Top Gear (in its original 30-minute format) was a car-based BBC television series produced by BBC Birmingham. It consisted of 30-minute magazine format programmes presented by a number of people, including Angela Rippon, Noel Edmonds, William Woollard, and most recently Jeremy Clarkson, broadcast from 1977 to 2001. In 2002, the show was relaunched in a new one-hour studio-based format. Image File history File links Topgearlogo1996. ... Driving is the controlled operation of a vehicle, usually a motor vehicle such as a truck, bus, motorcycle, or car (for bicycles and mounted animals and—at least in the U.K. and U.S.—motorcycles, the corresponding activity is called riding). ... Auto racing (also known as automobile racing or autosport) is a sport involving racing automobiles. ... Angela Rippon, OBE (born October 12, 1944) is a well-known British television journalist and lesbian. ... William Woollard (born 20 August 1939 in London) is best known for presenting the BBC television programmes, Top Gear and Tomorrows World. ... Noel Ernest Edmonds (born 22 December 1948 in Ilford, Essex) is a British television presenter, DJ, executive who made his name on BBC Radio 1 in the UK. He is more recently known as the presenter of the television gameshow Deal or No Deal. ... Steve Berry is a British TV presenter and motorcycle expert. ... Chris Goffey was a presenter of the BBC motoring television series, Top Gear. ... Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English broadcaster and writer who specialises in motoring. ... Timothy Tiff Needell (born October 29, 1951 at Havant, Hampshire) is a British racing driver and television presenter. ... Quentin Willson (born July 23, 1957) is a British TV presenter and personality. ... Michele Newman is an English television presenter. ... Vicki Butler-Henderson (born February 16, 1972, in Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom) is a racing driver and presenter on British TV. She was educated at The Perse School for Girls in Cambridge. ... For the British body snatcher, James May, see London Burkers. ... Tony Mason is a British former rally co-driver and television presenter. ... Jason Barlow is a journalist and broadcaster. ... Brendan Coogan is a British television presenter, best known for previously presenting Top Gear on the BBC and for leaving the show following a drink driving conviction. ... Kate Humble is a UK television presenter, specialising in wildlife and science programmes. ... Jessica is a rock instrumental written by Dickey Betts, guitarist of The Allman Brothers Band. ... The Allman Brothers Band is a pioneering and innovative Southern rock group from Macon, Georgia originally popular in the 1970s, described by Rolling Stones George Kimball in 1971 as the best . ... Blue Moves is the eleventh studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1976 (see 1976 in music). ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Jon Bentley Jon Bentley has spent most of his working life engrossed in the demands of motoring television. ... BBC Two (or BBC2 as it was formerly styled) was the second UK television station to be aired by the BBC. History The channel was scheduled to begin at 7:20pm on April 20, 1964 and show an evening of light entertainment, starting with the comedy show The Alberts and... For other uses, see PAL (disambiguation). ... 576i is the shorthand name for a video mode. ... Anamorphic widescreen is a cinematography and photography technique for capturing a widescreen picture on standard 35mm film. ... Top Gear is a BAFTA[1], Multi-NTA and Emmy Award-winning BBC television series about motor vehicles, mainly cars. ... Top Gear Motorsport was a spin-off programme of Top Gear broadcast by the BBC covering motorsport. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... The Mailbox, current home to BBC Birmingham BBC Birmingham is one of the oldest regional arms of the BBC. It was the first region outside of London to start brodcasting both the corporations radio (in 1922) and television (in 1948) transmissions from the Sutton Coldfield television transmitter. ... Angela Rippon, OBE (born October 12, 1944) is a well-known British television journalist and lesbian. ... Noel Ernest Edmonds (born 22 December 1948 in Ilford, Essex) is a British television presenter, DJ, executive who made his name on BBC Radio 1 in the UK. He is more recently known as the presenter of the television gameshow Deal or No Deal. ... William Woollard (born 20 August 1939 in London) is best known for presenting the BBC television programmes, Top Gear and Tomorrows World. ... Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson (born 11 April 1960) is an English broadcaster and writer who specialises in motoring. ... Top Gear is a BAFTA[1], Multi-NTA and Emmy Award-winning BBC television series about motor vehicles, mainly cars. ...

History

Top Gear started in 1977 as a local programme made by BBC Birmingham (Pebble Mill) who offered it to BBC2.^[1][2] Presenters included Noel Edmonds and William Woollard, with contributions by Peter Burgess, Frank Page, Sue Baker], Tiff Needell, Tony Mason and Chris Goffey, father of Supergrass drummer, Danny Goffey. The show's theme music was "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers, although remixed versions were used after 1999. For much of the original series' lifespan, Elton John's instrumental "Out Of The Blue" (from the Blue Moves album) played over the closing credits. Pebble Mill Studios were located in the leafy suburbs of Birmingham, England. ... BBC Two (or BBC2 as it was formerly styled) was the second UK television station to be aired by the BBC. History The channel was scheduled to begin at 7:20pm on April 20, 1964 and show an evening of light entertainment, starting with the comedy show The Alberts and... Timothy Tiff Needell (born October 29, 1951 at Havant, Hampshire) is a British racing driver and television presenter. ... Tony Mason served as the head football coach at the University of Arizona from 1977 to 1979. ... Chris Goffey was a presenter of the BBC motoring television series, Top Gear. ... REDIRECT Template:Infobox Musician For the witnesses who betray information about associated criminals, see Supergrass (informer). ... Daniel Goffey (born on February 7, 1974) is the drummer for popular Britpop group Supergrass. ... This article may not be written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia entry. ... The Allman Brothers Band is a pioneering and innovative Southern rock group from Macon, Georgia originally popular in the 1970s, described by Rolling Stones George Kimball in 1971 as the best . ... This article is about the year. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Blue Moves is the eleventh studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John, released in 1976 (see 1976 in music). ...

Originally, Top Gear was a magazine show reviewing new car models and other car-related issues such as road safety. Other features included classic car events and motorsport, the latter often rallying with Tony Mason, Roger Clark's co-driver. Between 1988 and 1991, the programme organised a competition each year to find a new rally driver with the prize being entry into that year's RAC Rally.^[3] In 1987, former Formula One driver Tiff Needell joined the programme, and following the arrival of then-Performance Car Magazine journalist Jeremy Clarkson in late 1988^[4], the programme saw a massive boost in its audience as it became a more humorous, controversial, and unashamedly more critical show. In 1991, William Woollard left the show. Around the same time, Quentin Willson, a former used car salesman, joined. The 1990s also saw the addition of a new female presenter, Michele Newman, who still appears on ITV's Pulling Power. Other presenters included Steve Berry, whose speciality was motorbikes, and racing driver Vicki Butler-Henderson, who joined in 1997. Ford Model A Four-door 1948 Buick Eight convertible 1959 Chevrolet Impala A yank tank or maquina in Havana, Cuba Another yank tank in Havana 1967 Ford Mustang Coupe Classic car is a term frequently used to describe an older car, but the exact meaning is subject to differences in... Auto racing (also known as automobile racing or autosport) is a sport involving racing automobiles. ... Petter Solberg driving on gravel at the 2006 Cyprus Rally, a World Rally Championship event. ... Roger Albert Clark, MBE, (born August 5, 1939, died January 12, 1998) was a British rally driver during the 1960s and 70s, and the first competitor from his country to win a World Rally Championship (WRC) event when he triumphed at the 1976 RAC Rally. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... The RAC Rally is the best-known motor rally in the UK. It is a round in the international rallying championship. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... F1 redirects here. ... Quentin Willson (born 23 July 1957) is a British TV presenter and personality. ... Michele Newman is an English television presenter. ... For other uses, see ITV (disambiguation). ... Pulling Power is a regional motoring programme shown only in the Central Television region on ITV1[citation needed]. Presenters include Mike Brewer, Michele Newman and Mike Rutherford. ... Steve Berry is a British TV presenter and motorcycle expert. ... Vicki Butler-Henderson (born February 16, 1972, in Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom) is a racing driver and presenter on British TV. She was educated at The Perse School for Girls in Cambridge. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

Among the show's producers were Phil Franklin, Brian Strachan, Jon Bentley and Ken Pollock. Executive producers were Derek Smith, Dennis Adams and Tom Ross.

Despite enduring criticism that the show was overly macho, encouraged irresponsible driving behaviour ^[5] and ignored the environment, under Clarkson's presentation the show pulled in huge audiences. It became hugely influential with motor manufacturers, since a critical word from the Top Gear team could have a severe negative effect on sales. One such example is the original Vauxhall Vectra about which Clarkson said: "I know it's the replacement for the Cavalier. I know. But I'm telling you it's just a box on wheels." However, even more critical statements have not affected sales of the Toyota Corolla, and extreme praise did not help the Renault Alpine GTA/A610. 1992 Opel Vectra 2. ... The Vauxhall Cavalier was a large family car sold primarily in the UK by Vauxhall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors from 1976 to 1995. ... The Toyota Corolla is a compact car produced by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. ... The Renault Alpine GTA and Renault Alpine A610 were two successive versions of a coupe automobile produced by the Renault-owned French manufacturer Alpine between 1986 and 1995. ...

Demise

Following Jeremy Clarkson's departure in 1999 the Top Gear audience fell from a peak of six million to under three million.^{[citation needed]} Initially, James May took over Clarkson's spot, presenting reviews of the Rover 75 and Lexus IS200, for example. Following Clarkson's departure, the programme was joint-presented by Quentin Willson and Kate Humble, who ran an ongoing test throughout the programme between reports. Brendan Coogan (who had joined in 1998), left the show a year later after being convicted of drunk driving.^[6][7] In 2000, Jason Barlow joined from Channel 4's driven, and took over presenting for the final 53 episodes.^[8] With low viewing figures, the BBC decided on cancelling the programme in 2001. For the British body snatcher, James May, see London Burkers. ... The Rover 75 (codenamed R40 during development) is an executive car produced initially by the Rover Group at Cowley, Oxfordshire, UK, and later by MG Rover at their Longbridge site in Birmingham, UK. The Rover 75 was available with either a saloon or estate body and, latterly, with front-wheel... The Lexus IS is a rear-wheel drive, compact luxury sports sedan manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corp. ... Kate Humble is a UK television presenter, specialising in wildlife and science programmes. ... Jason Barlow is a journalist and broadcaster. ... This article is about the British television station. ... The title of this article should be driven. ...

In 2001, Five launched Fifth Gear, a car show featuring many of the former Top Gear presenters including Tiff Needell, Quentin Willson and Vicki Butler-Henderson as well as with some of the Top Gear production team. The name change was required as the BBC would not relinquish the rights to the Top Gear name (the corporation were (and are) still publishing Top Gear magazine). ^[9] After the first series of Fifth Gear was completed, the BBC decided to relaunch Top Gear, but in a new studio-based format as opposed to the magazine format used until the cancellation. The show was again presented by Jeremy Clarkson, joined by Richard Hammond, and James May, from the second series of the current format. The pre-cancellation show is referred to as "Old Top Gear" when mentioned on the new show due to the differences in style. Five (often referred as five, as per the logo), formerly, and more commonly known as Channel 5, is the British fifth and final national analogue terrestrial TV channel. ... This article is about the TV series. ... Top Gear is a BAFTA[1], Multi-NTA and Emmy Award-winning BBC television series about motor vehicles, mainly cars. ... Richard Mark Hammond (born December 19, 1969 in Birmingham), nicknamed Hamster, is an English television and radio presenter best known for co-presenting the television programme Top Gear along with James May and Jeremy Clarkson from 2002 onwards, and co-hosting the live annual motoring show, MPH, in Earls Court...

Spin-offs and competitors

Top Gear was a title sponsor of the 1987 and 1988 Formula 1 "Winter Series", the 1990 and 1991 Historic Rally Championships and the 1992 and 1993 British Rally Championships.^[10] Formula One, abbreviated to F1 and also known as Grand Prix racing, is the highest class of single-seat open-wheel auto racing. ... The British Rally Championship is a yearly rallying series based in Great Britain. ...

Due to the success of the main show, other motoring shows on the BBC also carried the Top Gear name including coverage of the British Motor Show, a show dedicated to motorsport, presented by Tiff Needell, Top Gear Motorsport and the Lombard RAC Rally highlights show Top Gear Rally Report. In September 1993, a spin-off magazine, Top Gear Magazine, was launched, featuring articles and columns from the presenters and additional contributors. The magazine has become the UK's best selling car magazine (as of August 2006). The British Motor Show is an automobile show held bi-annually in the United Kingdom. ... Top Gear Motorsport was a spin-off programme of Top Gear broadcast by the BBC covering motorsport. ... Rally GB, or Rally Great Britain, is the largest and most high profile motor rally in the United Kingdom. ... Rally Report was a programme broadcast by the BBC covering the RAC Rally of Great Britain. ... Top Gear is a car magazine published by BBC Worldwide, and named after the BBCs Top Gear television show. ...

During the 1990s, Top Gear had a radio spin off, the Top Gear Radio Show, presented by Steve Berry, and available on BBC Radio Five Live. Steve Berry is a British TV presenter and motorcycle expert. ... BBC Radio Five Live is the BBCs radio service providing live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries. ...

Since the early 1990s, the annual Top Gear J. D. Power Top 100 survey has consulted thousands of UK residents on their car-ownership satisfaction. For legal reasons concerning the non-commercial nature of the BBC, the actual consultation is now restricted to the magazine format, although the results are still used on the show. The survey is now conducted by Experian. J.D. Power is a consumers information resource providing ratings on everything from cars to restaurants. ... Experian is a global information solutions company, with operations in over 30 countries around the world, including the USA, UK, most European countries, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, China, Japan and Australia. ...

The Top Gear Video Game was not associated with the BBC TV series and the BBC won a court case blocking its creators from obtaining a trademark for it. ^[10] This article is about the SNES game, for other uses of Top Gear see Top Gear (disambiguation) Top Gear (Top Racer in Japan), is a 1992 video game for the Super NES, published by Kemco and developed by Gremlin Graphics. ...

After Top Gear's success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, a number of competing programmes were introduced, including Channel 4's Driven, ITV's Pulling Power and BBC World's India's Wheels. Some of the presenters on Driven would go on to present Top Gear. This article is about the British television station. ... For other uses, see ITV (disambiguation). ... World News bulletins form the main part of the channels daily schedule. ...

Car of the Year

Each year, Top Gear announced their Car of the Year. Winners have included:

• 1998 – Ford Puma 1.7
• 1999 – Ford Focus (Mk1)
• 2000 – Fiat Multipla
• 2001 – Ford Mondeo

2001 Ford Puma 1. ... The Ford Focus is a small family car made by Ford and sold in most Ford markets worldwide. ... The Fiat Multipla is the name given to two different automobiles manufactured by Fiat, the first from 1956 to 1965, and the second from 1998 to the present. ... The Ford Mondeo is a large family car sold by the Ford Motor Company in various markets throughout the world. ...

Car survey

From 1994, the magazine conducted a customer satisfaction survey that was published every April to reveal how satisfying certain cars were to own. The results were announced on the programme, though the full details were only included in the magazine.

The Toyota Corolla was winner of the first four surveys, with the Subaru Impreza winning the survey in 1998 and 1999, and the Subaru Legacy in 2000 and 2001. For the high-performance versions of the Impreza, see Subaru Impreza WRX and Subaru Impreza WRX STi The Subaru Impreza is a compact car that was first introduced by Subaru in 1993. ... The Legacy is a mid-size car introduced by the Japanese manufacturer Subaru in February 1989 as a larger, upscale companion to the companys Leone/Loyale and currently serves as the flagship model in the Subaru range. ...

The lowest-ranking cars in the surveys were the Vauxhall Frontera in 1994, Ford Escort in 1995, Lada Samara in both 1996 and 1997, Vauxhall Vectra in 1998, Ford Galaxy in 1999 and the Vauxhall Sintra in 2000 and 2001. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Ford Escort was a compact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1967 through 2003. ... Lada Samara The Lada Samara was a Soviet automobile produced from 1984 until 2004. ... The Sintra was an MPV sold by General Motors in Europe, badged as an Opel, except in the UK, where it was badged as a Vauxhall. ...

In 1998, Skoda was rated as the most satisfying brand of car in the survey and these findings made the headlines - just a few years earlier, the brand had been the butt of many jokes about the sub-standard design and quality of earlier cars. The Japanese marques - particularly Subaru, Toyota, Honda and Mazda - also received high ratings in Top Gear surveys. Similar praise went to the likes of BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Volvo. In contrast, many marques received heavy criticism in the surveys - particularly Lada, Fiat, Vauxhall, Peugeot and Alfa Romeo. The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... For other uses, see Subaru (disambiguation). ... This article is about the automaker. ... This article is about the Japanese motor corporation. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see BMW (disambiguation). ... South Korean business tycoon Chung Ju-yung, founder and honorary chairman of Hyundai Group, 1998 Hyundai refers to a group of companies founded by Chung Ju-yung in South Korea, and related organizations. ... KIA or Kia may mean: Killed in action Kirby Ian Andersen Kings Indian Attack, a chess opening Kuwait Investment Authority Kachin Independence Army, in Kachin State, Myanmar Kia Motors Kia Asamiya, a popular Japanese manga artist. ... For information on Mitsubishi brand computer monitors, see NEC-Mitsubishi Electronics Display of America Inc. ... Nissan Motor Co. ... Volvo Cars is the luxury car maker using the Volvo Trademark. ... For other uses, see Lada (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fiat (disambiguation). ... Vauxhall is an inner city area of south London in the London Borough of Lambeth. ... Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën. ... Alfa Romeo is an Italian automobile manufacturing company, founded as Darracq Italiana by Cavaliere Ugo Stella, an aristocrat from Milan in partnership with the French automobile firm of Alexandre Darracq. ...

See also

• Top Gear
• Top Gear (magazine)
• Rally Report

Top Gear is a BAFTA[1], Multi-NTA and Emmy Award-winning BBC television series about motor vehicles, mainly cars. ... Top Gear is a car magazine published by BBC Worldwide, and named after the BBCs Top Gear television show. ... Rally Report was a programme broadcast by the BBC covering the RAC Rally of Great Britain. ...

Footnotes

Kate Humble is a UK television presenter, specialising in wildlife and science programmes. ...

External links

• Top Gear at bbc.co.uk
• History of Top Gear at the Guardian