Welcome back. Good blog. Actually I liked the Avantime piece (and the V8 Blender!) – it was the Blackpool run that didn’t do it for me but each to their own.

I liked all the programmes so far but did not show enough of the anvantime but overall what a series so far can’t wait 4 sunday

Vietnam? can’t wait for hat! keep up the good work.

I am really looking forward to the fifth episode! Really liked the last one, each next one is even better.

I like the Avantime, but the V8 Blender it was horible,cos it was full of …things:D.The last episode was great, but the first one was amazing,with the lorries.I am eally looking forward to the fifth episode! Hope the Sunday come soon !

Fret not Mr Wilman – the vast majority of TG watchers would tune in just to see the lads spending an hour talking about crisps !! Most important question though – what’s going on with the odd clothing range (Hammond’s jacket, Jezza’s slippers )? Expecting Slow to turn up this week in a tutu.

I liked the Avantime one too – I love the idea of taking a stock car and fighting rocketships with it, using nothing but hard work. Same reason I liked bonneville really – it wasn’t a carefully orchestrated ‘cockup’ the successes and failures seemed real. And being nice to americans for once was a nice change, and expertly time – people like america now. On the minus side, the economy race (though entertaining for nerds like me) went on slightly too long, and some of the edits are rough, but otherwise: this series has been great.

I’m enjoying the series so far. Is the stunt man going to make a return? Also in a magazine related issue where is Emma Parker Bowles gone? She said in her last column she would be doing something different for Top Gear but that was months ago and I half expected to see her on the TV show. Any answers there??

Simon Moistbourne RIP!!

Avantime film was a bit flat and didn’t really go anywhere, but the rest is so good, who cares. USA was a highlight.

I have to say I didn’t enjoy the Switzerland to Blackpool race as much as I thought, but to be honest, JC irked me from the start by complaining they were all doomed so he wasn’t even going to try. However, the ending did surprise me – James is always the straight man for the other two loons, but when Hamster and Jezza got to Blackpool, I did wonder if James would simply step out from the side of the stage having beaten them to it by dint of not arsing about. Mind you, I admired the concept – my paranoia means I never go anywhere with less than half a tank, just in case. My lack of enjoyment also has nothing to do with the show – TG is as brilliant as ever, and to be honest I have the greatest sympathy for AW & everyone involved in it-the longer you go on producing excellent shows like TG, the pressure is on to keep coming up with new and entertaining ways to showcase the same thing – cars. Everyone from the cameraman trying to get a fresh angle to the presenters trying to come up with new-yet-witty descriptions feels the weight of our viewer expectations like anvils plonked on each shoulder. I’m a writer and there is nothing worse than being wide awake at 3am with your mind blank and the clock remorselessly ticking away every second until you’re expected to poll up chirpy and cheerful at 6am with witty prose equal to that of Wodehouse or Waugh. And let’s not forget that our boys aren’t – the 3 presenters are the wrong side of 40, so is AW and half the crew; sometimes the spirit may be willing but the flesh has velcoed itself to the mattress and is giving the finger. I did wonder whether, having incorporated cars, caravans, vans and trucks if the show will venture into motorcycles as well to give more scope for TG’s trademark “ambitious but rubbish” ethos. On second thoughts, maybe not…

Don’t get over-analytical Andy. You can’t please everybody for 60 minutes every week but you can please everybody for at least some of every show. And you do that very well thank you.

Well I’m loving every minute. I’m not a Hammond Heavener, but I know a few. And there’s quite a few that fancy you as well, Mr Wilman. Don’t be shy! (BTW: presumably their wives/girlfriend find them attractive…). Personally I’m not letting on about my preferences (not here, anyway).

I was thinking about the question of the ’spark’ between them – it is different from the start. I don’t know how well they knew each other before new TG, but they seem to have settled into a brotherly kind of relationship – they know each other well enough for insults etc to just bounce off, or what sort of response they’re going to get to something. I kind of like it – it certainly seems unforced.

And whilst I think there is a place for the big one off specials, I liked the idea of the Aventine, even if it didn’t quite work. The V8 blender was absolutely brilliant – and shows the lads at their best – when they think of something slightly off the wall to do with an everyday object that the rest of us would either never think of or just wouldn’t know how to do, or quite honestly have the money to – like the remote control cars, or the boats.

All the best to you all making TG, and keep up the good work!

Personally I found the Avantime programme one of the best of this four first episodes, because it had an interesting car (very unsual, rare, maybe a future classic),lots of car technology (Suspension, engine etc.) and the usual top gear how hard can it be concept. I also liked the fiat 500 abarth review, and reading now that there’s going to be a fiesta review, I’m glad to see that top gear returns to reviewing affordable cars like it did at the first 5 or 6 series. ok, I don’t want you to review a huyndai i10 or a daihatsu cuore, but cars like alfa romeo mito, twingo rs and other hot hatches are very interesting. and please stop doing only 1 review per show! in the olden days there were times when you were reviewing 4 cars… just no more stars in the reasonably priced car.

Hammond wont be happy with that ‘wrong side of 40′ comment TheCatsWhiskers lol

I have watched Top Gear for as long as I can remember… from way back when Tiff and Quentin were in the mix, and Jeremy was the young upstart. Well, youngish.

But I have noticed over recent series that the spark between Jezza, Hamster and Cpt Slow has seemed a little tired now… things seem to feel a little forced. Whilst I, like many faithful viewers know, that they all have a spark between them, but it somehow feels that with the pressure of attracting bigger and bigger audiences, the demand to be funnier and be more entertaining is taking its toll. Their banter does not feel so sharp, not so instinctive. It’s great when I can tell a funny moment which is unrehearsed has occurred, as that is when we see them at their best, but the rehearsed jokes just feel strained now, as the wider audience has put pressure on the show to move its focus to all round entertainment, rather than cars.

This saddens me, as the cars, and the hosts enjoyment (or otherwise) of the cars, is what I loved about TG. Yeah – JC being a cock is funny and all the crazy challenges bring a smile, but I wonder how long it can continue for, before it falls flat? I’d be very interested to know what you think.

In that respect, the Economy Run and America Trip was a return to classic form for this seres… yet, I hated the Truck Driver show… just annoyed me, and had nothing to do with cars. So is there a case to be made for keeping slightly lower audience figures, in order to keep the quality and integrity of the show?

dear Andy.
please IGNORE EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WAS SAID within that topic on Hammond Heaven. In particular anything regarding naked mole rats. We are all very sensible and grown up ladies there who wouldn’t dream of stooping to such levels…*cough*

Top Gear is Top Gear, whether there are explosions or not. I’d watch it even if a whole series would be dedicated to carriages, because the thing which I like the most about TG is the ‘**** the world’ attitude to making the show. Stuff like the Ascari vs. Materia in the last series or something similar.

As for this series, all four episodes were awesome, I really enjoyed watching ‘em.

Hey Andy, if your running out of things to do on top gear, why not bring the boys to Targa Tasmania. Let them loose on australias most famous round state tarmac rally.

rock on.

Thanks, Andy, for a great update. I’m one of the Hammond Heaveners of which you speak, and the question of ’spark’ raised a pretty intense debate for about three minutes, before we got on to the very important topic of what the unutterably gorgeous James May keeps down his trousers. A Very Big Spanner was the conclusion…

Seriously though, I know Top Gear has its critics, but those of us who are fans, and who watch the show and its endless repeats watch it becuase we love it, and we always will.

a very big spanner was YOUR conclusion, beckstar….

You can tell that the show is trying a bit too hard , eg the v8 blender , but the most of it is genius and the most entertaining tv since the last series of top gear . Keep up the good work !

i loved the first two episodes of this series but 3 and 4 have been bit…well boring compared to others. ok MSdosser, your right trucks and cars are very different, but it was still great fun to watch.
hopefully the series will be exciting from now

WHEN IS HORSEPOWER AND FAST AND DANGEROUS COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wow and i thought i was sad for finding hammond quite cute on paul o’grady last night but apparently there is a whole new level into which i hope never to venture….

says the girl who loves mcfly and can’t count how many times she’s seen them on two hands….

but did you know that hammond did look rather dishy in the africa special…i don’t know whether it was the tight tee shirt or MY HAT…but ohhh nice…..and then he ruined that with everything else he wore that series….

hmm ramble trying to get out of work….

one day i will work on this show…..i don’t know how and i don’t know when….but i will. i’m determined…and when i do i’ma make you get mcfly on so i can laugh at them…and i would take control of hammonds wardrobe and HAIR….why HAS he stolen a farmer’s hair this series???

loveit.

Bubble: well, what other conclusion would you expect Becks to come to?
*grins*

Agree with your assessment of the episodes to date so really looking forward to the rest. Can’t believe the pressure you put yourself under making the programmes and worse, reading the feedback, but love the results so many thanks and keep it up.

actually, there is a point: could someone please tell the makeup lady to stop fluffing hammonds hair up so much every week in the studio? it’s fine when he’s left to his own devises out and about, but on studio-day, that nice lady makes it all ellnett-y and flammable.

not that I watch Top Gear for hammonds hair, you see….

(stephanie: Becks is biased and ill-informed. we all know who has the spanner down his pants in this get-up)

Hey Andy….

Sadly, m’dear, I’m coming to you with a complaint. You said you had issues with the third episode of this series, well, it has to be said, so did I. In fact, at one point, I was brought to the point of being made almost physically sick by the antics of the Hammond, the Clarkson, and the May.

This was due to the fact that the V8 blender segment, as off the wall and as “pointless” (as some I’ve seen have called it) made me laugh harder than I have ever laughed in my life. I laughed until I cried, laughed until I coughed, then coughed until I almost puked. It’s just a good thing, Monsieur Wilman, that I am not a regular purchaser of Tena Lady.

As for the rest of the series – really didnt like the lorries in the first ‘un, it was too forced, a bit too “let’s be stupid”. Really enjoyed the second one, I rejoiced along with the boys when they all reached their targets at the salt plains and cheered when May found a new lease of life and speed out on them windy back roads. The third – FANTASTIC…please have no worries about it, it’s up there for me with the Botswana trip and the original amphibious cars. The fourth, also excellent, and the Blackpool trip wasnt as dull as it appeared to be when it first started out!!

Looking forward in anticipation to the fifth installment, I’m sure all of us will find something to enjoy. You can’t please everyone all of the time, but more often than not, you lot please *all* of the people some of the time.

And as for the spark between the boys – that’s why I watch the show. I’m first to admit that I’m not all that into cars – havent even got a full licence and will probably end up with a Peugeot. Believe me, if I even thought that that spark was gone, and that the relationship between the boys had changed, I’d be the first to turn off. If anything I think the relationship between the boys now is deeper than ever it was, and I love it.

As for Hammond Heaven – I’m an relieved ex-member. If you can track down the usually much more mature Hammond’s Hamsters, you’ll see that some of us do have a slightly deeper level of appreciation for the boys. As for why we fancy them? Personality. You can keep your Pitts and Beckhams, give me Clarkson, Hammond and May any day.

And while I’m here, thanks, mate, for being an complete and utter genius.

what are u talking about top gear has never ever ever failed to deliver every week it is brilliant and then u have to get through the rest of the week but it is okay in the knowledge that top gear is on sunday night and the lads never disapoint. the banter between the three make the show and u can tell that they are best mates as they now what gets up the others nose.

best show in the world

oh andy was watching an old clarkson series how long have u work with him?

on a more serious and *gasp* car-related note, my favourite challenges have always been the cheap crap cars ones, so andy, please don’t think it’s all about a bigger budget and grander ideas, it almost seems like the crapper the cars, the more fun the mishaps (see cheap supercars, 100quid cars, US special). I quite liked the lorry challenge too, as it was utterly bonkers and reckless, but it lacked a proper challenge to give it meaning, like making the boys actually deliver something somewhere at a certain time. as it was, it was just them mucking about on a test track. fun, but a little pointless, unlike things like the car russian roulette that james and richard did…that was great.

TOPGEAR IS THE BEST HOUR ON TELEVISION GIVEN ANYTIME OR GIVEN ANYTHING S@#T???

I just want to say that I’ve seen all TG episodes more than once. I really like this show. I live in Serbia, where we don’t get it on our tellys, and English isn’t me native tongue, but that can’t put me off. I think that TG is on of the greatest things on TV, and I’m not the only one who thinks so over here.
Now, series 12… I think it’s one of the best you guys ever did.
Thank you, and keep up the good work.

Only 8 Shows?!?!?! wtf? We only had 6 in the last series followed by weeks of re-runs so obviously there is room for more shows & the demand is definately there for more shows. I was expecting 10 – 12 shows for this series.

TOPGEAR IS THE BEST HOUR ON TELEVISION GIVEN ANYTIME OR GIVEN ANYTHING S@#T???

Well Said!!

Hammond is & will always be super gorgeous:D

Well Said…:D

The “spark” is always shining bright for me!

I absolutely adore the chemistry between the TG3 – believe me Andy, its by far the best programme on tv.

Does Anyone Know When & Where Hammonds Next Signing Is?

I have to say that I think this series has been less patchy than the last one, and I enjoyed the Avantime film, as it proved that the guys can be “ambitious but less rubbish” when they try. The Blackpool film was no less gripping than any of the hyper car races, not because of speed, but just because you were on the edge of the seat wondering if they’d make it!

We all have to accept that there will be dips at times, as everyone has a subjective sense of humour, and a different idea of what is entertaining. I still see the magic between the guys, which was very evident on the USA trip, (One of the best films yet), and I think that becomes more apparent when you watch them separately, whether it’s advertising fish, or James & his solo shows, enjoyable as they are. The sum is definitely greater than the parts.

I for one would watch if they were only road testing crisps (chips, for our colonial friends), just to hear James rubbish all these modern flavours like cheese & onion….. The question is, how many Torques do you get from a packet of worcester sauce? (And I don’t mean the multipack size!)

It is still the best thing on telly, the highlight of my week, and, yes, I do watch all the reruns on BBC2/3, & Dave. Sad, aren’t I?

Although I am glad you like to see what your viewers think of the show, Andy, please bear in mind that HH is a fangirl site and we all get a bit silly at times. Don’t dare take it seriously. I sure as hell don’t! Though we do sometimes manage a mature converation about the show for a page or two before someone drags back to naked mole rats, wedding vegetables or spanners.

(hello ickle! Missing you)

Just watched repeat of the orginal US road trip. When JC returns with the cow!! Hammonds response! everytime I see it,it makes me wet myself. “What i’m seeing… and your not gonna believe this… what im seeing,is a cow on the roof of your Camaro” Is this not the funniest moment on TG ever?!

Well so far I thought that the series has been great. In my opinion the challenges have been better than the ones in season 11 (except for the GT-R race across Japan. THAT was an instant classic.) I thought the race to blackpool was rather clever, and I think is in tune with the times. So far it has been a great season, and I can’t wait for the rest!!!
p.s. Even if Top Gear isn’t as brilliant as the producers expect it to be, it still is one of the best pieces of television historically.

Mr Wilman,

to be perfectly honest with you, I find the rapport that the guys have is so refreshingly good fun that, that is the reason why I watch the show. I’m not a petrolhead, however, I do find that the relaxation I gain from just an hour in the company of my television and to be honest my DVD, plus the guys on a Sunday evening set’s me up for a busy week ahead. I find the humour between the guys very infectious, Jeremy’s sarcastic tone, James’s relaxed manner and Richard’s boyishness, (even though he is almost 40 he still looks like the boy next door type to me), cheeky and good fun.

Creating a show that is now watched by millions worldwide is a phenomonen, I am sure other producers wish they had thought of it years ago

Congratulations to you all and continues success.

Andy, the show is fantastic and always has been!! I have a reminder in my phone set for 7pm repeating every Sunday to ensure that even if i’m nowhere near a TV I still have an hour to find one before TG starts….no other show can boast that ha ha. Anyway, one thing i’ve noticed this series (and to some extent the last) is that some of the scripting can be a little wooden in the studio. It’s as though the guys aren’t enjoying themselves as much as they used to and it comes across to the audience. The whole Dacia Sandero joke died a fair few episodes ago i’m afraid and I do cringe slightly when James is forced to try to make it funny each time. Maybe the guys could have a slightly looser script where they need to fill in the gaps themselves to make it a little more natural? However, trying to keep everything fresh 100% of the time is impossible so I feel for the job you guys have but I want to congratulate you all on producing THE BEST programme that has ever graced our screens. The races, the tasks, the car reviews, the banter is fantastic and I wouldn’t want it any other way!! One more thing though, let’s please have a race where the end isn’t predictable in the sense that Jezza always wins LOL!!

Good Work to everyone at TG!!
Bracey

Re: Bracey’s commment –
Jezza didn’t win last week’s race

Don’t fret Andy, this series has already been miles ahead of Series 11!

Take a good chunk of time off starting in January, if you can. Get everybody all rested up. Come back with Series 13 next fall if you have to, but please, don’t stop producing the awesome product that is Top Gear!

Brian,
Maryland, USA

a roll cage in a bus? surely that really would be scaffolding. it’d have to be.

You got me curious about the Fiesta thing though, which is something impressive really… I mean… I’m excited to see a test of a Ford Fiesta; how’d that happen?

also, regarding the comment above me. Jezza didn’t win the cheap supercars thing either. James did in his Lambo if you remember. and i believe May won the cheap Coupe thing too. actually, may does quite well.. he won the BL challenge as well with his brown austin princess (or was it a marina? i forget)

I’ve noticed that there seem to be people out here who expect every episode of Top gear to be exactly what THEY want it to be otherwise they start to complain immediately. But when some of the fans are divided between those who want a car programme and those who want a comedy show, you’re not going to be able to please everyone all the time. You always manage to get the balance right over each series I think.

For me, the best thing about the show is watching the guys enjoying whatever they happen to be doing – which means I enjoy it every week . I’ve never met them but it’s like catching up with old friends every Sunday night who have outrageous tales and jokes to tell about what they’ve got up to during the week. That kind of spark never fades.

So I want to say a huge thank you to you, Jeremy, James and Richard, and all the crew who work on the show, not least for saving my sanity on numerous occasions by being the only programme on tv that has been able to make me laugh till my ribs snap more times than I can count. (I’d also like say that I nearly became the first recorded case of ‘death by index’ after reading the last few pages of the Big Book of Top Gear)

I’ll stop there before I get all emotional and descend into the kind of mushy sentimentality that requires lots of hugging and would make James feel uncomfortable…

“We the undersigned hereby petition the BBC to pay Jonothan Ross’ wage to Top Gear Executive Producer, Andy Wilman, in recognition of his tireless work, and huge part in creating one of the BBC’s flagship shows”.

Whaddya think?

Seconded.

So Moved.

Approved.

The eco test was still good, it’s OK! Driving some ordinary cars is not gonna hurt our TG loving! Not at all, so keep on rolling!

Just wanted to apologise for my earlier comment about “hating” the Truck challenge. That made me sound like an ungrateful git, which I’m not, as I really love TG. I just felt it all seemed a bit OTT… trying too hard for laughs, and to be as ‘whacky’ as possible… that’s all. Doesn’t mean I won’t be watching next week though…

You’ve seen Hammond Heaven!?!?!

Im assuming that’d be the photoshopped movie pictures section as well then.

I dont know whether to be chuffed or run like heck!

Although James did make a very fetching Princess Leia.

*legs it*

You guys are doing an absolutely amazing job! After quite a few years, we still can’t get enough of Top Gear and so it may continue to be!

I think so far this series has been fantastic! I did like the Avantime challenge, the lorries were so entertaining, having the Bugatti round the test track was a dream come true, and the Blackpool race was really funny! As always, it was the small things and the connection between the boys that keeps everything running!

It was absolutely hilarious when James found out that Jeremy and Richard had packed a transaxle for a lorry in his boot

Well, the episodes have been different compared to each other but all had their laughs and charms. Yes, the US one was the best but so were the others.

I can kinda see that it may seem a bit forced but perhaps the boys needs a break. Isn’t it time to take some time off to relax, do what they want to do eg. pub, the Ivy and buying crap cars on Ebay? Recharge the ‘batteries’ and then return.

Looking forward to the next episode:)

Hi Andy, i know this is probably the wrong person and the wrong place but i just wanted to ask if there is any chance of getting the car photos and galleries on the website like on the last site and also if there is any chance of more games like the others?

Thanks Andy.
Yes you can see the Guys are tired, as demand grows they become spread even thinner.
In a way I’m sad, because when it was ‘just a car show’ I sorta had them all to myself; a guilty pleasue on a Sunday evening! So to speak…

Hmmm large spanner, really?

Stevi: i forgot about that thread!!

I have liked the series thus far anyway.
I didnt think that the blackpool race was not paced enough. I found it funny until it gets to the point of winning, then im shouting at the tv screen.

Ive got to say, well said helen. Totally agree.

I agree completely Andy, Top Gear is funniest and most entertaining when…..well, when its not really trying to be. I love the show completely and i agree that Bonneville shone through for me this series.

I just have one piece of advice…

…don’t ever stop!

top gears pretty good
lookin foward to sundfays show should be good

Hey Andy, can you please suggest to Hammond that he stops going to Rod Stewards hairdresser!
About the newest episodes, they are all brilliant in their own way.
Looking forward to more Top Gear

I love Top gear, no matter what. and can i just point out to thecatswhiskers that Hammond is 38, coming up 39, so technically still right side of 40 (I’msad like that, I cant drag myself out of top gear sites)

I think that the economy race was hilarious. i thought the truck one was aswell. Bus racing eh? That should be good.

hey beckstar, I am seriously worried on your James May discussion, I thoguht Hammond Heaven was for weirdo’s with a crush on Richard, not psycho’s discussing James May’s pants!

I am right in line with you, with the shows I enjoyed and didn’t enjoy as much. The Avantime was an interesting piece, but it just didn’t have the kind of magic that makes it something I’d watch over and over.

If you need an idea man, I have posted a lot of ideas in the forums on Final Gear. Just contact Mr. Nice, I’m available.

I think in many ways the show is growing from stregth to stregth, as the boundaries of filming and possiabilities are always changing, like Top Gear itself.

Yes you have all raised the bar very high with specials like the Noth Pole and Africa, but they are what they say they are “Specials”, on a week to week basies you as a team still deliever highly fueled, honest entertainment with facts thrown in (Sorry Jeremey there are facts in there somewhere ).

The natural humour is still there and if you are lucky enough to see it filmed live, it comes over in abundance. I can only imagine how you are achieving it and holding TG Live together, alot of red bull and coffee comes to mind.

As for bring new ideas to the show, I have heard you are always asking for the audience to send them in. Can you give us an email or snail mail address so fellow TG fans can send in ideas that may be possiable. Apart from that just keep being yourselves why ruin a popular and sucessful formular.

Brill blog Andy as usual! I missed them this series!!

I’m sure it does get harder to come up with new ideas, I (and I’m sure many others) have tons of them if you ask, although some are not very ambitious and totally rubbish!

Just do what you feel is right, of course you can never please everyone but remember someones is always going to like the idea even if its just me (and all the other girls from Hammond Heaven, yes I am a member!) because in my opinion Top Gear is the best show in the world (yes I have said that before and to everyone I know!) and just alone the chemistry between the boys and the camera work and editing would draw me in.

Umm…well that’s my honest opinion.:D
Hope you write another one soon.

Maisy

Re: extrapreneur’s post:

Hammond Heaven is mostly full of Richard obsessives, but the delectable and lovely Mr May has his fair share of admirers too, and even Jezza has his admirers. What we all have in common, though, is that WE know how to use the apostrophe correctly…

Avantime one wasn’t good. Show overall hasn’t been so good as I’m used to. However, I liked the “blackpool” one.

REALLY looking forward to the special, as always

Well….

Im a member of Hammond Heaven, I must admit I like Richard -OK, I do find him attractive as like some of you blokes fancy Angelina Jolie…

Andy… you certainly havent seen No Hamster No Comment site, its a ‘little’ racier version of Hammond Heaven (its well tucked away in the abyss of Hammond Heaven – ask the girlies on that site for the directions that’s if you have any! ;o) )

The reason I love the programme and the lads is the fantastic rapport and friendship between them as you can’t get anything like that on other programmes as the reactions between them are genuine. I really love the humour that goes on which brings out my inner child and wanting to be misbehave! I’m pleased that I had the privilege of going to the TG filming twice and following on what was being said which was really challenging (I’m profoundly deaf)!

Andy… I honestly think you are wasted behind the camera, why dont you go in the front of the camera and do a challenge with the guys??

One more thing….

Hide the booze from James, will ya??? That green look doesnt suit him at Top Gear Live

This series, so far, ROCKS!!
Enjoying this one more than the last, although the last series was pretty bloody brilliant too!!
The harder it gets, the better it becomes. Nice one.

Andy, you’ve basically summed up the answer about the spark between the boys. I have said a couple of times that I’m a little bit worried that with the boys being in higher demand with their own shows and commitments away from Top Gear (so they’re not doing as much together) as well as doing more stuff, that it’s all okay if the chemistry doesn’t change for the worst. It’s great that we’re seeing the boys more, but people do need to remember that with higher demands, they have less time even to themselves and must get really tired. Tiredness can lead to stress and that’s when you things like banter can become arguments and fallouts. I love to see the boys as much as others, but don’t want it to where things change and all goes badly. There’s nothing worse than forced chemistry. We also don’t want them to overdo things and one of them becomes ill.

Andy, you didn’t waffle. You gave your thoughts, summing things up and so we’re giving you are feedback, whether it is good or bad and that’s a good idea. It shows that you guys are listening to the fans and what they want and it helps with ideas and success. That is one way a programme works and one reason why TG is still very much as popular and growing. How many other shows can you say that about? There’s many programmes which were popular and got cancelled mostly because they got old and people got bored with them.

Oh come on Andy, you are a bloke just like the boys and so would not see the same things that us girls see, such as in the boys. It’s the same that we don’t see what you guys see in some women. So it works both ways. Some of the reasons the boys appeal to women is because of the way they are – themselves. There’s several other reasons too.

As for returning to the innocence, sometimes it doesn’t hurt to get back to basics and bring in cheep challenges back home like the Cheep Porsches, Old Italian Supercars, Cheep Coupes. (Any chance of a challenge set in East Anglia such as Suffolk?). Oh and James’ power test was a refreshing change and Sunday’s episode had a nice mixture and balance. One thing though please let James do a Stig intro and sole commentary now and then for a change. The V8 blender was something different too and it reminded me of the appliance car from a few years ago and showed Jezza putting his doctorite onto practice. Another thing I like is paired roadtests/challenges when you get James and Jezza/Richard together and personally think that they work well. I’m watching one of my favourite challenges at the moment with the Reliant Space Shuttle and would love to see James and Richard having another go at a similar type of challenge.

I do have to say that I was one of the very few who liked the TG Stuntman segments, partly because it gave James his own little segment.

One thing I have seen a few people mention is about dropping the SIARPC segment. I find that sometimes it makes the show seem rushed. I personally don’t think that dropping the segment would be a major loss to the show because that would give an extra few minutes to add on to something or show something else.

Now the Cool Wall I haven’t really missed. I do feel that the last time they had it, the banter seemed a bit forced.

i wonder whats happening on the last episode of this series but anyway the rest are fantastic!

Relax honey I haven’t watched anything on Top Gear yet that didn’t beat almost anything else on TV.

You must be under enormous pressure trying to come up with new ideas, but surely venturing into Hammond Heaven is taking it too far?! As a member (a discerning Jezza fangirl I’ll have you know) I have now had to think back over everything I’ve ever written there – just in case and it isn’t doing my blood pressure any good!

When/if we make Jez win the Heat magazine Weird Crush Of The Year I hope you’ll mock him as is your duty.

Anyway I shall go but just to let you know that you have your own fangirls Mr. Wilman and if you dig any deeper on the interwebs you just might find them

Like the comment/essay above me says the show is at its best when the banter is not forced, because when it is it just ends up being a bit over the top. You don’t need to try hard to be funny its better when you don’t.

Don’t know what you mean about the Avantime run! That has to be one of my top favourite Top Gear episodes EVER. What with Jeremy’s V8 blender and that ‘Back to the studio!’ banter; not to mention the Häkkinen film!

Keep up the good work, you amazing man!

Honestly, this has not been the worst season by a long shot. I was almost bored with the “trying too hard” that has been described back when they were trying to make space shuttles out of reliants…THAT was trying too hard.

I have found this seasons pace, cleverly relaxing.

If you are looking for input though, please curtail, if not eliminate the SIARPC segment. A few of the guests have been entertaining (Vinnie Jones & JK come to mind), but I could not give less of a crap about most of them.

I like the way you have expanded your horizons to the US, Japan, as non-continental european locales, although you still have alot left to explore.

I would like to see some classic supercars get a good pasting by the STIG. Where would an F-40, F-50, XJ220, McLaren F1, Bugatti EB110, Ruf “Yellow Bird”, etc. end up on the Lap board. There are a host of cars that may have been reviewed prior to the 2002 TG “renaissance” that deserve to be revisited.

More moder stuff like the Saleen S7(TT), and a few locations (East TN/NC border road known as “the dragon”), pikes peak, etc. that could do with some attention.

end absurdly long post.

I really enjoyed the Avantime episode but I would really like it James could be allowed to speak a little bit about the mechanics of the cars. Some of us (and probably a few more but would never admit it) who watch Top Gear don’t have much of a clue about the actual workings of the car. It is funny when Jeremy pretends to fall asleep and takes the piss out of him but I’m sure I’m not the only one who would be interested if James were allowed to speak a little bit longer.
Just a little bit occasionally.

Nice one for owning up to some things and reconising the kind of stuff us viewers have mentioned. The trip to America has been the best episode yet because it felt really honest and quite natural to watch. It ended on a high with the presenters achieving their speed targets and the cars weren’t bad either.

Only 8 episodes this series? That’s dissapointing, the BBC have got your budget on a piece of string. Cut costs, show more episodes.

We don’t need road tests in Japan or a big expensive trip to Vietnam. Just the usual honest banter of the three presenters whilst on the basis of road testing cars.

If you would like my C.V! Give me a shout!

I like a bit of variety in the shows, I don’t think you need to apologise. Some are stronger then others, but each one is a little gem in it’s own right.

Top Gear is Top Gear, just doing what you all do, is enough for us lot.

Have a good week

Would it surprise you if any *man* from this solar system found “those three” attractive?

I loved the Bonneville episode and James in Finland. However, the Avantime and Lorrie shows were forgetful.

Some good comments on this blog, and some completely irrelevant ones too.

Take away the Star in the reasonably priced car & the news section.

Together those two segments can take up to 20 minutes of the program which is basically the amount of time Fifth Gear spends on adverts.

I am sure if Fifth Gear didn’t have the burden of showing commercials then it would use that free time a lot better.

This is especially when you repeat outakes from previous shows in later episodes. I.e. The Peugeot with the loft.

That just makes me roll my eyes in go and get the kettle on. Top Gear got famous for it’s excellent production of road tests and the banter of the three presenters. Not fixing the show to make everything a disaster, not offending the state of Alabama just to provoke them into attacking a film the crew in order to make good tele and certaintly not inviting terrible guests on the show every damn week.

Please Andy, is there any news on the possisbility of Lewis Hamilton coming back to Top Gear and is their any explaination for the Veyron looking so tame on the test track? Surely you could of just fixed it anyway, I am so sick of the anti-climatic ends to the show.

I LOVED the Blackpool episode. The premise was amazing and even my mother enjoyed it!! Loving everything, as usual!

The v8 blender ruled…..but being a car mechanic at a tuning house i found the avantime thing irritating, but it was still funny….Keep rolling it out, and i’d love for you to bring back the old challenges with the ’stupidly small amount of money for some top marque cars’ challenges such as the budget lambos, porsches etc…..just classic TV

And for Lee taylor, the Veyron is so heavy that it would not be good in the corners – its just built for speed, and everyone knows inside that the Mclaren F1 LM would pound that Hyper Beetle right off the track!

Hammond Heaven: the place for mumsies and dopey teens to witter and sqee, when they should really be trying to look less fat and more intelligent.

If you want a live model for a V8 stairlift I have a parental volunteer (altho I would increase her life insurance before letting her near Jeremys inventions).

Seriously tho, its worth toying with those ideas, no the stuntman didnt work really last season, but experiements like the v8 blender bring light relief as one offs.

As for SIRPC, its beginning to have out run its time there is room for redevolpment there. maybe a drag race agaist the stig or something if you have to have celebreties there. In my mind the cars are the stars of the shows and the boys bring the comic humour and humanity to it.

Hello Andy, I hope you are reading these comments, because then you will reaise that no matter what is on each show, no matter what those saddos who love Fifth Gear say, Top Gear will always be the best programme on TV, everyone who watches it are immediately hooked, because it’s educational, humorous, explosive, crazy, caravan killing FUN!!!!!!

All real TG fans will not have a word said against the show, yes, there will always be shows that are not as good as others, just as there will always be people ready to point that out, but that just makes you appreciate the best shows even more.

By the way, must have a look at this Hammond Heaven website – not that Hammond does anything for me, I like men to have a bit of height, and meat on their bones!!!!

Stig’s Shed : Evidently you haven’t visited the site and had a thorough rummage through the threads. Your generalisation is a little ignorant. You’d be amazed at the cross section of women who are members.

There are several men too.

top gear has been good so far but no menshion about the focus rs jet i do hop they have it on soon but bring on thr fiesta

Stig’s Shed – unlike you, of course who is so obviously handsome & smart you have to resort to insulting people you don’t know on a public forum to boost your tiny little ego.

Get out the playground mate.

What happened to the men on HH huh?

And just because we support people wholeheartedly, it doesn’t make us mumsy or dopey.

The lorries show was ok. America was good. Avantime was bad, very bad. Blackpool was ok.
I’m waiting to hear abt Vietnam. Did you lot race against the Vietcong?

I AM NOT MUMMSIE..NOT A DOPEY TEEN AND I CERTAINLY DO NOT WITTER AND SQUEE!

I AM DEFINATELY NOT FAT AND I AM VERY INTELLIGENT! THANK YOU!

BUT I DO READ HAMMOND HEAVEN

I really do think that this current series is as fresh as any other the boys have done. Really. Ive loved every single episode ive ever seen of top gear (and ive seen all of the). The spark is definetly still there for me,

Stig’s Shed, HH is a great place!

We’re not all mumsy or dopey. We have a love for the show and Jeremy, James and Richard too.

I suppose you’re someone who watches Fifth Gear a lot given the fact that you’re slagging Top Gear.

Stigs Shed: there was really no need for that, now was there?
87 replies of happily co-existing between squeeing yet intelligent women and people with input about the show and then you came along. why?

Small naked mole rat.

Bring on episode 5. I look forward to the race between Richard and James. I don’t care how many times I’ve said it. I’ll say it again. I love your travel challenges, but most of all I always have and always will love Top Gear. I think Debs, Jan2, and Lee Taylor have some great points about the show that I definately agree with, because I like it for so many of the same reasons. It teaches you about cars in such a way that not only are you learning something, it’s also entertaining enough to hold your attention (At least for me, I can’t speak for everyone.) As always, I enjoy the show and look forward to the next one. Thank you.

BRING ON THE REST ON SEASON 12 SOOOOOOOO EXITED!!! WOOOO

I remember watching a bit of Clarkson’s Motorworld on Dave (about Vietnam). I personally think its a great place for a challenge, because like India, the transport is mental, the clip of the team riding dodgy scooters up a busy city street already looks funny, Oh yeah, I just remembered…what the hell is that weird pedal raft thing that Jeremy has in the intro…it looks like something that’s come straight out of Garry’s Mod …lol hilarious. I want to see him use that on the Thames instead of his powerboat.

Andy, please stop beating yourself up by getting maudlin, you are the brains behind the best show on the television. I love everything about Top Gear but the best pieces are when all three of them do something (usually daft) for the sheer love of doing it together. It doesn’t have to be sophisticated or set in an exotic location but please don’t loose the special TG sparkle by trying too hard or trying to do more than you can all comfortably manage.
I like to kid myself that I’m a sensible mature woman but that doesn’t stop me being one of Richard’s legion of adoring fans and who decided to waste that gorgeous head of hair on James when it would have looked so much better on me. Andy – you’re a star too and keep right on in there sweetie.

In the documentary about Vietnam they talked about how the vietnamese are very good at DIY transport. And that just made me think… Are the team by any chance making their own transport for Vietnam episode? Because that would be truly hilarious…it would probably be even more funny than the alabama trip…Imagine what they would come up with…I’m thinking along the lines of a bathtub with the front from a motorcycle, with a lawn mower engine in the back, or something ridiculous like that…
why not? lol

>>>Small naked mole rat.<<<
Was that aimed at Stig’s Shed, Juliet?
It’s really not nice to call people names… but hey ho ;o)

Andy, I must get this out of my system.

I really love your ostrich.

Anyway….. It’s great your blogging again, I’ve been missing them.

This series has been great, it just feels a little bit more scripted and less car orientated than it used to be, but as we know the guys have a crazy schedule at the moment, so it’s all forgiven.
Great blog Mr Wilman

Samantha

Hammond Heaven is just full of sad middle aged women who don’t actually care about cars, all they care about is cooing over Hammond. They really need to get some jobs and husbands.

So far I think this series is much better than series 11.

Best show in the world i hope it never ends!!!

Mr Wilman,

PLEASE DO NOT BE OVER CRITICAL!!!!

This series so far for me is one of the best. All four episodes have had me in stitches and I really enjoyed the Avantime piece.
I started watching Top Gear way back when my darling late brother would sit me down on a Sunday night and force me to watch it with him. Ever since then I have been hooked and never miss an episode.

Regarding the spark between the boys, like you said they are probably knackered! MPH, filming, columns to write, family commitments and the fact that you all probably haven’t had a day off in ages all contributes to the fact that it may not seem as fresh to other people. But having seen the TG 3 on stage I personally can rest assured that the spark is well and truly there.

My only request is after seeing last Sunday’s show, could we PLEASE have James testing more cars on the track! He’s really feeling his feet and its lovely to see him doing more.
Stig’s Shed – as a member of Hammond Heaven who is knocking on door number 30, I can confirm here and now that it is not full of dippy teens or mumsie types. It is a place for intelligent people unlike you to have intellectual discussions (do you even know what that means?) about a TV program that we all happened to enjoy of a Sunday evening!

And yes, I do fancy James May and I am damn proud of it!

*steps off soapbox*

To be an hher you need a sense of humour and an understanding of irony ( a bit like the boys themselves). Yes hh may have younger unmatured members, but it also covers many social demographics and thats the pleasure of it that like top gear itself it crosses every boundery of society. There are alot of married people and a majority have jobs or in education, or if we are lucky retired !Most of all we dont take ourselves seriously and we follow the code of tg

Amibiotus but …….???

if that makes you uncomfortable your problem…. we are quite happy supporting the show and or the presenter of our choice, harmlessly from the internet and if we are lucky in person….

Andy we are braver online than inperson so there is nothing to fear

Whoever said that HH is full of middle-aged women who don’t actually care about cars, shut up and go somewhere else if you don’t like Top Gear!

I’m single at the moment and I fancy James May but I have respect for Jeremy and Richard too.

Who said HH doesn’t have a section dedicated to cars?

How very wrong you are.

Good Evening Andy,

Top Gear is about escapism from the norm, as well as cars and some ludicrous challenges. This run has been very interesting: the lorries were very funny, the Bonneville trip was inspired, however there was a blip with the Avantime show. All the elements were there it just went a bit odd. I’m not surprised as the TG3’s schedules and your’s have been hugely busy.
I’d rather you had the occasional blip to make the normal episodes be on the money and the outstanding ones, even more stunning.
Funnily enough it reminds me of the first episode of series 11 where it was a little off.

The Blackpool programme was great, it was an interesting way to demonstrate how fuel efficient, modern cars are. Even if Jeremy doesn’t take it seriously until the end. The pace was perfect leading up to a tense finish. This kind of challenge engaged me from the start. It was also wonderful to see James do a bit more in the show. The divide can be seen as 2:1 with the presenters but this week it was 1:1:1. Will he ever do another power test?

I’m intrigued to see the rest of the films you and the Top Gear team have created for this series. The Ferrari Daytona v Raceboat and Vietnam expedition especially.

As you said about the spark between the guys; well it is always evident when they are having a laugh, whether it be during a challenge or the news.

“Hammond Heaven is just full of sad middle aged women who don’t actually care about cars, all they care about is cooing over Hammond. They really need to get some jobs and husbands”

I’d like to object to “sad”…
Well…so you say that a husband is the ultimate hapiness for a woman, really? You must be a husband, I’d like to hear your wife actually…I’m sure you are a firework…
And, my genius friend, the site is called “HAMMOND Heaven” so it may be a clue – think about that (thinking is when you see pictures and your head aches), oh and maybe you’ll be able to come out with some name, it will hurt just a little longer.
I don’t mind cars.

Awww bless – the person (presumably male or maybe an ex-HHer who wishes they were still a member lol) who called all of us HH members sad middle aged women etc etc didn’t dare leave their name, thus proving that they did not have enough conviction in their own comment!! And they probably made the right decision there as they could not have been more off-centre if they tried!!

I’m proudly not middle-aged, am married, was working until I decided to have my kids and do know one hell of alot about cars and I am also proud to be an HHer!! We’re a great bunch and the TG3 know that they are lucky to have us (as do you too now I suspect Mr W).

As for this latest TG series – pure genius as always. When a format has been on air for nearly 7 years, things must be tweaked, altered, tried, trashed etc etc just to keep it all fresh and all credit to you Andy and the rest of your decicated TG crew for keeping it just that. Bring on series 13 I say!! A longer one that this though

Forgot to mention (and I know before I did go on) the cars in the studio the Bugatti Veyron, Pagani Zonda F Roadster, Maserati Quattroporte and the model for the Lamborghini Estoque. It’s almost car heaven.

This series has been fantastic for cars too. I loved the Fiat 500 Abarth road test and I can’t wait to see the new Fiesta.

Hi Andy

The series is brilliant, there hasnt been a dud moment so far!

As for Hammond heaven, Im a manager of the site and i think it can be very cooy at times but that is just a group of girls getting carried away with themselves. We have had the odd interesting debate and discussion. I know a big group of the ladies (and a couple of guys) who are brilliant company down the pub. We regularly attend car shows and know an awful lot about them…some of us even have specialist cars…no not mobility wagons!

The cars that the TG3 create are brilliant and the help they do or do not receive from the Top Gear Technology Centre makes the idea a reality. Hi the Steve (the hands), Darren, Andy, Eric, Colin and any of the others we met.

Also sorry for the very late night call about Naked Ostrich!

Keep up the good work!!

Andy, if you’re having trouble coming up with new and exciting ideas, there’s a very simple solution: just recycle the old ones. It’s quite clear from the responses every time you flagellate yourself that we’ll all just lap it up anyway, over and over again. You seem to keep (deliberately?) forgetting that the primary appeal of TG isn’t the subject matter, even for those of us who regularly try to mount passing Monaros and have been watching TG religiously since Angela Rippon presented it. No, what we tune in for first and foremost are Jeremy, James and Richard. They’re the reason you get six million viewers, and they’re the reason most of us didn’t make it through the whole first hour of that flimsy, mass-produced tat that was TG Australia. So, as others here have suggested, perhaps the best idea would be to loosen the script a little bit, dial back the pressure, stop increasing their workload and simply let them go back to doing what they do best.

Ditto Hels,

I must say it was fabulous to meet some of the guys, including Steve, Matt, Colin and the gang.

Andy, if you need any help with ideas, please go over to HH or NHNC to ask us for help with ideas which we would be delighted to help. Actually, Ive got an idea……… ;o)

PS

Im not a cooey person, that has me reaching for a bucket and projectile vomit like hell.

PSS

Please tell Jezza to put his tongue back in his mouth after I *bumped* to him (I was the one wearing a killer red dress with stockings) at one of the hotels in Birmingham few weeks ago…. ;o)

No, I’m not sad!

You, Mr Tg Hater, you’re the loser!

Don’t just talk bad about yourselves!
I hugely respect and love Top Gear TV for what it is: Entertainment without the hidden strings pulled by the industry’s marketing departments.
I like the paper magazine & website- backing of it, as well. Straight talk and no hiding behind strangely technocratic-sounding piles of words bar of any substantial critique here. Raw opinions, raw cars -> together with a production that has heart&soul just means great fun!
Having fun with cars is your motto.
And even I who will never even think about going luxury / or even be able to afford it; will stay with you, showing a huge smile on my face!

The lorry/truck challenge was EPIC. Just as much fun to watch as the trip to the pole. Just keep this spirit rolling, stay true to yourself and don’t think too much about how-to ‘not-fail’.

The way you weaved this economy-challenge into some piece of daily life (although the footage of the lights-festival was a rather short scene) actually made for some very down-to-earth, yet interesting and humerous piece of entertainment. The news-segment on the all-so-colourful world of paint-jobs you can have on upmarket cars was exactly the way I have come to think of in recent years (had a non-original colour brought onto my car just last year (horizon-blue just looks better than rusty-ish & greyish tooth-white:: I do not expect that W124 to meet youngtimer-status-require ments ever again).

Well done, introducing such sensible themes into the superb mix of lunacy we love so much on Top Gear!
Stay true to yourself, keep being creative! With the power-laptime-board getting tighter and tighter at the top end, your way of inventing a winning formula anew will garantee years worth of petrol heads’ delight to come!

Me + my mate think Richard Hammond is fit as f**k (we luv his smile)n we love watchin top gear coz its a great show tht gets better every series

wens the cool wall back ?? – thats the best bit watchin Jeremy + Richard argue and fight haha

keep up the good work – enjoyin the series so far

And I’m not fat either!

I love Top Gear with all my heart and I think it’s great what the guys do for their fans.

Must everyone fight.

Can we focus on Andy’s blog please.

I LOVE this series. I loved the V8 blender and the American road trip. And I love Richard Hammond, his waistcoat and (I promise I am not joking) his hair. It amazes me how anyone, female or male, could find him unattractive.

And I thought that ‘Spanner waggin’ outtakes were more sparkly and shiny and natural than almost any other TG clip I’ve ever seen. It warmed my heart to know that despite their exhaustion and the pressure of delivering the goods week after week and potentially spending too much time together working hard on Top Gear live, their real, genuine friendship is stronger than ever.

If it was possible to graffiti a website I would write TOPGEAR4EVA in large pink writing all over this site.

I read Andy’s brilliant blog and probably wouldn’t have commented until I was made aware of the comments here.So firstly I’d like to respond to said comments.I object very strongly to being labeled like that.I have two adult children but those who know me know I’m in no way mumsie.I’m married and intelligent and have a job.As for the cars comment,I got into Top Gear in 2003 by way of a reawakened love of cars through getting addicted to racing games such as Gran Turismo,Need for speed and the awesome Burnout series about 10 years ago.My son tells all the lads at work that I’m the car geek in the family and know more about cars than him.The lovely ladies we met at MPH Birmingham 10 days ago will testify to the fact that I’m not interested in fashion,make up and all that girlie stuff.I’m proud to be a member of HH and NHNC and just happen to also love the boys,as much for the fun and joy they give us as for the cars.The site is a great way of keeping in touch with both all our friends we’ve made and what’s going on on TG.The show is the best thing on TV and I love it.The cars are fantastic which is what got me watching it and the boys were just a bonus,now they just happen to be my favourite people ever.So why don’t you try getting a life and leaving serious car and TG lovers alone.
And breathe.
Andy,would like to add to what so many others have already said,the show is brilliant.No one expects it too be perect every week,that would soon become boring,what we love is that it’s not perfect,it’s natural and unforced and above all,still as much fun as when I first started watching in 2003.Andy we love you xxxx

I’ve missed your insights, Mr Wilman. They’re utterly delightful.

I think this series is doing well, better than last one. It’s almost regained that sense of fun.

And to those saying that Top Gear should lose all those bits that make it what it is – an entertainment show for everyone, rather than a purely car show – watch Fifth Gear. Watch Top Gear in the nineties. Where, I must say, your bits are the most entertaining, and most like the show as it is today.

But Hammond Heaven – you’re a brave man, even braver than we gave you credit for, working with those three. I’ve been in there, and I’m still in therapy for the mental scarring.

Hope to hear more from you soon! And see more of you in cameos.

For all those knocking and insulting the girls at Hammond Heaven, how can you fling insults at people who you don’t know and likely have never even met before? I’m not a member of Hammond Heaven myself (anything to do with MSN) but I do lurk there and a few other boards and communities very regularly and have to say that I’ve found out some very valuble information at some of those boards that I unlikely would’ve found out otherwise. Yes some of them there can sometimes appear be a bit mad, which is understandable (most there are female and I expect some of the males here would probably be similar if there were beautiful female presenters) and yes there is the odd stuff which is probably more suited to the smut board perhaps. But there’s a lot of sensible stuff there as well (I thought that the spark related question there was a good one and as did Andy. It also sounded like it there was a little caring there too) as car related stuff. One thing I didn’t see at Hammond Heaven was the big debate/argument about the Veyron/Zonda.

And just as Samantha (#126) said; really this blog was to answer a question, suggest some things coming up to look forward to and a sort of review as well as Andy’s thoughts about what’s happened over the past episodes. It was also for feedback, not for insulting people. And to the girls from HH, some of those who are just here to fire insults, bash TG and just flame are basically trolls. My thoughts.

And on the subject of blogs I do have to say that I’ve been missing the blogs from the boys.

just to sum up…I refused an invitation for a dinner with friends on Sunday night…again…
Just to see the boys…
That says it all…can’t be perfect all the time…but I’ll always watch, with a grin…

I actually highly enjoyed the Avantime segment, so did my friend, who chose to spend 40 000 dollars on a honda accord instead of a BMW, luxury and comfort is everything to him, and it was an eye opener for him when he saw the amazing avantime.

I guess all the boys that grew up playing Gran Turismo would love the Avantime segment, it feels just like the game, where you get some money and add some brakes, suspension, and test out how your hard work has paid off.

Looking forward to the Lexus IS-F!!!

Loving this series so far, I think the Avantime piece was quite good, it showed how much you can do to a car and even though the boys didnt get it down to the Evo’s time they still took a considerable margin off, even if it was with a MDF splitter. THe Eco-race to Blackpool i think was quite good as well i mean the only car i expected to see at the finish line was Hammonds Polo Bluemotion and maybe Mays Subaru but who would have thought a twin-turbo Jaguar could do close to 1,000 miles, a car where you can have a/c and heated seats and radio and drive at so and so mph not 56 and still have enough in the tank to get another 120 miles. AW your being over-critical of your work your team and you have put into the show, like you said 8 weeks to get 8 weeks worth of recording and films done and youve had to go to Asia for the one-hour special. The V8 Blender thing was so funny i had tears coming out, i cant actually believe James and Richard actually drank some, surely not? A criticism i do have though is Where is the cool wall?!!!, you need to bring that into the series at least once or twice, personally i would slash the time the Celebrity gets as i find this part of the program (about 70% of the time) dreary and boring, i mean for example you had Mark Wahlberg on and Michael Parkinson, i was intrested throughout the Parky interview but was bored to hell by the Wahlberg one, im sorry but for some celebrities you could cut 3 or 4 minutes to give to the cool wall sometime during the series, the arguments are normally hilarious between Jezza and Hamster. Top Gear can entertain me for hours, sadly its only on an hour a week, but the pure comedy of the program and how it basically just sticks a middle finger upto all the issues round the world and says “F*** off, Im here to have fun and drive how i want” I also think that you should one time bring back the buy a cheap(enter type of or whatever here) car challenge. I love Top Gear it is the perfect program and im quite suprised it hasnt got a Primetime slot on a saturday night on BBC1 to be quite frank with about 1/4 billion people watching round the world and it being BBC2’s most watched program, with i think its around 8 million viewers. Loving the new series anyway and only hope it just gets better and better, which it most likely will with it being Top Gear.

Give the ZR1 a run in the test track perhaps? I really wanna know the time.

And also the CTS-V, if you have spare time please

I did not like the lorry challenge, i loved the second US trip, i liked the Avantime and i liked the Blackpool race.

And i nearly forgot, the Jag in the economirun, it has a huge petroltank, so it wasnt that suprising.

It’s great to see input from people involved like you once in a while.
You read… All those places? Wow. Just, wow.
HH can scare me sometimes, but I confess I lurk.
And really. That trio have to have some huge expectations on them, and they still deliver!
I mean really.
But keep going, keep it up. TG is still (and always will be) love! ^^

Becks seriously please tone it down. Insulting people who are less literate than others is uncalled for; not everyone knows how to punctuate every sentence, the same as not every person knows how to speak the language correctly. They learn but only with patience. This isn’t the place for anyone to be discussing the contents of James’ pants. He wouldn’t appreciate it and I doubt Andy does. Just comment on Andy’s work. Usually I’m not against the girlies gushing on here or elsewhere but it’s becoming really annoying, even to me, because it detracts from the work these guys are actually doing. Keep it for the boards please.

Well so far, it’s been a good season and so far (in my opinion) better than season 11. I don’t think the spark is not going away any time soon, they deffinately deserve a break after this. Keep up the good work, Wilman, we’re watching you!

PS: Do feel free to visit finalgear and Hammond Heaven more often. I know HH is a bit scary according to some people, but it’s alright once you get use to it.

Dear Andy,

First a thank you is in order as you keep on delivering great work you and everybody at Top Gear. It’s a very hard job and you deserve all the kudos there are!

I have only been a fan quite recently since earlier this year but I must say I got hooked instantly. Became a right proper Petrolhead and saw MPH 4 times… So I think it’s a testimonial to a job well done!

You all do a fantastic job, keep it up. We all love you!!

Fabienne (the one from Belgium!)

I understand how hard it can be to somehow manage to keep giving the fans what they want and need. I’m so glad to see that you’re occasionally looking at forums like finalgear.

You have to be careful of course not to take too much of that onboard though. You have to consider the very general appeal TG has now in the UK and how that’s no longer the petrolhead crowd. It now reaches across demographics and if you were to make a show to pander to the finalgear crowd (of which I’m one) I think you’ll lose that mass appeal and it will return to being a cult show for a narrow range of people.

If you were to for example (try and) tell Jeremy to not insult the 911 by not putting up it’s time, or stop insulting Americans and Diesels and the eco lobby, then you’d satisfy the small number of people who complain about those things sure, but you’d find that it becomes too “PC” and the show would lose it’s humour. We all know how each of the three feel about certain things and it wouldn’t be TG if it was sanitised.

Keep it up. I’ve watched TG since the late 70s when I was a little kid and expect I’ll continue until it finally ends. I hope the show outlives me though. I don’t want to hear it got finally cancelled forever like TOTP.

I’ve been out of the UK for a bit, but having just read everything it feels like it did when the chippendales first arrived (no criticism intended ladies).

Right on point.

I lost a little interest in the American ep, trying to be funny while not ‘being funny’ didn’t bring out the laughs, but the V8 blender the other week made up for that 10-fold

I think Top Gear should stop taking it all too seriously and trying too hard and go back to its innocent days of just testing and bashing cars.
That was fun…
The challenges are getting kinda boring….. Kinda………
Boring as in Top Gear sense though. Which is still much better than anything else on the TV.

One of my favorite bit of the show is the news and i’ld like to see more of that where the guys just go around bashing and fighting over cars and the system!
Plain, easy and simple!!

i think that this series of top gear is one of the best that you have done. Jeremy, Richard and James are so funny to watch together and i think that this is the best program on the earth!!! Literally every episode makes me cry with laughter. The best cars that they have shown are the Aston Martin DB9, Lamborghini Murchielago and the Audi R8!! Why does Richard like Porsche so much? They are horrible and look like they are trying to hard!!

I personally think every episode so far has been fantastic ! Top Gear is by far the best show on TV ! Please keep it that way. Cant wait til sunday’s episode it sounds ace Ferrari Daytona VS Stealth speed boat in Italy, Lexus IS-F VS BMW M3, Bus racing cant wait

Why thank you, Not the Stig, for berating me so eloquently, and congratulations on the excellently-placed semi-colon in your post.

I’m assuming I know you, since you called me by my diminutive? May I suggest you Google ’sense of humour’ or perhaps ‘irony’, and then come back to me in a forum other than this to explain why you see fit to be quite so rude to me in public?

i think this is the best every its sooo funny and you can still see the spark between them

*ahem*

Back to the studio…

Andy, your assessment of the episodes so far broadly matches mine. Personally, I do feel the show is at its best when the cocking about and falling over grows from the situations the lads are in and this is why episodes like America and Blackpool probably work better for me than Lorries and Avantime, which by necessity are more scripted. Having said that, Lorries was a good, solid series opener and I laughed my arse off watching it. Even so, the Avantime show had a lot of good stuff in it, and I notice from the comments on various fora the shows were still very well received. As an aside, a couple of days later I saw an Avantime in town and automatically pointed and laughed, even though I actually really like them (god only knows why). The poor bloke driving it had probably been getting that all day, from the look of exasperation on his face.

But as much as reflection and evaluation are important when it comes to refining the show and keeping it at the top of its field, try not to be over-critical of yourselves. With around 100 hours of television in the archives, it is inevitable that there will be the odd episode that doesn’t live up to your expectations. When that happens, by all means look at what went ‘wrong’ and learn the lessons, but then move on. Don’t waste energy – which will hopefully be in less short supply after the lads have recovered from Dublin (keep them away from the Guinness) – on worrying about what’s been and gone. You’re all on an unbelievably tight schedule at the moment and too much of that will just add to the pressure. I only hope you manage to fit some downtime in soon!

BTW, James in the Zonda was genius

OK! It took me ages to scroll down after that last person!
I would just like to add that YES I do fancy Richard..
I LOVE TG!!!!! All 3 of the guys are so entertaining to watch!

The world wil end in thirty days. Be afraid, be very afraid, you foolish mortals. Kneel before me.

I thought Stig’s Shed was being a git. Then I actually went to Hammond Heaven and read it for myself.

Nail on the head. Bullseye. Now they are all crying about it all being a bit of fun. I think hes got you all to a tee.

thanks 2 the lads who blog! we love u! TOP GEARRR RULEEESSS!!! WOOHOOOOO !!!!! I LOVED SUNDAYS SHOW, I CANT WAIT 4 THE NEXT 1!

I think Andy had a clear intention in mentioning Hammond Heaven and perhaps it is to calm down one or two of the more over-excited ladies on there…..

I also think this is not the place to be getting at each other – we’re all TG fans after all. You know why you watch and what you like and that is all that matters.

The show is great and having seen the guys at work they are professional and talented. Of course it is heavily scripted and planned but as James once said if you can’t handle that you need ‘to get a life’.

Love your work Andy – it cheers up what would be a dull Sunday night before work and is fab escapism. Long may it continue.

This weeks sounds amazing, bus racing with touring car drivers, sounds awesome.

Mr. Wilman,

I do agree with some of the posts, and would like to say that the show is great, but is is looking a bit like too forced sometimes..

We would like more of the heart and soul, spontaneous expressions from the guys…
Other than that, good work.

Due to a house wide conspiracy I’ve only managed to see half an hour of the current series. I loved what I saw but please could you get Clarkson a stylist? His shirt was vile.

Oh and not the Stig get a life love.

VBC totally uncalled for, how very mature. Thus: bite me. Beckstar, sorry I hurt your fragile feelings but it had to be said. Neither of you would have replied if you didn’t feel some guilt. I’m not in the business of upsetting people but you constantly telling others how to write properly when it ISN’T YOUR PLACE TO is so old. I just chose to be the one who asked you to stop doing it.

Getting on with the point of Andy’s blog, which is to find out how people are feeling about the show and not to talk about any of the hosts trouser contents (because that’s crossing the line on a public forum, let’s face it) or to name drop with Hammond Heaven either (because Andy isn’t going to be interested)

Andy, I honestly think this week was the most balanced show I have seen in a few. Previous episode 3 felt a little disjointed at times (it could have just been an editing thing) This weeks, however, did feel like a ‘full circle’- five years after James joined we get him doing a power lap and introducing the Stig, then of course we get the arrival of the Veyron (shot beautifully may I add) and Harry Enfield’s return. I don’t believe I have ever come across an episode I ‘didn’t like’ but as this featured a little of everything, it made top marks for me!

VBC totally uncalled for, how very mature. Thus: bite me. Beckstar, sorry I hurt your fragile feelings but it had to be said. Neither of you would have replied if you didn’t feel some guilt. I’m not in the business of upsetting people but you constantly telling others how to write properly when it ISN’T YOUR PLACE TO is so old. I just chose to be the one who asked you to stop doing it.

Getting on with the point of Andy’s blog, which is to find out how people are feeling about the show and not to talk about any of the hosts trouser contents (because that’s crossing the line on a public forum, let’s face it) or to name drop with Hammond Heaven either (because Andy isn’t going to be interested)

Andy, I honestly think this week was the most balanced show I have seen in a few. Previous episode 3 felt a little disjointed at times (it could have just been an editing thing) This weeks, however, did feel like a ‘full circle’- five years after James joined we get him doing a power lap and introducing the Stig, then of course we get the arrival of the Veyron (shot beautifully may I add) and Harry Enfield’s return. I don’t believe I have ever come across an episode I ‘didn’t like’ but as this featured a little of everything, it made top marks for me!

I think every Top Gear is a work of art, I sometimes tape it on the Sunday and watch it on the same day as well, so if I am bored or need cheering up I always watch it for a laugh, Its not as funny the second time but it always brings a smile to my face.

I humbly apologise – it is true the Hamster is not yet 4-0, though he’s clinging to 39 only by fingertips, as I’m sure J&J gloatingly keep reminding him.
I have also been told off by my friend’s husband who is a “lorryist” for not saying in my original post, to the whole TG team not just how he and all his mates appreciated lorries being featured, but by how James, Jeremy and Richard made it clear how difficult it was.
I know everyone has their own tastes and some weren’t that enthused by the lorry episode, but it genuinely meant something to him and his friends – driving a lorry is a lot more complicated than it looks, and it is absolutely terrifying, frankly. James’ tyre blowout may not have been played for laughs, but imagine that happening on the M1 when your wagon is fully loaded with something flammable or toxic. A lot of car drivers treat lorries they encounter as if it’s pond scum but are the first ones moaning outside supermarkets when the lorry hasn’t delivered the morning papers/fags/whatever for their convenience because nobody would let it out of a junction or was always cutting it up and forcing it to break changegear/changegear as Jeremy aptly demonstrated. Lorry drivers also have to put up with insane amounts of idiotic legislation that puts them at a disadvantage against foreign competitors. Shows like TG have tremendous influence (sorry to add yet more pressure on the presenters but its true) and highlighting such things as the guff lorry drivers have to put up with or the proliferation of silly, cluttering road signs does go a long way to getting things fixed, or changed, or at least “in the public consciousness”.

These comments haven’t gone very well have they?

Sterling job Andy, keep up the fantastic work. Will we be seeing the Stig’s Vietnamese Cousin?

I don’t believe that beckstar’s grammar corrections directed at non-HHers are insulting at all. I think that they carry an charming level of poignant irony.

Right, considering i had to read virtually most of the posts i would like to say the following.

1)stop getting at each other, it doesnt matter wheather your from hh or not, were all top gear fans…weather its for the presenters or for the cars. Frankly i watch for the chemistry/freindship between the guys and for the cars.
I’ve frankly had enough of people arguing and i think other people are getting sick and tired of it too from what ive read.

2)Sort of echoing what i said earlier.
Andy you have done a wonderful job with the series so far. Certain things wont please everyone but the films are good none the less.
I cant wait to see what happens with the rest of the series.

does anybody eles out there think that the new jag looks very similar to a new buick??????

I woul just like to add that i laughed my socks of on the V8 Blender!
Everything is great Andy, and the sheer number of comments to your post means that we all care about the show.
Tnaks

Try asking nicely, Not the Stig, and I might think about it… whoever you are?

I can’t wait till the Vietnam road trip and the ferrari daytona. What a brillant series

I think that Top Gear should sell the ‘Bloody Awful’ on christmas. I’d like a mans drink. Wot happened to the V8 Stair Lift Clarkson proposed to make. I quite liked Green Laning on the previous series and on this one, i liked this episode just gone best. You need some more F1 Driver guests going around the track and Lewis Hamilton going for it in the dry.

Where was the V8 Stairlift??

yeh i was looking forward to that lol oh well

black pool race was rubbish!!!…. stilll all the rest of the epeisodes are good to watch. can’t wait for sunday.

Andy,

Screw the naysayers and whiners. If you’re feeling down, just remember that you have the opportunity to work on the best damn motoring show in the world.

I understand that with this explosion in popularity of TG there is pressure to raise the standards, be more funny, etc. HOWEVER, what made TG successful in the first place was that there was no standards, it was just 3 regular guys being their silly selves and having the balls to do anything they wanted, on a nationally/globally distributed television show no less.

They weren’t acting fake or trying really hard to impress the audience, they were just themselves and didn’t give a damn in the world what anyone else thought. This, IMO, is the essence of this show. Just 3 normal people being their real selves for a change.

So, to sum up, please try not to let all this pressure get to you guys, and just continue to be your jolly old selves, because that is when the show’s quality shines through.

Good Luck and Happy Holidays

they never be there real seles.

selves*

Yep, Andy, you’re doing an excellent job and I’m looking forward to seeing TG Live this Saturday!

*gives thumbs-up*

Andy, have faith in yourself. You and all the others make Top Gear perfect in many ways. I’m enjoying the new series and can’t wait for Sunday’s one!

Top Gear is great.
The chemistry seems fine to me.
Keep up the fab work!

*Jezza for Heat’s weird crush of the year!!
Poweerrr

It’s all working together perfectly at the moment.

Andy, any chance of playing more Queens of the Stone Age on the show?

A suggestion to the TG.com people:-
it may be a nuisance, but a step back to screening the comments on the blogs etc. is possibly the way forward.

Petty bitching, harpies screeching over their personal lives and people who can’t even turn on an autocorrect drowning out the occasional pertinent viewpoint? “I luv Richie,” and “At least I have a sense of irony,” and “it wos rubish!!!!!”?

There might be some actual interesting opinions in this lot, about cars and beautiful camera work and chemistry and whatnot – you know, stuff that can actually be useful to the director of the show. I’ll never see it in this lot; will Mr. Wilman?

love TG…wouldn’t miss the show for anything…
maybe a cheap car challenge(like the alfa, porsche,etc…) and the cool wall would be great…
and PLEASE try the GILLET VERTIGO super car, you will be amazed…
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK…AND THANK YOU FOR THE SHOW

I like all the shows in the new series so far.
Keep it up!

btw. i’d love to see Hugh Laurie in the reasonably priced car.

Hmmm….hows about a similar cheap vehicle challege, …but with…..old Army surplus thingys!!??? you reckon??

Ohh and by the way….Yes maybe due to age/time/other commitments they are a tad stretched, but hell, May, Hammond and Clarkson, are the most perfect mix since Um….Morcambe wise and Ripons legs …Ahem….

And as a footnote, how about putting Hammond, and Captain Slow into the resonably priced car??

Great idea re: SIARPC Fred! And indeed Jezza hasn’t drive the ‘new’ reasonably priced car round, has he? Would be great to see how the three of them measure up!

Bonneville episode was one of the greatest top gears I have seen. It immediately made me just want to go out and drive.

Keep up the good work lads. No need to try too hard.

How about the V8 chair lift – unless if the chair is cleverly placed opposite to a wall, a easy way of clearing so called lazy people off their chairs.

Here’s another suggestion, Driving school…. It would be interesting and funny to see how the lads and the Stig fare while they teach someone to learn to drive. It would be hilarious if Stig has won if his *star pupil* passed his driving test even Stig is a mute… How hard can it be????

I would LOVE to see the robin reliant rocket again, i dont think all of you should give up as I know it will happen one day. The answer is to design your own lightweight car, altering its shape (enter your own car designer, whover that is!) and million of scientists with thick grey matter to work out how much thrust is required. Think of the achievement you could ever have!!

Never say never….

Just a brief note to say how pleased I am that Andy realises the “exploding everything, editor with ADD, look how funny we are” stuff is just too much and TG works best when it’s three petrolheads, being petrolheads.

The whole American episode was outstanding _because_ it wasn’t forced. James, Richard and Jeremys love for the subject and (ahem) each provides for entertaining enough TV without turning everything up to 11.

The Avantime was a great premise let down by a bad car, but still entertaining. The Lorries was an average premise let down by over-scripting.

So less script, more cars, calmer editing = better TG. I was watching Richard test the SLR on Dave, and there was a lovely tracking shot of it that didn’t have any grainy filters, wasn’t shot in slow motion, didn’t cut away to closeups of the wheels, in fact it didnt’ cut away for ages. And it was the better for it.

Yes, that was the brief version lol.

I NEVER VOLUNTEER

Clarkson, Hammond and May… Each take turns in rinsing the Lacetti around the track!…

And then the Stig can show them at the end!!!

i thought both cars on sunday were amazing & if i had to chose between the two it would have to be the zonda

the fiat was amazing and gave al that it could, but the zonda stood out for me.

great show and keep up the excellent work clarkson, hammond, and may.

I have to say that your blog was good Andy, and you have nothing to worry about. I happen to be a teenager, girl and mad about cars…I’m a petrolhead and proud! And I don’t really care what anyone says. Very good series so far, can’t wait for more. As for HammondHeaven; check out Facebook and the amount of groups dedicated to Top Gear…and Hammond…you’d be amazed…I like Hammond. But get another stylist. And some scissors.

I think it`s good that you`re critical Andy! Never hurts to take a good look instead of just assuming everything`s fine. I`d be watching anyway, as long as those three are in it.

Hammond Heaven? Gosh, learn something new everyday! Hammon`s okay but the one true tasty dish on the Top Gear menu has GOT to be Jezza.
Is there a Clarkson Heaven? And if not…why not?????

Deborah – there’s a little section devoted to the Big Man on Hammond Heaven, but I think your best bet (unless anyone knows any alternatives?) is the clarksonlove group on LiveJournal.

I would like to comment on a few things:

Firstly – the series has been ok – though I feel (and did make my opinions known yesterday in the MPH online feedback survey) that things at MPH were getting a little like a “freak show”. Highly priced tickets for sod all cars (mostly 2 years – 3 years old) and over acting during the live show – 3 tired blokes who were bored with saying the same stuff over and over, coupled with too much blatant advertising during the show turned what 2 years ago was a mind blowing day into a mediocre event and not as good as a days filming at Dunsfold (and that’s free!).
I applaud what you all do but I think its get back to basics time. Retreat a little and regroup, or you will all burn out sooner than you think leaving fans thinking WTF?
Even my husband has commented that this series has bored him somehwhat, and after finding out about my ‘thing’ for the sensitive haired one, he never comments about anything (other than the fact James & Richard do need a haircut).

Please don’t become one of the exploited, drained and burned out doing the same old same old just to keep the money rolling in. I think its time you lot took a long break and let the public get excited about waiting for the next series. I personally don’t want Top Gear to nosedive, or for any of the guys to come to a point where their personal lives don’t exist anymore. Just be careful the fans don’t turn you all into media zombies or strip you of your diginty.

P.S I too think James keeps a large spanner down his trousers. I heard it has a very special name too…

I have a recurring nightmare – that TG has run out of ideas and is no more. Please don’t let that happen – I want the boys to still be going strong in 30 years time. A bit like a sort of Last of the Summer Wine for petrolheads. Jeremy will still be poweeeerrrrrr-ing it round the track but his reaction times won’t be quite so good, so crew members will have to run for their lives whenever he races past. James will have replaced Christian driving with Sunday driving, and got himself a flat cap and a pipe. Richard will be the Compo character, forever getting into trouble and breaking things. Okay, maybe no change there then….And the Stig surely doesn’t age, so he will be exactly the same.

I’m loving the current series – it just gets better and better! I was lucky enough to be in the studio audience when they did the truck challenge. I laughed like a drain then, and I laughed even more when I saw it at home on the Sunday. Long live TG!!!

And by the way, I’m female, and I’m what some might call middle aged – although it’s not a phrase I use myself, age being an attitude of mind as much as a number. And I love cars – especially supercars! As to my opinion of the physical attributes of Messrs Clarkson, Hammond and May….well, that’s a discussion for another forum

Mr Wilman,

This is my first comment on this site so I’m nervous of course, but I just had to say something after following the blogs and comments throughout this series.

Keep It Simple.
The most enjoyable episodes for me and for a lot of other fans I gather are the low budget, more loose ones. It’s when you can see that the boys are truly enjoying themselves and just being a bunch of friends with an out of this world job that TG is at it’s best. I mean you could put them on a deserted island with the most un-entertaining car imaginable and still produce gold, so there’s really no need to keep ’stepping it up’!

And I’m gonna sound very air-headed and say that maybe you should just take a year out/ cut down on things or something? I’ve no idea what contracts you’re bound to or whatever else would make it impossible and TG fans would possibly die from too little TG exposure; that or watch Dave more than usual, but there are limits for everyone and I think you guys are pushing them and suffering for it and the fans hate to see it. And just think of the anticipation that will build from the absence and return of TG, the ratings would be a slap in the face for Strictly!

I love that James is getting more screen time now, and I love the group pieces too. I do agree that the SIARPC segment is a little tired and the plugging is tedious, but I still adore the news simply because it’s just chat and banter- unrehearsed still tops scripted I say.

But the main thing I wanted to say, which will support my keep it simple argument is this:

I’m a teenage girl who had no interest in cars at all until my new brother in law came along and introduced Top Gear to me. I had the attitude of ‘cars are for getting me from A to B’, and I watched TG purely for the guys addictive personalities. But as I watched more of it, I started to see what the appeal was with cars. The soul of each car, how it makes you feel, and the simple pleasure of driving. TG gave me a passion for cars and driving that I now can’t imagine not having. And I’ve only recently got my provisional license! I feel so much excitement at the prospect of simply going for a drive early in the morning or in the evening, and having fun on the road with friends. You guys gave me that through your hard work and good humour, not by insane antics that are too bizarre to be true!

You are a genius and I am amazed at your dedication to your job, I mean going through all those websites with a schedule as busy as yours! I applaud you, and I thank you!

And that’s all the waffle I’m gonna add!

Hi Andy

Well,here goes, yes the boys do seem to be rather knackered this series,but thats not surprising given the scheduling and the other contractual things they are all doing,but to my mind,TG and MPH are the two stable things in all this as one bounces off the other,therefore maybe they shouldn’t be doing as much of the other things as this brings in over exposure and fans do not want that.

What is needed is to get back to good old ‘cocking around’ with 5 mates as they so very much are,[inc you and stig there isnt many
mates who would travel 250 miles when one has an accident].

So Andy back to good ol cocking around,but also
give us the Veyrons etc so we can dream abit to.

So far have loved every episode and cant wait til episode5.
How many eps in a series?

As someboby else said on this blog earlier you can’t please all of the people all of the time. I think all of the people ,presenters and every body back stage, do a brilliant job on this programme. I’ve always loved cars but i don’t know much about the facts and figures about them but i just love listening to the boys arguing about who has the best/fastest/most terrifying to drive car. I just could never miss a new episode and would do anything to avoid missing one. I’ve seen most more than once some maybe 10 times. Top Gear night is something that makes the boring week nights bareable. American and african specials were fantastic but every episode has something brilliant in it. Am so looking forward to seeing Top Gear live for the first time this sat just to get a small taste of what its like in the flesh. Keep up the good work everyone!

I just want to add that I’ve loved the series so far and my fave has been the lorry challenge!

jeremy wouldve won that race if he didnt have all the electronic crap on and couldve went 80 the entire way !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fred (#188), I’ve been thinking of that for some time now and have also mentioned about it on a couple of boards. However as I said that I’d like for James to do a sole Stig lap commentary for a change I don’t know if that would be a good or bad idea for James to do either.

Mercedes Man, there’s 8 episodes. I can’t believe we’re already half way through the series.

Fab series!!!
Fab presenters!!!
Fab production team!!!

Think this forum needs a mod tho’ ! Sorry!!!

I know alot of the other chaps are saying they’d like more girl talent on the show but personally I am sick of always being stereotyped a typical male with this. The guys do a great job as it is; we don’t need to make this a show that’s ‘only for the chaps’ again.

But Sabine? Count me in…

The current series has been a lot more enjoyable then the past few purely because of the banter between the lads, but is there any chance of seeing more cars?? Theres a lot more metal on the roads these days that we’re not seeing the lads review.

Are there any plans for a challenge vs the Australian lads? Could be an great opportunity to introduce them to the world?? Perhaps a race on the Targa Tasmania (mention earlier by Josh#18).

Has there been any mention of revamping “Star in a reasonably priced car” ? Why does the show need celebs?? Arent the cars supposed to be the stars?? As you mention in your blog, there was concerns over the pace of certain sections of the show and a unskilled driver crawling around track in a p!sspoor joke of a car plays a good second to making a brew.

On a more positve note,will you please, please, please release a dvd (or bluray!) special of Cap’ Slows entire trip of moaing>loving the Cadillac. He’s playing an absolute blinder this series : )

Hi Andy
Thanks for the blog, to add my two pennies worth I think the SIARPC segment has had its day, save it for a spin off chat show for Clarkson, you could finish it off with the 3 lads setting individual times! Otherwise the series is brilliant, loved the Avantime, trucks and Blackpool films and thought the States trip was awesome. It’s good to see James getting up to speed! Keep up the good work!

No, I wasn’t too fond of the Avantime either. Actually, I was wondering if TG had become too silly, too self-aware for its own good. The lorry challenge and the likes were a bit heavy-handed, I think. Of course TG is at the very least just as much about the jokes and cock-ups as it is about the cars, but these challenges were a bit too absurd and felt too scripted for my liking. The burning lorry and what’s supposed to have been Jeremy’s drum kit were funny, but it felt fake and forced to me. Yet Bonneville and, I have to say, especially the Blackpool race showed me once again why the first thing I do on a monday morning is to find a place to download the latest TG episode.
I love and adore the show, but I don’t want TG to become a caricature of itself. And it’s the same with the lads: Jeremy, Richard and (above all) James are idiosyncratic enough as they are, there’s no point in making them so much weirder than they already are – that just leads to them appearing not like actual people, but a screenplay’s protagonists.
Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to what’s to come, though I doubt my two all-time favourites, the British Leyland challenge and the trip across the US, will ever be bettered.

I think this is the best series so far……some silly stuff but then some sort of serious stuff…..a good mix in my view

Well, as an avid yankee fan from the Colonies (as Jeremy would put it) The thing that got me watching top gear was the Toyota torture test… what’s kept me watching is the three guy almost childlike enthusiasm for cars and everything car related and their nitpicking on each other like old hens.

Welcome back.
I liked all the shows so far. And Blackpool was a good race, it’s always nice to try out something different. Yes you can see that the guys have have a hard run, they are a little more ruff than usual and some of the jokes seems to be a little bit inside jokes, like the “did you do that for a bet?” ones, I’d dearly like to know what the bet was.. Bottom line though is that I still L_O_V_E this show. and the guys. And Yes girls and women from this solar system DO find all 3 of them extremly atractive. o0(if you heard some of the comments I hear your ears would burn for a month! =;)

#216 Sorry but I am not a silly bint, I am well past wanting to run fingers thru Hammonds hair [ he's too young] and yes I do know a lot about cars in other words how the combustion engine works in relation to… ah well another time maybe, i’m sure your attention span won’t take it.

Ewww no… Hammond’s hair contains too much ‘product’ to run one’s hands through. May’s, on the other hand…

Good work, Keep going!

The Series has been great so far. I always enjoy Top Gear

I’m very concerned for the show. In any relationship whether it be government, personal, chemical, natural or otherwise there is a tendency to move towards chaos. I’m sure the boys will tell you that it seems chaotic to them and you write about it yourself in the above blog. The question is not how to go back to being innocent, It’s how long do we have before this is gone. Top Gear happened to be in the right place at the right time, it had the perfect ingredients and only needed a fraction or a catalyst to let it explode. The catalyst is the new economical situation, anytime there is an economical crises men start questioning masculinity. This was the cause of the recent “Metrosexuals.” Around this same time men started looking to withdraw from the new societies GREEN and Feminist movements, we searched and we found it. Top Gear provides us the M-ness or the Ubermasculinity that we need. The idea then becomes stale. Power, speed, Cars become normal again. And top gear wonders where the support has gone. Your shows audience is in flux with the well being of the economy. As soon as this crises is over, Top Gear will shrivel from it’s swollen state. I’m very sad to say this but enjoy it while it lasts.

the new series as benn great. it the best series yet. my favourite episode is the america one. that was just cool.

i luv top gear no matter wat everysingle episode im laughy my #$# of!!!

Hey… a good mix is what makes any program watchable and TG has it. I look forward to it like a couple of beers and some grub and a good laugh……come to think of it I watch it with a couple of beers! It has to be done. Have a good one lads, see you sunday!

Wow, I’m quite relieved to see the sheer number of worldwide fans chiming in their support of the Boys. As an ardent watcher and supporter of the big three, I watch everything of theirs I can get my hands on- unfortunately as Wilman has acknowedged, thru torrenting. Hey, the Beeb in America thinks that we are unable to take criticism and removes some of the more off-color parts- I hate censorship.

Top Gear may have started as some “pokey motoring show” but has evolved into so much more. As their most recent interview pointed out, they have over half a billion watchers in the world- some accomplishment when you consider that at a population of ~8 billion or so (est) they can reach and hold that many. Surely half a billion or more can’t be all wrong.

Top Gear’s format appeals to men and women because it offers companionship, love, respect (deep down there somewhere) and so much more that even someone with a Psych degree would have a hard time explaining. The boys make you remember childhood or if you are a child make you enjoy it more. I cannot tell you the numbers of my friends who watch this show and barely hold passing interests in cars. They watch it for the guys- the cars are a second issue.

I will say one very interesting thing, however. How many of us devoted fans no longer drool and wet ourselves over the dream machines depicted on the big screen because of Jeremy, James or Richard? How many times have you seen a supercar rolling down the road and chuckled because you remembered how much crap it was? Or seeing the guys who drive them and wish for a Cock-o-Meter.

The Chinese are popularly credited with saying “May you live in interesting times.” I think we have achieved that in spades… Besides, what else will take your mind off Chelsea or Man United losing?

Respect to the Beeb, the Boys and BoJo (Boris)! Finally, petrolheads get their say.

And we say… More Power!

i like top gear . full stop .

I have enjoyed the programme since it came back, and its global popularity is testament to the production values, content and, lets be honest the rapport between the presenters.

However, given their demanding production schedule and the world tour, perhaps in the interest of ensuring TG’s long term viability, it might be an idea to rest it for 2009.

Give the lads time to re-gain their strength, do some solo projects, give the production team some time to come up with some cracking new ideas amd come back refreshed with a bang in 2010.

I for one would hate the show to go downhill and later to be canned by the BBC. All the programme’s fans would reminisce about how good the show was “in the good old days”, before they ran out of ideas, and some scabby tabloid focussing on non-existent squabbles between the presenters.

TG at its “worst” is still better than everything else.

Top Gear is Top Gear. Three blokes cocking about, a lot of cars and The Stig. I am happy. The End.

all been good apart from the america one

why so few episodes???????

thanks for the blog, andy,i am sure a lot of very hard work goes on behind the scenes to make Top Gear the programme it is,a highly intoxicating,entertaining and thoroughly top class show.i think it sums up what us viewers like and can identify with,3 mates meeting up for achat about cars, the opposite sex,a challenge or two and a lot of friendly banter and mickey taking. please keep up the good work and for goodness sake,don’t whatever you do ever change the foremat or let jeremy,james or richard ever leave,retire or die,because sunday nights or even life itself would never be the same again!keep up the good work,lads.

Where is the ‘what did you think’ blog for this episode? Oh well, here are my comments.

Best episode of this series by a mile. Too many good points to go through, but the bus race was more terrifying than Saw II and the cool wall and news were back to their hilarious best. The Daytona film was the highlight. I fell in love with Richard falling in love with the Daytona (though I would rather have been in the boat – sorry), and his reaction when they were pulled over by the police was priceless.

Just a word for Jeremy though – it is possible to love Top Gear AND Jane Austen. Her books have loads of drama in them, though maybe not quite as much as an M3.

does anybody know what their doing this sunday though ??

Loved the most recent show — I’m in the USA, so don’t ask how this feat was accomplished — and I was struck by the “innocence” comment. So, in the spirit of international bonhomie, I suggest at some point you might want to consider a film of the Three participating in one of those vintage rallies, such as the Mille Miglia retrospective, etc.

P.S. If for some reason, TG chooses to do this and chooses one of the rallies held in the USA (the Copperstate 1000, the Colorado Grand, the Carolina Trophy, etc.) I’ll cheerfully volunteer my factory-prototype Callaway twin-turbo Alfa Romeo GTV-6. (I’m guessing Jeremy, as the former GTV-6 owner in the group, would get it, Richard would be in an early Shelby G.T. 350, and James in something like one of the Series I Maserati Quattroportes.)

Give it a thought.

P.S. I’m still available for SIARPC.

LOL at the HHers, of which I am proud to be one, defending our site, which is only a bit of craic (Irish woman alert!) Yes, I am hot, blonde AND married, AND with a full time job AND a degree AND not middle aged – imagine!Hubby lusts after Buffy and I lust after Richard. Fair dos.

Andy, I LOVE TG, as does my husband. I especially enjoy the races and shouting at the telly during the cool wall moments. Keep up the good work and come to Northern Ireland for a change!

Please don’t EVER stop making Top Gear!

Your biggest fan in Flanders,
Dimi

and alfa’s are NOT petrolhead cars. I m sorry.
I prefer seat’s from before 1991

Andy & Jeremy & team

I love the show, but since I have moved from Swizerland to Brazil I have had not a chance to watch the show. Why it is not on any cable here! How can I watch it ?

Pleeeeaaaase !!!!!!!!!

great blog andy you are doing a fab job there. the spark between the lads is as fresh as a daisy,i am into cars but the main reason i watch is to see these three fabulously funny and talented presenters insulting each other! i watch repeats on dave and the spark is just the same,top gear live was fantstic and funny none of them had ever better leave or i will seriously cry.love jezzas wit,james deadpan look and laid back style and i just love rich full stop.actually i adore rich he is cute and funny and just brilliant. keep up the good work gang lol

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What you’ve got to realise guys is that your’re essentially making the best factual, comedic, entertaining and serious show the world has ever seen, 350 million odd viewers worldwide agree and even if there is a boring episode where bugger all happens it’s still TOP GEAR!, you still do things which amaze me even though i know you have a budget thats bigger than my yearly earnings!

If Top Gear ever stops my life will be less audacious and for that i would be saddened

Andy, once again you have worked magic with the team & have made an amazing series with all the ‘boys own’ feeling which is, without doubt, still very much there between the lads. The only thing which would improve TG is if you were on it a bit more and the live audience was a bit more female based ;o)

I would argue with you about girls fancying TG3, but there’s no point. You’d know I was lying… Jezza just IS gorgeous, and how he still manages to elude me after all my Chief Excecutive Stalking is quite unexplainable.

xx

Yeah, I agree with Jezzabelle.

Thing is, we need more tickets. There’s just not enough decent looking totty in the audience.

You have our email addresses, you know where we are. Just give us the nod and we”ll be there. We have loads of good looking intelligent petrolhead women dying to lust over a V10 or warm their hands on a polystyrene cup of the BBC’s greatest beverage (or on the bum cheeks of the good Dr!)

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где-то я уже такое видел…

Спасибо за пост.