Top Gear

: This article is about the television series. For other uses, see Top Gear (disambiguation).

2002 to Today

After a period of doing other programmes, Clarkson and producer Andy Wilman pitched a new format for Top Gear to the BBC, who consequently brought it back. Two new presenters were introduced, Richard Hammond and Jason Dawe, before James May replaced Dawe after the first series. The credits also mention The Stig as a presenter, although he never speaks a word.

Related Topics:
Richard Hammond - Jason Dawe - James May - The Stig

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The new format show, made at Dunsfold Park in Surrey, involves a standing studio audience with whom the presenters interact and with whom Clarkson often good-naturedly argues. There is also a "chat show"-type segment where Jeremy talks to a different guest each week and the video of their on-track performance in a Suzuki Liana is viewed (the segment being titled 'Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car'). The show is famed for its outrageous races, for example Clarkson racing the TGV train against Hammond and May from Surrey to Monte Carlo in an Aston Martin DB9, racing a plane from Surrey to Verbier in a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, racing a boat from Heathrow Airport to Oslo in a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren.

Related Topics:
Dunsfold Park - Surrey - Suzuki - Liana - TGV - Monte Carlo - Aston Martin - DB9 - Verbier - Ferrari 612 Scaglietti - Heathrow Airport - Oslo - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

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A trait exhibited by Top Gear producers is an apparent pathological hatred for caravans. Various stunts have seen caravans destroyed by using them as conkers while suspended from cranes, dropping one onto a Toyota Hi-Lux diesel to prove the truck's indestructibility, and towing one example to the point of aerodynamically-induced structural failure using a powerful Jaguar saloon. Though many of these "tests" are often pointless and silly, they are marvelously entertaining to the audience. Presenter Richard Hammond carried this treament of caravans over to his show .

Related Topics:
Caravans - Conkers - Toyota - Hi-Lux - Diesel - Aerodynamically - Jaguar

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The sixth series of Top Gear began on May 22, 2005.

Related Topics:
May 22 - 2005

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Due to the good viewing figures of the new format show, it also seems to have been awarded an increased budget as there are several expensive experiments and trips into Europe and to America.

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In May 2005 Discovery Channel in the US started showing a modified version of the relaunched show .

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