| Top Gear | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Created by |
Jeremy Clarkson |
|
Written by |
Richard Porter |
|
Directed by |
Brian Klein |
|
Presented by |
Jeremy Clarkson |
|
Country of origin |
United Kingdom |
|
Seasons and episodes |
30 seasons, 223 episodes (11 specials) |
|
Production locations |
Dunsfold Aerodrome (2002–2020) |
|
Production company |
BBC Productions (Series 1–23) |
|
Original network |
BBC Two (2002–2020) |
|
Original release |
20 October 2002 – present |
Top Gear is a British motoring magazine and factual television programme, designed as a relaunched version of the original 1977 show of the same name by Jeremy Clarkson and Andy Wilman for the BBC, and premiered on 20 October 2002. The programme focuses on the examination and reviewing of motor vehicles, primarily cars, though this was expanded upon after the broadcast of its earlier series to incorporate films featuring motoring-based challenges, special races, timed laps of notable cars, and celebrity timed laps on a course specially-designed for the relaunched programme. The programme drew acclaim for its visual and presentation style since its launch, which focused on being entertaining to viewers, as well as criticism over the controversial nature of its content. The programme was aired on BBC Two until it was moved to BBC One for its twenty-ninth series in 2020.
The programme's first series in 2002 was presented by Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and Jason Dawe, with an anonymous test driver "The Stig", an individual played by several different racing drivers over the course of the show's history, being featured; Wilman was the show's executive producer. Following the first series, Dawe was replaced by James May, with the line-up unchanged until the end of the twenty-second series, when the BBC chose to not renew Clarkson's contract on 25 March 2015, following an incident during filming. His dismissal from Top Gear prompted the departure of Hammond, May and Wilman from the programme, who joined Clarkson in forming a new motoring series, The Grand Tour.
After the group's departure, others were appointed as hosts for the programme, including Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc, both joined by four co-presenters for the twenty-third series: Rory Reid, Sabine Schmitz, Chris Harris and Eddie Jordan. After negative feedback on this series, Evans resigned from the programme, with LeBlanc joined by Harris and Reid as the main hosts for the following three series. From the twenty-seventh series onwards, the presenting line-up was changed following the departure of LeBlanc and Reid, with Harris joined by Andrew Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness as the main presenters.
Top Gear has been one of the BBC's most commercially successful programmes since its relaunch. It has become a significant show in British popular culture, with episodes also broadcast internationally in many countries in Europe, North America, Southeast Asia and more, making it the most widely broadcast factual television programme in the world. Its success has led to various forms of merchandising, including live tours, special DVD editions, and books, as well as spawning a variety of international versions in various countries, including the United States, Australia, South Korea, China and France.
International broadcast[]
| Country | Channel |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC One, Dave |
| Arab World | MBC Action, BBC Arabic |
| Latin America | BBC Entertainment, History |
| Australia | Nine Network, GO!, 9Rush, Discovery Turbo, BBC Brit, Discovery Channel |
| Barbados | CBC TV 8 |
| Belgium | Canvas, VTM 4 |
| Bulgaria | bTV |
| Canada | BBC Canada |
| Croatia | HRT2 |
| Czech Republic | Prima Cool |
| Denmark | TV3+, 6'eren, BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Brit |
| Estonia | TV3, TV6 |
| Finland | MTV3, MTV3 Max, Fox, BCB Brit |
| France | Discovery Channel, RMC Découverte, L'Équipe |
| Germany | kabel eins, DMAX, Motorvision TV, RTL Nitro |
| Greece | Skai TV |
| Hong Kong | TVB Pearl, BBC Knowledge |
| Hungary | Viasat3, Viasat6, M2, RTL Spike |
| Iceland | SkjárEinn, BBC Brit |
| India | BBC Entertainment, AXN |
| Indonesia | BBC Knowledge, B-Channel, GTV |
| Ireland | RTÉ Two, Setanta Ireland |
| Iran | BBC Persian |
| Israel | BBC Prime, EGO Channel |
| Italy | Discovery Channel, DMAX, Spike |
| Japan | BBC World, BBC Japan, Channel Ginga, BS Fuji |
| Malaysia | NTV7, BBC Knowledge |
| Latvia | TV6 |
| Lithuania | TV6 |
| Netherlands | Veronica, Spike |
| New Zealand | Prime, TV3 |
| Norway | NRK2, NRK3, MAX, BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Brit |
| Pakistan | 24 News HD |
| Philippines | Studio 23, Solar News Channel |
| Poland | TVN Turbo, BBC Brit |
| Portugal | Discovery Channel |
| Romania | Antena 3 |
| Russia | NTV, REN-TV, Discovery, Russia-2, T24, Auto Plus, Peretz, Dozhd |
| Serbia | Ultra |
| Slovakia | Dajto |
| Slovenia | Kanal A |
| South Africa | BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, SABC 3, BBC Brit |
| South Korea | XTM |
| Spain | Discovery Channel, Cuatro, Energy |
| Sweden | Kanal 9, BBC Entertainment, BBC Knowledge, BBC Brit |
| Taiwan | BBC Knowledge |
| Ukraine | 1+1, Discovery, Mega, 1 Auto TV, 2+2 |
| United States | BBC America, Motor Trend |
International versions[]
| Country | Local title | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Top Gear Australia | SBS One, Nine Network |
| China | Top Gear | Hunan TV, Dragon TV |
| France | Top Gear France | RMC Découverte |
| Italy | Top Gear Italia | Sky Uno |
| Russia | Top Gear: Русская версия Top Gear Russia |
REN-TV |
| South Korea | Top Gear Korea | XTM |
| United States | Top Gear | History |
| Top Gear America | Current: Motor Trend Former: BBC America |