nelonen by Rabbit Films, the firm behind formats such as Over The Atlantic and Ultimate Escape, which was acquired by Nordic production group Monday Media earlier this week.

Top Gear Finland will be presented by comedian, musician and author Ismo Leikola, former elite Ice hockey winger Teemu Selänne, and actor Christoffer Strandberg, and is set to air in the spring of 2024.

The family entertainment show set in the world of cars and driving, where the hosts will compete in various car-related challenges to determine who among them is the ultimate driver.

Top Gear originated on the BBC in the UK in 1977 and grew to achieve global popularity with more than 30 seasons produced.

Jan Salling, head of BBC Studios Nordic, said: “A Finnish adaptation of Top Gear has been something we have wanted for a long time. Finding it a good home at Nelonen is really exciting, we are confident that with the amazing talent attached and with the very safe production hands at Rabbit Films we have the best possible chance of ensuring this is a long running success.”

This format acqusitiion for Nelonen and Ruutu come just days after orders for Murder In Hanko, a new scripted series based on author Matti Remes’ Ruben Waara novels and dramedy Supporting Actor.