
Talk show · BBC One
Top Gear
The world’s biggest motoring show.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Top Gear actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Top Gear reads strongest on Bingeability, Character Depth and Emotional Weight.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
The story
What it's about
This fast-paced and stunt-filled motor show tests whether cars, both mundane and extraordinary, live up to their manufacturers' claims. The long-running show travels to locations around the world, performing extreme stunts and challenges to see what the featured cars are capable of doing. The current hosts are Paddy Mcguinness, Chris Harris and Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff.
The run
Seasons
33 seasons · 218 episodes.

Season 0 · Complete
Specials
2003100 episodes
A series of specials starting in January 28th 2003. Includes specials like Stars in Fast Cars and Best of Top Gear.
Best episode · S00E20 Top Ground Gear Force

Season 1 · Complete
Series 1
200210 episodes
7.0IMDbThe first series of the relaunched television series Top Gear was broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two starting on 20 October 2002, and concluding on 29 December 2002, and contained 10 episodes. The series included presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and Jason Dawe. This was Dawe's only series as a presenter on Top Gear.
Best episode · S01E10 Episode 10

Season 2 · Complete
Series 2
200310 episodes
7.2IMDbThe second series of the television series Top Gear began on 11 May 2003, and concluded on 27 July 2003. The series featured 10 episodes. The series was subsequently followed by one "Best Of Top Gear" episode, charting the best moments from Series 1 and 2. The series was the first to be recorded with James May, as the first series featured motoring enthusiast Jason Dawe.
Best episode · S02E01 Episode 1

Season 3 · Complete
Series 3
20039 episodes
7.2IMDbThe third series of Top Gear began on 26 October 2003, and concluded on 28 December 2003. The series featured 9 episodes. The series was subsequently followed by one "Best Of Top Gear" special, charting the best moments from the series. The series was the first series of Top Gear to get more than 10 million viewers for an episode.
Best episode · S03E05 Episode 5

Season 4 · Complete
Series 4
200410 episodes
7.3IMDbThe fourth series of Top Gear began on 9 May 2004, and concluded on 1 August 2004. The series contained 10 episodes. The series was subsequently followed by one "Best Of Top Gear" special, charting the best moments from the series, and "Stars In Fast Cars", a Sport Relief charity special, which later spawned its own series.
Best episode · S04E05 Episode 5

Season 5 · Complete
Series 5
20049 episodes
7.2IMDbThe fifth series of Top Gear began in the United Kingdom on 24 October 2004 and concluded on 26 December 2004. The series contained 9 episodes. The series was subsequently followed by one "Best Of Top Gear" special, which aired 2 January 2005, charting the best moments from Series 4 and 5.
Best episode · S05E02 Episode 2

Season 6 · Complete
Series 6
200511 episodes
7.3IMDbThe sixth series of Top Gear aired on 22 May 2005 and concluded on 7 August 2005. A total of 11 episodes were broadcast, the most of any Top Gear series. It also began the, "Some say..." introduction to the Stig
Best episode · S06E03 Episode 3

Season 7 · Complete
Series 7
20057 episodes
7.1IMDbThe seventh series of Top Gear began on 13 November 2005, and concluded on 27 December 2005. The series contained seven episodes, one of which being the Winter Olympics special. The series was subsequently followed by five "Best Of Top Gear" specials, charting the best moments from past series of the show, including Supercars, Special Guests, British Motoring and The Challenges. The seventh series is currently the longest-running Top Gear series yet.
Best episode · S07E05 Episode 5

Season 8 · Complete
Series 8
20068 episodes
7.5IMDbThe eighth series of Top Gear began on 7 May and concluded on 30 July 2006. The series featured eight episodes. Over 150 complaints were received regarding actions carried out in the sixth episode, ultimately resulting in a caravan being burnt. Clarkson later proclaimed that it was not an 'accident' as first implied, but a publicity stunt to show everyone how much Top Gear hate caravans.
Best episode · S08E03 Episode 3

Season 9 · Complete
Series 9
20076 episodes
7.1IMDbThe ninth series of Top Gear began on 28 January 2007 and concluded on 4 March 2007. The series featured six episodes, with a further two specials, broadcast afterwards. The series also included one "Best Of Top Gear" special, charting the best moments from Series 8 and 9.
Best episode · S09E01 Episode 1

Season 10 · Complete
Series 10
200710 episodes
6.9IMDbTop Gear returned for a tenth series, containing 10 episodes, broadcast between 7 October 2007 and 23 December 2007. It was claimed that between the filming of the ninth and tenth series, rival motoring magazine Fifth Gear broke into the Top Gear premises and burnt down the Cool Wall. However, it was later revealed that the incident was a publicity stunt dreamed up between old friends Clarkson and Vicki Butler-Henderson. The opening episode of the series mentions the incident. The series was followed by four "Best Of Top Gear" specials, charting the best moments from the series. The "Top Ground Gear Force" special also aired as part of the series.
Best episode · S10E04 Botswana Special

Season 11 · Complete
Series 11
20086 episodes
7.4IMDbThe 11th series of Top Gear was broadcast between 22 June 2008 and 27 July 2008, in show's usual time slot of 8pm on Sunday on BBC Two. The series consists of six episodes. This series included a revised title sequence, following the same visual style as with the sequence used for Series 8 through 10, but incorporating footage from the two prior series. A new character was introduced in the first episode of the series. Also for the first five episodes of this series, the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" becomes "Stars in a Reasonably Priced Car", featuring two celebrity guests every week, each one setting an individual laptime. In May 2008, after series producer Andy Wilman held a brainstorming session with the presenters and other production staff, various facts about the upcoming series were released. Wilman confirmed that series 11 would see the presenters, Clarkson, Hammond and May, gain more control over the flow of the show's popular news segment. The series included running jokes appearing in each episode: Clarkson showing an image he claims to have found on "the Internet" which is censored for the television broadcast; and, in the news section, May appearing to feign enthusiasm whilst presenting a brief news item about the Dacia Sandero with no further discussion before they move on to the next item.
Best episode · S11E06 Episode 6

Season 12 · Complete
Series 12
20088 episodes
7.6IMDbThe 12th series of Top Gear contained eight episodes, and premiered on 2 November 2008, with the usual presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig. Clarkson was injured while filming the series, after crashing a lorry through a brick wall at 56 mph in the first episode's HGV challenge. The running joke regarding the Dacia Sandero continues from series 11, with the alteration that Clarkson is now the one making the announcement with feigned enthusiasm, to utter indifference from May. Each news segment also features one of the hosts wearing something unusual, like slippers or a garishly patterned shirt. The only reference to this is that one of the other hosts will, at some point in the segment, ask if they're wearing it for a bet. The Stig, instead of listening to music during power laps, now listens to morse code. The final episode, the "Top Gear: Vietnam Special", aired two weeks after the rest of the series as part of the BBC's Christmas line-up. The series was followed by four "Best Of Top Gear" specials, charting the best moments from Series 11 and 12.
Best episode · S12E08 Vietnam Special

Season 13 · Complete
Series 13
20097 episodes
7.4IMDbTop Gear returned to BBC Two for a 13th series on 21 June 2009, with the usual presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig. The series contained 7 episodes. Despite forced budget cuts, series 13 contained new challenges, new power tests, more foreign travel and more races. Features include the Top Gear Race to the North, a race from London to Edinburgh between steam locomotive No. 60163 Tornado with Jeremy riding in the cab of the train, James May in a Jaguar XK120 and Richard Hammond on a Vincent Black Shadow motorbike, Richard and James racing a letter sent by the Royal Mail in a Porsche Panamera, and a review of the best cars for 17-year-olds. Glamour model and Page 3 girl Madison Welch also made an appearance in the sixth episode.
Best episode · S13E02 Episode 2

Season 14 · Complete
Series 14
20097 episodes
7.5IMDbTop Gear returned for a 14th series, aired on BBC Two and BBC HD, on 15 November 2009, with the usual presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig. The series contained 7 episodes. Episode 1 featured the team being sent to find the Transfăgărăşan road in Romania with Jeremy in an Aston Martin DBS Volante, Richard in a Ferrari California and James in a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder. Episode 2 featured Jeremy, Richard and James attempting to build an electric car better than a G-Wiz. Episode 3 featured a road trip between James May in a caravan airship and Richard Hammond in a Lamborghini Balboni. Episode 4 featured a road test of Renault Twingo RS 133, before being driven off the docks in Belfast. Episode 5 featured Jeremy, James and Richard taking over an art gallery in Middlesbrough and filling it with motoring-related works, in attempt to prove "cars can be art too". In the style of their trips to Vietnam, Botswana, the North Pole and the United States, Episode 6 was a 75-minute special from Bolivia. Episode 7 featured Jeremy's worldwide review of the BMW X6, including visits to Hong Kong, Spain, Barbados and Australia. The series was followed by four "Best Of Top Gear" specials, charting the best moments from Series 13 and 14.
Best episode · S14E01 Episode 1

Season 15 · Complete
Series 15
20106 episodes
7.6IMDbTop Gear returned for a 15th series, aired on BBC Two and BBC HD, on 27 June 2010, and concluded on 1 August 2010, with the usual presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig. Prior to the series, the channel advertised the show's return by featuring a home video originally published to YouTube. In the clip, the parents of a young boy see the Top Gear crew filming the motorhome challenge. The over-excited responses of the parents were adapted to produce the trailer. Several segments which were recorded for the series were missed out, including Jeremy travelling from the most westerly point at sunset to the most easterly point at sunrise in the new Jaguar XJ, and the return of Jonathan Ross to the reasonably priced car. The series was followed by two "Best Of Top Gear" specials, charting the best moments from the series.
Best episode · S15E04 Episode 4

Season 16 · Complete
Series 16
20116 episodes
7.6IMDbThe sixteenth series of BBC motoring series Top Gear began airing on 21 December 2010, with the usual team of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, and The Stig.
Best episode · S16E02 Episode 2

Season 17 · Complete
Series 17
20116 episodes
7.6IMDbThe seventeenth series of British motoring program Top Gear began on BBC Two and BBC HD, on 26 June 2011, with the usual presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig.
Best episode · S17E02 Episode 2

Season 18 · Complete
Series 18
20127 episodes
7.7IMDbThe eighteenth series of British motoring programme Top Gear began on BBC Two and BBC HD, on 29 January 2012, preceded by a Christmas special on 28 December 2011, with the usual presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig. One segment that was due to appear in the series, which featured May driving a jet plane around the test track, was not broadcast for unknown reasons, although it appeared in the Challenges 6 DVD and it showed it would have been part of the Saab feature in the series.
Best episode · S18E01 Episode 1

Season 19 · Complete
Series 19
20137 episodes
7.7IMDbThe nineteenth series of British motoring programme Top Gear began on BBC Two and BBC HD, on 27 January 2013, with the usual presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig.
Best episode · S19E06 Africa Special (1)

Season 20 · Complete
Series 20
20136 episodes
7.5IMDbBest episode · S20E03 Episode 3

Season 21 · Complete
Series 21
20147 episodes
7.8IMDbThe twenty-first series of British motoring programme Top Gear is currently in the works, with the usual presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig. Currently, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond are working on a new DVD, entitled "The Perfect Road Trip". They have been seen around Monaco filming footage. Jeremy Clarkson confirmed on Twitter on September 16 that he'd started filming for Series 21.
Best episode · S21E07 Burma Special (2)

Season 22 · Complete
Series 22
20158 episodes
7.4IMDbA slightly disjointed series with the departure of Clarkson, Hammond and May
Best episode · S22E08 Episode 8

Season 23 · Complete
Series 23
20166 episodes
4.0IMDbThe twenty-third series of Top Gear was aired during 2016 on BBC Two and consisted of six episodes, beginning on 29 May and concluding on 3 July, it was planned to feature ten episodes, but this was revised following concerns the series would conflict with the two major sporting events of Summer 2016, despite the fact it was broadcast alongside UEFA Euro 2016 tournament. Following the departure of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, this series featured a new hosting line-up that consisted of Chris Evans, Matt LeBlanc, Sabine Schmitz, Chris Harris, Rory Reid and Eddie Jordan.
Best episode · S23E03 Episode 3

Season 24 · Complete
Series 24
20177 episodes
5.2IMDbBest episode · S24E03 Episode 3

Season 25 · Complete
Series 25
20186 episodes
6.3IMDbBest episode · S25E03 Episode 3

Season 26 · Complete
Series 26
20195 episodes
5.5IMDb
Season 27 · Complete
Series 27
20195 episodes
5.1IMDbBest episode · S27E01 Episode 1

Season 28 · Complete
Series 28
20206 episodes
8.3IMDb
Season 29 · Complete
Series 29
20205 episodes
7.8IMDb
Season 30 · Complete
Series 30
20214 episodes
7.0IMDb
Season 31 · Complete
Series 31
20215 episodes

Season 32 · Complete
Series 32
20225 episodes
7.0IMDb
Season 33 · Complete
Series 33
20225 episodes
7.4IMDb
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.

S00E12
Polar Special
The distance between Resolute in northern Canada and the magnetic North Pole at Ellef Ringnes Island is 450 miles. It's a journey across sea ice and unforgiving mountainous terrain where temperatures can drop to minus 65ºC - a temperature at which exposed skin can freeze in less than 30 seconds. Only fools would attempt such a journey. So Jeremy and James are attempting to do it in the now legendary Toyota Hilux and Richard hopes to make it on a sled pulled by ten Canadian Inuit dogs. Watch the complaints from environmentalists roll in.

S00E34
Middle East Special
In a special extended version of the programme, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May embark on an appropriately seasonal road trip as they attempt to follow the path of the Three Wise Men across the Middle East.

S12E08
Vietnam Special
Arriving in Vietnam, Jeremy, Richard and James have to travel the entire length of the country in just eight days. But first they have to buy some suitable transport for the trip, and despite having several million Dong in their pockets, this proves to be rather more difficult than they expected, especially in one of the most expensive car markets in the world.

S00E69
Patagonia Special (2)
Jeremy, Richard and James will take a Porsche 928, Lotus Esprit and Ford Mustang through their most grueling challenge to date: a 1600-mile trek through Patagonia to the southernmost city in the world, in order to stage an epic game of car football against Argentina. There will be swamps, deserts, forests, beaches, and ski slopes for the three V8 sports cars to suffer. There will also be broken bones, mechanical calamities and even some cows. Plus, a climax that wasn’t really on the cards.

S21E07
Burma Special (2)
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May continue their journey in three ancient and barely functioning trucks, heading toward their final challenge - building a bridge over River Kwai in Thailand. Having climbed mountains and endured a Burmese trucker stop, they must now venture into the Shan state, an area rife with civil war and normally closed to Western TV crews.

S19E06
Africa Special (1)
In the first of a two-part Top Gear special, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are in Africa with a simple mission - to find the definitive source of the Nile. Over the years many explorers claim to have already done just that, but the Top Gear trio believe that they can do better by travelling further and faster than any exploration team in history using only grit, ingenuity and three ageing estate cars.
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Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Nick DaltonProducer
- Gary HunterExecutive Producer
- Alex RentonExecutive Producer
- Stephanie FoxProducer
- Aurora MulliganProducer
- Luke HollandsProducer
Writing
- James MenziesWriter
Direction
- Mark McQueenDirector
- Brian KleinDirector
- Jon RichardsDirector
- Nigel SimpkissDirector
- Phil ChurchwardDirector
- Ollie BartlettDirector
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