James May thinks 'Top Gear' bosses should have their "a***s kicked" if they can't make the show a hit again.

James May

James May

The 53-year-old star, one third of the former presenting team alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, insists it "must be possible" to bring the show back to its previous heights.

When asked if he thinks the BBC and presenter Matt LeBlanc can bring the show back from the dead, he said: "I think they deserve to have their a***s kicked if they don't, because it must be possible."

James believes the 'Top Gear' team should be more "ruthless" with their reinvention of the show to change it for the better.

He said: "I don't think it went drastically well. They should reinvent it a little more ruthlessly. There must be another way of making a car show."

Despite quitting the series alongside Richard after Jeremy was axed following a fracas with a producer, James admits he would watch the programme again.

He added to Event magazine: "I'd like 'Top Gear' to do well, because I'd like to be able to watch it."

Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc took over from Jeremy, James and Richard, but the former quit in July after one series, leaving the ex-'Friends' star to go it alone as lead presenter for a new series.

James has re-teamed with Jeremy and Richard for their forthcoming new car show 'The Grand Tour', but he recently revealed he nearly died filming the programme.

Speaking about coming close to meeting his maker in Venice, Italy, he said: "I thought I would drown. I couldn't get out of the slippery thing.

"I had completely run out of strength."

James didn't have the best of luck shooting the show as he broke his arm filming out of a pub.

Producer Andy Wilman recently said: "James fell over the night before filming, coming out of a pub.

"He rang me up and said, 'I've broken my arm.' His car was automatic so we stuck him on Eurostar, pumped him full of drugs and left him to it.

"[James] did more damage to it because he had to keep on going but he's falling to bits anyway. We are not in Usain Bolt territory with that body."

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