Former 2GB PD Charlie Cox has been named one of the presenters for the Australian tv version of Top Gear. He is currently working at the BBC as a motor sport commentator.

Born in Sydney in 1960, Cox started his broadcast journalism career as a cadet at 2GB. He worked as a newsreader at 2WS and 2UE before returning to 2GB as News Director in the mid 1980s. He was appointed National News Director for the Macquarie Network and Program Director for 2GB, before taking on the role as General Manager in 1989. During this time, Charlie started his love affair with racing cars.

He moved to London in 1990 to head London’s LBC radio station and race cars. He was instrumental in bringing Mike Carlton across to LBC at that time.

Charlie Cox was integral in setting up the broadcast division of the Daily Mail Group, which successfully launched the Nova and Vega stations in Australia. He is currently a director of six different media companies in the UK and Australia.

Receiving the Newcomer of the Year award in the 1991 Porsche Cup, Cox went on to win three British titles and ran his own team in the British Touring Car Championships before a spectacular crash nearly ended his life in 1995.

It was during his recovery that BBC trialled him as a touring car co-commentator and he was eventually offered the role of full time motoring co-commentator in 1997.

His first car was a 1966 XP Falcon Futura, but these days he drives a Porsche GT2, a Mercedes S500, a Ducati Superbike and a Harley Davidson.

Aussie Top Gear will air on SBS TV later this year.