Overview - Top Gear

Overview

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.

Seasons

• Name: Specials

  Episode: 99

  A series of specials starting in January 28th 2003. Includes specials like Stars in Fast Cars and Best of Top Gear.

  Date first aired: 2003-01-28

• Name: Series 1

  Episode: 10

  The 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.

  Date first aired: 2002-10-20

• Name: Series 2

  Episode: 10

  The 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.

  Date first aired: 2003-05-11

• Name: Series 3

  Episode: 9

  The 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.

  Date first aired: 2003-10-26

• Name: Series 4

  Episode: 10

  The 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.

  Date first aired: 2004-05-09

• Name: Series 5

  Episode: 9

  The 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.

  Date first aired: 2004-10-24

• Name: Series 6

  Episode: 11

  The 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

  Date first aired: 2005-05-22

• Name: Series 7

  Episode: 7

  The 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.

  Date first aired: 2005-11-13

• Name: Series 8

  Episode: 8

  The 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.

  Date first aired: 2006-05-07