Top Gear

Top Gear is a famous British television show about cars, which is also broadcast in the Netherlands. The show features vehicle reviews, speed races, experiments and humorous videos. The programme is presented by charismatic presenters. Despite the programme's hiatus in 2023, the car magazine remains popular and recognisable around the world. In this article, we will discuss the history of the programme, the presenters, and the most well-known and interesting topics.

Basic information about the programme

Top Gear is a British television programme about cars that was broadcast in the Netherlands with great success. The programme combines car reviews, races, experiments and humorous sketches. It is known for its charismatic presenters and unique presentation style.

The Top Gear test track is located at Dunsfold Airport in Surrey (Great Britain). The track was designed by Lotus Cars as a test site, where many Formula 1 cars have been tested.

History of the show

The original Top Gear was a classic car test show. The programme was broadcast from 1977 to 2001.

In 2002, the project was relaunched with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. They made the show popular worldwide. With these presenters, the programme was broadcast until 2015.

After their departure, the show continued until 2022 with Matt LeBlanc, Chris Evans and Freddie Flintoff. In 2023, the show was suspended indefinitely and there are no new episodes in the United Kingdom yet.

Format

Top Gear consists of a number of regular segments that together form the format that is so popular with the public. Let's take a look at them one by one.

Car reviews

The presenters test new car models and assess their design, power, driving characteristics and value for money. In the episodes, they often give practical examples of everyday use of the car.

Speed rounds

Professional driver The Stig drives the Top Gear Test Track circuit. The results of the races with different cars are recorded and then compared.

‘Star in... the car’

Well-known personalities regularly appear on episodes of Top Gear. Let's take a look at which celebrities have appeared on the popular car programme.

Races

A segment featuring competitions between presenters using unusual vehicles. The races usually take place on an open-air circuit or on real routes with obstacles.

Cold Wall

One of the most fascinating segments of the programme: the presenter dismantles a car to check the strength of its components. Sometimes experiments are carried out with unusual materials and accessories.

Award ceremony

At the end of the season, awards are presented to cars in various categories. In different years, world-famous car brands have been named ‘Car of the Year’.

Presenters

Top Gear has been broadcast on television for decades and over the years the programme has been presented by various presenters, all of whom are well-known personalities in England.

Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy Clarkson is the “face” of Top Gear. He was the presenter of the programme from 2002 to 2015. Jeremy Clarkson became famous for his charismatic style, sarcasm and love of fast and powerful cars. After leaving the programme, he founded The Grand Tour together with Richard Hammond and James May.

Jason Dawe

Jason Dawe became a presenter on Top Gear after the programme was relaunched in 2002. He appeared on the show alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. He mainly worked on the car testing segment. He left the show after the first season.

Richard Hammond

Richard Hammond was a presenter on the programme from 2002 to 2015. He was known to the public for his friendly and humorous style. Hammond participated in all the main segments of the show, including races and experiments. After his departure, he became a presenter on The Grand Tour.

The Stig

A secret character, who was Perry McCarthy for a while. The Stig is an anonymous professional driver on the show, who creates intrigue. He always appears in a snow-white racing suit and helmet, drives fast laps and tests cars. He is a mysterious character whose identity is deliberately kept secret.

James May

James May was the presenter of Top Gear from 2003 to 2015. He became known as ‘Captain Slow’ because of his cautious driving style. He often took part in technical reviews, experiments and the design of unusual cars. After leaving the project, he joined The Grand Tour.

Chris Evans

Chris Evans is a British presenter who appeared on Top Gear in 2016 after the departure of the original trio. His presenting style was often the subject of debate. The show was not very popular during that period.

Eddie Jordan

Eddie Jordan is a former Formula One team manager. He was one of the presenters on Top Gear from 2016 to 2017 and participated in car reviews and racing segments.

Matt LeBlanc

Matt LeBlanc is an American actor who rose to fame in the series Friends. He was a presenter on Top Gear from 2016 to 2019. He took part in races, car tests and the segment ‘celebrity in a decent car’.

Sabine Schmitz

Sabine Schmitz is a German racing driver known as the ‘Queen of the Nürburgring’. She appeared in racing segments, participated in circuit tests and taught presenters on race tracks.

Rory Reid

Rory Reid was a presenter from 2016 to 2019, participating in car tests and special tests. He is considered one of the youngest and most modern presenters.

Chris Harris

Chris Harris is a motoring journalist and has been a presenter on the programme since 2016. He focuses primarily on performance tests and speed laps.

Freddie Flintoff

Freddie Flintoff is a former English cricketer and has been a presenter on the programme since 2019. He actively participates in races and experiments with cars.

Paddy McGuinness

Paddy McGuinness has been a presenter on the programme since 2019. He participates in races, experiments and humorous segments of the programme.

Best episodes of Top Gear

Below is an overview of the most interesting episodes of Top Gear.

British Leylands - Season 10, Episode 7

In this episode, presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May examine cars from the British brand Leyland. They assess the reliability and driving characteristics of these cars, which were the flagship of the British car industry at the time. The episode is full of humour, funny tests and ironic comments from the presenters about the vehicles' weaknesses.

Top Gear Electric Car - Season 14, Episode 2

This episode is about electric cars, which were still exotic in 2009 because they had just been introduced. The presenters tested different models and assessed their usability, speed and environmental friendliness. The most intriguing moment of the episode was the attempt to prove that electric cars can be not only environmentally friendly, but also interesting and dynamic. Humour and unusual tests make the episode memorable.

Building Motorhomes - Season 15, Episode 4

The presenters build their own motorhomes. James May and Richard Hammond compete to see who can build the best motorhome, while Jeremy Clarkson tests them on the road. The episode is full of creative ideas, funny situations and the presenters' trademark sarcasm. It is especially funny to see how the luxurious plans clash with reality and the difficulties of building.

Special episodes

Top Gear has become famous for its epic special episodes, in which the presenters travel around the world in all kinds of different cars. These episodes are full of adventures and unusual challenges. Here are some of the most memorable ones:

1. Top Gear Vietnam Special – three presenters travel through Vietnam on motorbikes. They explore the country, face treacherous local roads and cultural peculiarities, and organise funny competitions between themselves.
2. Gear Botswana Special – the programme's presenters travel to Botswana in budget cars and test their durability in the wilderness. The episode combines adventure, humour and beautiful African landscapes.
3. Top Gear Africa Special – a grand road trip through Africa, full of challenging routes, unexpected problems and the need to adapt to local traditions. The presenters test cars in extreme conditions, making the episode exciting and captivating.
4. Top Gear Burma Special – the presenters build a bridge across a river in Burma using old cars. The episode combines technical challenges, adventures and funny conflicts between the presenters.

Is Top Gear still running?

Top Gear is currently not being broadcast, as production of the programme has been suspended indefinitely, according to representatives of the BBC. Production of the 34th season was halted after a serious accident involving presenter Freddie Flintoff in 2022, and further filming was cancelled.

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