Well hot diggety gosh darn damn. As comebacks go, that was John Travolta and Jenson Button riding Mickey Rourke round to Take That’s house wasn’t it? Well, something like that.
Watch exclusive behind the scenes video
A few series ago there used to be a theory in the Top Gear office that people would forget when the new series was on and nobody would tune in, so the first programme would be a gentle start, followed by a more explosive show 2. Not any more, which is why tonight’s series opener hit the ground running as fast as its little legs would carry it.
The train race might not have been the openly daft oh-no-it’s-all-on-fire moment that many expect from Top Gear but everyone on the show was quietly pleased with the way it turned out. And, as ever with these things, yes the race was completely real and run totally in real time. Some of the pretty shots of the car and bike that make the whole film look nicer were picked up the next day, so as not to spoil Richard or James’s chances.
Of course, epic aerial shots of a fantastic old steam train are all well and good but they were rather overshadowed by the extraordinary moment when The Stig took his helmet off. Whatever it looked like on telly, that was nothing to the insanely electrified atmosphere in the studio (watch this for yourself in our exclusive behind the scenes video) as the audience went quide liderally NUTS to see what the man in white was keeping under his normally unremovable lid.
Just two questions remain. Firstly, was Michael Schumacher really The Stig? And secondly, where did Jeremy get that shirt from, and could he promise never to go back there?
Seen our exclusive behind the scenes video yet? There’s also a part two – plus a second interview with Michael Schumacher in the TG production office before the show recording. And check back tomorrow for more exclusive clips…
WOW, who would have thought – Schumacher as The Stig:) I heard that he is appearing at MPH in London
excellent show guys, for goodness sake keep it up!
After all the speculation and rumour surrounding the start of this new series, you’ve certainly lived up to the hype!
top gear = back : sundays = saved
3 words; Well done, Boys.
Just please leave people who live outside the UK watch the videos you upload on this site…………….please
We all know Schumacher is not the Stig, but that’s all part of the fun.
Well done Wilman, Clarkson, May and Hammond for a fab return plus his Stigness
People outside the Uk would want to watch the backstage stuff you only post here!
I am sure that the BBC will not go broke if you made those clips available to us outside the UK as well!
Please! Please! Please! Let us watch those videos!
two words:
BLOODY BRILLIANT
best ever keep it up, i thought top gear could get no better and i’ve watched it since the start s1 ep1 and have never missed an episode
My fave driver of all time is revealed to be none other than the stig! One of the best sundays ever!!!
Absolutely brilliant show!!! Loving the behind the scenes videos too! Such a fab idea!!!
Wasn’t that such an original idea? Train v car v bike? I’d rub Hammond’s legs better anyday! lol
Next 6 weeks should be good……
Fantastic episode! But now everyone knows who the Stig is, how will you ever be able to introduce him with “some say…” again?
Er, the FXX isnt road legal so why did Jezza leave it up on the lap board ?
Different Stig every week? Each one the Daily Mail has “outed”?
…That’s my new theory anyway.
Bloodyfrigging brilliant first show though. FAB.
Brilliant start to the greatest TV show ever! It can only get better…roll on Bugatti vs McLaren!
Thanks gents…Sunday have just become bearable again! Messrs Wilman, Clarkson, Hammond, May, The Stig and all their cohorts ride again!!!!!!
How sub zero cool would it be though if Scheuy really was genuinely the Stig?
good show. amazing not to see jeremy in the car for once!!
fantastic lap by michael in the fxx
hope the rest of the series is as good!
welcome back lads. excellent show. Schuey, what a star. bring on next week!!
oh i forgot
great shirt JC
I can’t see the video of behind the scenes, why did you make it UK only? Is there a way the rest of the world can see these videos?
oops, Just read a comment above, thats what i thought Glider Boy XD.
The rest of the series looks incredible, cant wait!
amazing show!!!
that is what top gear is all about!!!!
Well done all – Sundays have their meaning back. Thank you! x
Wasn’t it nice to see James win a race for once??
Entertaining show, but not in the riotous way we’re used to. Today’s episode felt a bit more subdued than usual and my god, is Schumey dull or what? I found myself warming to it later on though once I’d become accustomed to the pace, and thought the steam loco was the absolute star of the show. I think it’s because nothing went drastically and hysterically wrong – does it say anything about modern technology that the worst we got from a trio of aged behemoths (the vehicles, not the presenters) was a lungful of snot from the bottom of a fuel tank? I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how things develop over the next few weeks.
Oh, and are we to expect a series crammed with (admittedly funny) digs at James’ hotly debated sexuality?
Will Hammond’s secret Black Shadow alter ego surface again in times of crisis? Will Jeremy stop borrowing Graham Norton’s wardrobe? Tune in next week…
Perry McCarthy, Heikki Kovalainen, Ben Collins, Chris Goodwin, Julian Bailey, Terry Grant, Russ Swift, Dan Lang and more have ALL been the Stig. Shumacher was on the show because that Ferrari FXX is his. It’s the only black one ever made and he got the first one from the team as a gift for all his years of success at Ferrari.
absoloutley smegging brilliant!!!!!
look forword to next week!
eople outside the Uk would want to watch the backstage stuff you only post here!
I am sure that the BBC will not go broke if you made those clips available to us outside the UK as well!
Please! Please! Please! Let us watch those videos!
Oh dear, calm down boys that was a poor first episode – the race with the steam train was stunning but all of the studio based material was so painfully scripted and poor at times it was hard to watch.
Get the mojo back please
Great show to kick off the new season, luvin Schumy in the new batmobile. Sumwhat dubios about him being the full time stig though not that i think the bbc would lie to it’s viewing public. nooooooooo. I extend a frim manly handshake to you all and a slap on the bum to any girlies in the office. fna fna
Schumacher is fantastic!!
P.S. please leave people who live outside the UK watch the videos you upload on this site…………….pleas e
WOOOW!!
So he’s only illegal in 9 US States and has a disturbing affection for curry. Interesting…
And what a great race! Jeremy had such a “train driver’s tan” it looked like he was in blackface! And the Jag is just gorgeous – unlike the Black Shadow. Richard, what’s the rule? NEVER MEET YOUR HEROES.
So what’s on next week? I can’t wait for ep.2! Isn’t it the McLaren v Bugatti race?
great show, although i was THRILLED that you revealed te stig, and it was no-one BUT the greatest driver of time.. what are you guys gonnah do NOW?! it was so funny with you treating stig as a non-human, truly hilarious! is he still going to be in the costume?! can’t wait for next sunday!
Totally agree Lee, I would put ££ that a new one will be announced next week. Only 7 days to go. If not The Stig is a let down
one of the best episodes yet and the lap at the end had me in stitches top job guys (Y)
i thought u were awsome love the race but is michale.s. really the stig hmmm, and welcome back im only 14 but am top gear mad
For a large moment I thought you had ruined Top Gear forever, now im reassured The Stig isn’t Schumacher, so im happy
Great show
Another rubbish show which contained so much pointless exercises. When are they gunna do any real reviews. Top Gear has gone from a respectable car show to a scripted entertainment show that isnt even that funny
i’m not sure schkjhumacher is the stig, i’m not convinced. otherwise he would be able to split in half, and so while one half would be racing in bahrein, the other half would be powersliding a koenisgegg down at the Top Gear Test Track.
Schumacer is not the real stig in the credits his name was under special guests not as the stig
oh 1 more thing NEW TOP GEAR= THE PERFECT SUNDAY= ME REALLY HAPPY
Great show! Sunday evenings will be something to look forward to for the remaining 6 weeks.
WOW follow that next week boys if you can,that was amazing beyond belief! Jeremy’s still as mad as ever,James is still as witty as ever and Richard is still damn gorgeous!! Great job well done to all concerned!
we all knw hes not really the stig. ferrari wouldnt let anyone but ther own people drive it. like they only sold them the fxx to people who bought either the Enzo or the F40 i think. but the train vs jag was realli gd!!!!
Sorry to all those that want the clips available outside the UK. At the moment, we’re not allowed to put them up for a worldwide audience, but we should be able to do so in time. I’ll keep you posted…
(TopGear.com editor)
About the episode. Yes it’s great to have Top Gear back, but it wasn’t as good as “The Mole” was making out. I wish “The Mole” would stop getting everyone so excited when in actual fact that race was probably the 4th or 5th best one Top Gear have done so far. Nice to have it back, it’s my favorite show by miles. Would of loved to have seen Shumacher do a lap, or maybe Lewis in future in the dry. Looking forward to next week and hoping to see a more “natural” side of things as apposed to the heavily scripted and awkwardly feeling banter were slowly having to get used to.
Board with top gear im not but read the comment this person has put that his name board with top gear OMG how can u be board with it u must be pretty gay m8
It was a very good show but I did feel let down by one thing they had the car and bike in the studio but why didn’t they have the train in?
Slightly disappointing episode: race was relatively dull compared to others and i didn’t really care who might win towards the end. Evora review was also a bit meh. Stig bit was funny but I would have rather they just took the Stig out of the equation and genuinely had schumi as SIARPC, but I guess it was to attract viewers.
People outside the Uk would want to watch the backstage stuff you only post here!
Please! Please! Please! Let us watch those videos!
snazzy shirt there clarkson, have to say i was a bit dissapointed.i just didnt laugh quite as much as i thought i would.
exelent work boys
realy enjoyed it
shame though i wanted to see shumacher do a proper lap
car mad gal, anyone with any interest should be bored with it as what do they ever do to seriously review cars. They just do pointless exercises and provide no insight into vehicle performances. I think you must be 12 years old as more mature people should be put off with this new top gear.
I watch fifth gear more now because they do real tests and dont come to silly conclusions like a 5 series is ugly yet a MG ZT is good lookin
Best thing about the episode and he usually doesn’t make me laugh because he tries to hard to be funny BUT Richard Hammond and his “tales of the black shadow” monologues. HA “dem de de dem de de dem de de dem” AND Clarkson throwing the egg butty out of the train window. Ha
Amazing show. I don’t actually think Michael is the stig though
mint programme, great and funny as usual
how do u come up with it??
i couldn’t believe the stig being schumacer
oh and anyone who thinks the show is stupid, pointless are retarded for thinking that and if so why are u watching it just to complain?? the solution stop watching and wasting top gears time by posting your comment on this blog!!!!
top gear 4 life!!!!
Shuchy is not the stig!! bt other than that greta start 2 the new series peeps!!
A very enjoyable episode! Especially since I am a steam as well as a car enthusiast.
Tornado could have won that race, it is applying for a 90mph mainline certificate, opposed to the 75mph one it has at the moment.
And what a stunning Jaguar! If only I had the pennies to get me one!
thank you thank you!
you are back!
great show!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!
How are we ever gonna find out if hill was as fast as Schumacher now? Dammit!
Did clarkson fancy being a belisha beacon?
they’ll be able to introduce him as the Stig because Schumacher isnt the Stig, it’s Ben Collins!
A great thank you from the Netherlands!
Comment 37 – If you don’t like it, then don’t watch… it may be light entertainment, but I for one have no interest in cars whatsoever – but I LOVE top gear because it entertains me and makes me smile and brightens up my day. Thank you Top Gear team for making my evening. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Amazing. Was there at the studio on Wednesday, atmosphere just electric, fantastic day & great episode. Still buzzing. Here’s to many, many more.
Excellent, good to see Top Gear back train was an ace an original race. Bit heavy on the innuendo though Richard honestly!
Dear Top Gear,
Please hire me “un-paid” to view next week’s Top Gear show on Saturday, or perhaps the rest of the series, and I will tell you if it’s crap or not, because clearly you don’t realise your selves.
you git
i was on my way out, but this was good, very good, if you have a new format it worked… for me anyway. i stayed in and in true form phoned my dad, he hadn’t seen it, but unperturbed i expunged anyway, to the toll of it was brilliant, i enjoy the combustion engine in any form, the form you …gits press it is detrimount to the sort of exuberance i can only hope (in my dreams ) to extol… thank you
Firstly, having been in the audience for the show i can recommend eveyone to get their name on the waiting list. Its such a buzz being in the studio with the boys and seeing the banter at first hand.
Secondly, i think the fact that no-one still really knows if schuey is ‘The Stig’ adds to the drama of the show.
Thirdly, thanks to hamster for having his photo taken with my ’significant other’ its made her year!!!!
Lastly, keep the great work up TG, its the best fricking show on tele and keeps away them sunday night blues!!!!!
MS is just one of many Stiggies
get Fifth Gear on Top Gear , for a battle!!!
OMG who would of known it was michael Schumacher was the stig…but this is the thing im 15 nearly 16 and i love top gear ever since i was little i watched every episode but i have to wait till im 18 to go there and it isnt fair because they have younger fans than me wanting to go but they cant so i think if people cant drive and are younger should have a turn to go to a live show
thanks ly xxx
nowt to do with top gear but james may you lucky lucky man. watched the moon programme after tg. must have been stunning to be 70k feet up. staggering view.
all i can say is i have the real ’stig’ lives in barton… would love to send a picture were can i send it.. hes on facebook and it was our friends that suggested he looked like stig….
the ffx that schumacer was driving isnt road legal just a build up to a publiclity stunt that the stig is schumacer
Well done Boys
absolutley brilliant lads!!!!!!!!!!!!! hats off to ya p.s. we all know that wasn’t the stig
Amazing show! I loved every minute of it. If the rest of series is going to be half as good as that it’s going to be the best ever! Can’t wait for the next one!
Oh my God the stig is Micheal Schumacher!!
Loved the race, poor Hamster though! Great episode well done!
“Sorry to all those that want the clips available outside the UK. At the moment, we’re not allowed to put them up for a worldwide audience, but we should be able to do so in time. I’ll keep you posted…
(TopGear.com editor)”
I hope not, I don’t pay my TV licence to let some foreigner watch the bbc content for free.
can i just say THANK YOU IT WAS BRILLIANT!
i have been looking forward to this series since the end of the vietnam epi last december and i was on the edge of my seat….
i am positive that micheal is not the stig but waht a brilliant way of bringin the show back.
i want to say well done for the race…truley brilliant and expecially well done to jeremy….. how much of a physical task did he undertake and he didn’t collapse (fitter then he makes out) in general brilliant although….jeremy please don’t wear that shirt again…burn it!
look forward to next sunday
From the Netherlands, Yhank you it was a briljant show, loved the Schummi part in your show! Keep on the good stuff!!
I CANT BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!!!!!……..AND WHEN I SAW THE STIG REVEAL HIS HELMET……….IM SPEECHLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! UTTER BRILLIANCE BOYS!!!!!!!!!!
brilliant explosive start to the series with a classic epic top gear race well played boy’s suberb job
Wasn’t the Caparo T1 quicker than that FXX. And isn’t there an FXX Evo which changes gear in 30 milli seconds like the 430 Scuderia. Also has anyone seen the youtube video of the Ultima GTR going round the Top Gear test track in 1 min 12 WHICH IS a road car?
Is the Ferrari actually the new fastest car seeing as it isn’t road legal???
Quality new show. It would have been quality to see Schumi do a lap though!!
Very good.
Why can’t people that live outside the UK watch your videos on this side ??? It’s a shame because Top Gear is the best telly show
…. in the world…
What a show, still the best on TV. Michael in a FXX, it gets no better!!!
Once again the race was loaded in favour of the car. In 1949 steam trains could fill up with water without stopping and petrol rationing was in force!
Fantastic start to the new series.
Well done lads!
That was absolutely brilliant! Could you please make the backstage clips available to people outside the UK?
It’s fathersday in Holland and you could not have given him a better present!
I CANT BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD REVEAL THE STIGSTER, WELL THOUGHT UP AND A GREAT START TO THE NEW SUMMER 2009 TG =D
Could be worse………………..
I enjoyed it, but I’m sceptical about the MS thing.
He’s too busy falling off superbikes in Germany.
Is it me or were all three racers absolutly wonderfull machines.
Unbelievable, this show was so great!
BUT PLEASE let everyone outside the UK watch the behind-the-scenes stuff aswell!! Brilliant!!
All I need to say is:
Simply Brilliant.
If the FXX is a track only car and not street legal why is it on top of the leader board?!
You’ve raised the bar again, I hope the rest of the series can match up. What an awesome moment when the Stig took off his helmet. Just watched James May Moon programme, forget where were you when they set foot on the moon. Where were you when Schuey was the Stig? (Well, for one show).
I was totally waiting for the real Stig to give Schumacher a pop for stealing his limelight.
Also : Jeremy, is the credit crunch really hitting you that bad that you were forced to take up a job in Comet?
love top gear it really is a groundbreaking show i only have a feeling it has peaked with vietnam what with the credit crunch can the beeb make sure of bigger and better races or even just expeditions as a three under the budget they have i suggest in order for this to happen clarkson and may and hammond dig into their pockets if need be to ensure absolute television history, their previous escapades are as supreme as only fools and horses and say something like the moon landings…….. seriously that good and it has to always get better or stop now and not leave a bad taste in the mouth of an attitude of, we must do another series. It has to come from the heart or top gear will be exposed by your loving, bright and needing audience if not the viewers will drop quick and a new series will do more damage than if you never made one, that said great opening show loved and enjoyed it, but we want ball breaking epics, its not our fault but you have set these magnificent standards, i know its tough but i speak from all the fans and im sure the top gear presenters that we hope the future is bright.
Top Top Top Top Top Top Show Top Gear !!!!!!!!!!
This show was excellent, really funny as always. I was in stitches. THE STIG’S run at the end was hilarious.
Keep up the good work as per usual. Hey do the Rocket mission again I would love to see that work.
TG u were apparently going to see if it is actually possible to complete the Italian Job situation (right at the end of the film) but couldn’t because of the budgeting problem. Please do this next series if possible.
Will be good to watch.
Great start, loved the race and made a nice change not being quite as epic and spectacular as others in it’s ambition. Though what was the point of “Schumacher” doing that rather stupid lap at the end? Would loved to have seen him in the car properly instead.
I hate to be boring and copy what everyone else has already said, but i’m going to anyway.
What a f**king brilliant show ! Truly truly BRILLIANT !!!
The way you did the Stiggy/Schuey bit was sheer class. The Evora looks like a fantastic little motor. And the big race was so beautifully shot it almost made me proud to be British.
But was i the only one to make the connection of Hammonds Black Shadow alter ego with Lapchick the nutter motorcyclist from The Gumball Rally ?…or am i just proving to the world that i’m a bit of an old git….and slightly weird ?
This is an awesome start to Series 13.
Jeremy was filthy and no matter what, he’s perfect.
Richard, I feel sorry for him and the bike was causing problems during the race.
James, he won!! Yay!
I can’t believe the Stig was Michael Schumacher. The Stig should be secret, won’t disclose or reveal his real identity.
More next week! *dances* *squees*
By far the best one yet! Brilliant to sneak in Michael Schumacher in an FXX…that was just fantastic, and the lap WOW!!
Loved the train race, totally hilarious without seeming like you were trying, Jeremy covered in soot!! and especially Hammond at the end!!!
TopGear please allow us to watch outtakes outside UK. PLEASE PLEASE….
Thanks.
Very clever getting the sausage eater in as Stig for a one off,seeing as though he’s only one of a few people that are allowed to drive the FXX.Great prog all round.Did you check out James straight after on his Moon program,terrific.To the guy who said Shuey is dull.No,he’s German.It’s a national trait.Goes with losing two world wars.
I couldn’t watch the show! And because I live in Ireland, I cant watch the highlights of the stig! heard it was great though!
hi i dont think shuey is the stig and that he was the only person who they would allow drive to the fxx as it is his car the only one ever made in black and ferrari would probs only allow him to drive it. if i am right which im not sure if i am but it isnt even a street legal car meaning it would not be allowed on the board what in my eyes would be gutting but if true wouldnt it have to be removed off the board not making it the fastest car around the track
anyone agree or no if it is a street legal car??
Great show guys; however, my “i am the stig” t-shirt is worthless now!!!
Looking forward to see next week
Good show but the Ferrari should have been taken down from the top of the board as it is not road legal (ferrari only let it go on tracks) and also im quite sure it wouldnt go over a sleeping policeman so i would like to see that down from the top of the board next week. Obviously Michael Schumacher isnt The Stig but i imagine that he drove the ferrari as he was one and of course he can only drive it so he was “The stig” for the episode so technically they did reveal who The Stig was. I loved the race to edinburgh, felt sorry for hammond with losing the feeling in his legs and stuff, the car was really good and i loved train it was fantastic. The Lotus Evora i feel if it went a bit faster it would be a great car but i feel that if you want a car with 4 seats and a boot that still goes fast then get a sort of 3series BMW or something along them lines. Also was it just me or did i see the bugatti veyron and also getting beat by a McLaren F1?
Brilliant show, but pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease make the videos on the site available to those outside the UK! I’m in Ireland, and I can only watch TG clips on YouTube or on the American Top Gear site. And since the YouTube channel is utter rubbish and the Americans won’t get their hands on Season 13 for another 700 years, I ask you please to open up this wonderful site to the other 99.1% of the world! (or Ireland, at least
)
first of all, great show guys brilliant
i cant wait for the reasonablely priced car challenge.
p.s. why does everyone think it might be schumaker? it obviously was not, it was just a bit of fun
.
it was so good that i only have one complaint… WHY IS IT ONLY 7 EPISODES THIS SERIES?!?!?!!??!?!?!? WELL, I CANT WAIT TO SEE THE ZR1 VS THE V10 R8, AND KEN BLOCK! THIS EPISODE WAS EPIC!
Schumy cant be the Stig. coz if he was, the Stig wudnt be himself if everyone knew who he really was, there wud be no point of him still being all quiet and wearing dat suit. dats the beauty and fun of havin some1 like Stig, ppl can guess and speculate who he is but the truth can never be revealed. So, I believe, the question still stands, who is the Stig???
finally sunday won’t be boring any more!!!
however may i ask all those in uk, are the videos working? i can only get them to say loading player then nothing come up. also topgear.com editors, i saw a quick message in this blog after the show saying the videos are not working, is this still the case?
i loved the show keep it up:)
Oh by the way 1st episode, SPECTACULAR
guys, i live in america, and all you have to do is get a uk proxy. that tricks the bbc into thinking you live in the uk, and you can watch iplayer!
im pretty sure topgear are gna use my idea, in the snippet of things to come it shows all of them in crappy hatch back cars, n i emailed in a while ago to ask them to set a challenge to buy a crapy old car and mod it, set to challenges like impressing girls and puting gay spoilers on the back CHAV style.
I’m not convinced he’s The Stig, because why would the BBC reveal it and take all of the fun out of wondering who the Stig is? It ruins the “Some say…” jokes as well. And if Schumacher was racing until ‘06 how could he tape films for Top Gear and comepete in F1 at the same time? Still was a great bit of television though.
65, what you on about?
Dear Top Gear,
Please hire me “un-paid” to view next week’s Top Gear show on Saturday, or perhaps the rest of the series, and I will tell you if it’s crap or not, because clearly you don’t realise your selves.
Great opening episode,May looked worryingly comfortable and suave in the XK 120,whilst Hammond toiled riding the Vincent in inclement weather.Surprised as a biker he did’nt have lights on.Clarkson being made to do manual labour,priceless.Stiggy unmasked as Schuey,great fun……Ben Collins anonymity is still preserved ! (oops)…..Shame Schuey did’nt do the proper laptime in the Lacetti ? lol
He’s not the stig, he’s a very naughty boy! More motorbikes please
pure quality, possibly best episode yet!
Great show,
only one complaint, why only UK users can watch the aftershow content? it there any way that the rest of us top gear fans could see it?
Great show, absolutely brilliant race with the train and it was wicked to see Clarkson still has his sense of humour when he was getting filthy working with all the coal!
The show was great.
Don’t buy that Schumacher is stiggy all the time, maybe he did it once or twice…I reckon they’ve got several guys doing it.
First thought was bloomin’ bright shirt!
The Black Shadow….ahhh….THE superbike. Awesome. Well done for Hammond riding it that long…I was stiff after riding my gixer for just a couple of hours the other day so really felt for him! Great weather for it too…
There really should be a biker’s version of Top Gear.
REMOVE THE FXX OFF THE BOARD AS IT IS NOT STREET LEGAL MEANING YES IT IS THE FASTEST ROUND THE TRACK BUT IS SCRAPPED OFF THE BOARD AS IT IS NOT A STREET LEGAL CAR LOL
COMMENT BACK IF YOU THINK THE SAME
The FXX given to MS was the LAST one made not the first, It’s number 30 and is special because it is the only MATTE black FXX all the others were either metalic black, red, or yellow with one or two with other colours.
It was given to MS at the ferrari festival at Mugello in 2006 just after his last race.
ps. It is an evoluzione FXX it was upgraded last year at MS’s request.
yep more bikes please
I agree the show seemed too scripted (And I never noticed this before)
AMAZING SHOW
next few should be really really good
Micheal is sooooo not the stig
it was a publicity stunt
i would rather not know who the stig really is
On a footnote,whilst being an avid TG fan,I completely missed the Comic Relief Special the boys did…….clocked it on youtube earlier today,f**king hilarious………3 parts,Top Gear do Ground Force.Enjoy,if you not seen it !
Great show! Absolutely loved it! And I really didn’t expect Michael Schumacher! But I don’t believe he was The Stig for more than one day…hehehe
But why can’t I watch the backstage video, or any other of the outtakes??? It keeps telling me I can’t watch it at my current location
I’m in Ireland, that’s not even that far away. And I wanna watch those videos too!!!
This show has some of the best visuals on TV, yet it’s still not in HD? What a waste of that new HD “channel” the BBC has.
What happened to top gear?
The whole show was taken up by the stupid pointless race. Might as well do a race from Liverpool to Leeds where 1 guy is riding a bike and the other is driving a fiat punto but has to go via John0groats or Lands End and has to suck on a pebble whilst wearing a hard hat……. utterly pointless crap that always ends with some smug cock sat in a bar drinking a pint whilst the other rushes in panting……… amazing how they are all run over many hours or days and the winner has chance just to take a quick sip b4 2nd place gets there!……. Just stop doing these shit races please! Would have much preferred a 10 minute segment on that Jag along with prices/tips/info etc…. yum yum
Other part of the show taken up by the ego of MS. Altho he was quite humorous for a change…. but is obv not the Stig and was the only person Ferrari would let drive that beast!
Where were the car reviews/new cars out/industry news/funny stuff/star in reasonably priced car/cool wall? I admit to missing the 1st 5 mins so maybe all that was in there?
I think the top gear boys have got a little bit too ‘celebrity’ and think just having them on our screens will make us watch…
Rant over.
Oh btw….. i liked the £50k lotus and want one. I’m also quite sure that it’s fairly likely many men shed a tear at the sight of that Ferrari going round the track
Some say he can smell g-force with his eyelids and that his cousins will all be outed over the next 4 weeks in the Daily Telegraph…….
Not bad, but the internet knobheads on a certain forum will be maoning about anything they can.
Few notes:
1. Stig is likely many persons as said, real question is who is that driving instructor who is doing all celebs.
2. Not removing FXX isn’t too special we have to see if it’s up next episode.
Hmm, somewhat this episode felt bit over treched in some places, still preview of season was Whoah! material, hope it’s all coming.
Comment 130:Sygnusprime
Your absolutely right and thank god it’s good to hear from somebody who knows. Just a few aero tweaks weren’t it? and the gear box etc?
Heather,Stiggy is Ben Collins,just one guy does the track tests,n he’s rather quick !
top gear is cool aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaagggggggggggggggggg ggggggggggggggggggggggggg ggggggggggggggggggggggggg ggggggggggggggggggggggggg ggggggggggggggggggggggggg gggggggggg
Great show, and juste after that I saw an another face of James May in the U2 plane !
hi from dublin what a great start great show well done james on winning a challange for a change not sure about the stig though can we have the online stuff for roi viewers we get bbc here too
Without a doubt the BEST EVER EPISODE OF TOP GEAR!!
;D 
MORE OF THE SAME AND SOME, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And who thought it would be a good idea to show that wallowy old Ferrari go round the track id much rather see the hardcore smoking beast of a Lotus!!!!!! xD
well they did quite a lot to the fxx evoluzione actually… but still a pretty neat toy to have if your ever down at fiorano
I don’t think he is really THE Stig. When doing the lap you could see that he wasn’t wearing one of those balaclavas the Stig usually has on under his helmet, you could see an uncovered part of his neck. Struck me as odd and then they had Scheuy revealed. I think it might be an elaborate prank they maybe playing!
D
Shaun…….and breathe………it’s a f**kin entertainment programme fgs man ! Enjoy it,for what it is,three muppets making one of the best shows on UK tv ! Editing is superb,just enjoy it as light hearted fun ? Most of us do lol
Go Schumi! That FXX lap was Epic, liana lap was hilarious but I was slightly dissapointed that we didn’t see what schumi should or could of done. 1st place!
can’t wait to see what da rest of the series is like. i heard the stig is goin to do some motocross for us!!! only jokin!!
good show guys!!1
First episode was amazing loved the race and the Jag won brilliant. I think the Stig being Michael Schumacher was funny as hell obviously it isnt the real Stig because the Ferrari FXX is actually Schumachers. Ha Jeremys face covered in soot classic ! & the Lotus Evora nice car 10/10 lookin foward to the 28th june
Great show, funny and interesting for those of us over 35 for featuring a steam train and jeremy working his a** off, The Stig is not schumacher is not the stig of course, but i am very disappointed the interview was so poor. M S has developed most of the cars the team love from Ferrari, he has been behind nearly all the development of road cars for over 10 years, it would have been nice to see him asked about those cars and what he thought was the best ferrari road car he has been involved with, be it the 599 430 575 FXX and so on. Plus i bet if any of the F1 drivers finished their day off watching the sow, then i imaging they are as disappointed as the rest of us that schuey didnt do a real lap in the suzuki, too see how well he would do against mansell and hamilton and co. Poor in that respect, the rest of the show brilliant as always.
guys…..pls pls pls…….check out YouTube,Top Gear do Ground Force too…..I only clocked it today,3 parts…..I laffed like a drain.
Awesome episode.. however on the topic of the stig. I don’t believe Schumacher is the real stig :/
For a start it was his very own FXX that was used around the track (only one in the world with no white stripe) and so I think he was the stig while driving the FXX but Schumacher is too busy to be the Stig every week, I think this was a one off Schumacher Stig.
Agreed Ricktrac……..they got Schuemy there……send him round the track…….would of been interesting to see how he compared with Hammy/Mansell/Proper Stig !
I can sympathise with you poor blighters who can’t watch the “extras”.Due to some peculiarity with my computer it keeps saying i don’t have latest flash player (I do) so it won’t play the vids AAARGH!!
Hey, does anyone know why they don’t sell DVD’s of each season here in UK? Surely the revenue generated would help with the budget constraints, and HORDES of people would buy them – much better than watching the repeats on Dave with crappy editing and good bits cut out!
Hehe, I wanted to see what MS’s real lap in the reasonably priced car would be like, and is the FXX actually street legal or should it go the same was as the DBR9.
Good show, fried bacon was TV gold.
Wow, of all the things I could have imagined, seeing my favourite F1 driver reveal himself as the Stig was not one of them.
Okay, I still think that the Stig is just several drivers depending on the occasion, and this was no different. Of course Michael Schumacher is not the one and only Stig.
Nevertheless, it was quite an epic show, and I can’t wait for the next episode!
Brilliant – although I don’t believe Schuey is the Stig!
doesnt Schumacher still work for F1 but not as a driver cause i seen him on the tv so he wont have time to do the topgear episodes if he were the stig.
GREAT show, very funny
anoda great day for me did i wait for tis for soo long tnx for increasin the mystery behind the stig let them go on speculatin for all we care. we luv u jezza, richard and james for u have shwn us wat entertainmaent is and shuld be and top gear couldnt be any betta kudos guys
I watched the top gear/ground force episode on you tube and it is very funny I suggest you watch it and schumacher isnt the real stig he was bought in to drive the FXX
I was in the audience on Wednesday for the filming of tonight’s episode and I can tell you that a lot of what went down didn’t make it into the show. If they had shown everything, you would know what I know, that Schumacher actually IS the Stig. I have the photos on my phone to prove it. Sorry to burst everyone’s bubble, but I’m sick of reading everyone saying Schumacher isn’t the Stig. I was there. Even the floor manager told everybody how privileged there were to witness it.
gm_matthew……Stiggy is Ben Collins….there are several “Stigs” for promotional purposes,but only one for the track……….n thats the young ( and rather talented ) racing driver Ben Collins.
I suddenly like Schumacher.
TV moment of the year.
woaah, I’m sooooo happy it’s finally back!
The first episode was absolutely epic (:
I don’t think Schumacher is actually the stig but it’s pretty awesome that he was on the show xD
Me and my friend were watching tonight’s show and loved it! Especially when Jeremy tried to fry bacon on that train and made an egg sandwhich LOL!
Well done guys & can’t wait to see the rest of the series,
xx
The whole reason why they film on Wednesdays is because the only time Schumacher is free to fly into Dunsford Park, drive the cars rounf the test track as the Stig, and fly out again, all in the space of about 3 hours.
Acurisur…….Schumey is the Stig ?…PMSL ….it’s Ben Collins m8,end of,Schumey was brought in for effect and to make everyone go……WOW !…get real lol.
WOW so glad that james won the race in the jag
Acurisur….. schumacher is not the real stig only pretended to be lol
I dont understand why the caparo t1 wasnt allowed on the board but the fxx was, the caparo is a road legal car that ferrari didnt look very road friendly !!!!!!!!!!!!
Jojo,good shout…….the YouTube Top Gear Ground Force was f**king hilarious ! ……as for Schumey being the Stig,that’s even funnier !!!……..BEN COLLINS !
oh, guys, guys, guys, you have excelled yourselves!! That was everything i love in a Top Gear show and more – the boys going full banana’s in some harebrained race, a super-Ferrari, comedy…and of course, SchumiStig’s appearance!! I cannot wait for the rest of the series!
Post, you obviously didn’t read what I posted. A LOT of what went down on Wednesday DIDN’T make it into tonight’s show. I don’t know how else to get the message into your thick-headed skull. You weren’t there on Wednesday, therefore your comment is pointless.
next week they reveal that jezza’s mum is the stig……………..
Brilliant first show of what’s going to be a brilliant series
Shummacher as the stig? Know it isn’t true. Bring on episode 2!!!!
Bloody AWESOME start to a new series.
Well done boys… and the lost stig!
I can only assume now we know his testicles don’t have their own gravity field and he is not illegal in 16 us states that scumacckkaa is gona get put in the waste disposal or something and a NEW stig probably in vulgar seat leon cupra green is going to take over.
Other than that…. ROLL ON NEXT SUNDAY!!! WOOHOOO!!!!!
If I give you a million pounds to help fund your salary decrease Jezza, can I have a ticket to the show…please!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
And don’t stay away so long next time, Sundays, in the words of my 5 year old have been PAP!
nice one !!! although i really hope that the stigs identity is schuey! i doubt it’s really him but why show people if not? i don’t know lol all i know is what a show!!!
We don’t care if mackerstig is the real stig.
Some say he prances like a stalion,
And show it a geewhiz and he will transform into a challenger 2 tank and crush it.
All we know is he’s called the stig!!!
Top BLOODY Banana!!
Acurisur…..am pleased n jealous you were there Weds for for filming,bet it was great !….However,Schumey driving the Ferrari FXX around the track for a couple of hrs dont make him the Stig.For a day,for the audience,for the first episode…it was an amusing ruse.But the fact remains….all other “Stig Tests” are done by Ben Collins…before you reply,pls google him lol.
As I already said, unless YOU WERE THERE on Wednesday, you don’t have the whole picture. I’m getting a bit sick of the people on this board trying to discredit something I saw with my OWN EYES, and even Clarkson told us after filming had finished to keep a lid on it. I’m off to bed now, safe in the knowledge that I was fortunate enoght to witness the Stig unmasked. Anyone who says otherwise is just jealous they weren’t there. Well, tough.
oh hold on i hear someone with adonoids..
I wish it was more than 60 mins – we miss so much of the full rehearsal day (ive never been, but i can tell). gr8 episode, of course MS is not the stig.
Wow Post, you seem quite insistent that the real Stig is Ben Collins. For all we know, you might be right. But I think that for certain occasions such as the race across London, the Caterham race and so on, they need not necessarily use the same person every time.
In all, everyone has their own opinion. Hardly anyone actually knows, and that’s what makes the Stig such a mysterious character.
First of all, brilliant first show!Secondly, please please please please please let us
non-UKers watch the videos!!!!!!!!!!!!!It’s only a matter of time before somebody puts a bad quality version up on youtube so WHAT’S THE BIG PROBLEM???!!!
Seriously, it can only be a good thing if the rest of the world can watch too.
Still looking forward to the next episode though!!
not a bad start to the show but could have been better..EG they could have shown the EVORA..nice to have the ferrari fxx tho..
Acurisur,ok you get to bed (skool night n all)….I did’nt discredit you,just stated Schumey was used as Stiggy for the first episode,driving the FXX ?
gm_matthew……..yer dead right,Stiggy has several “stunt doubles”…for non driving/publicity pics etc…However,I guarantee you that every track test is performed by one man,Ben Collins.Feel free to google him lol
Sorry guys but the fxx is not street legal so you will have to take it off the board.
Still…sweet time though.
sooty65…….. they did show it clarkson drove it
Yes Sooty,they could have shown the EVORA ?…Clarkson f**king tested it lol…what programme were you watching ?
That’s what I was saying!They took off the Maserati MC12 after all and I think it was the same time….
Schumi has better stuff to do with his time than flying to the track once a week and it would completely ruin the show if the real stig was revealed…I think it’s just a few drivers who do all the extra stuff at the track, cause then nobody has to live with the pressure of keeping the secret!!
Great publicity stunt with Schumacher – even though the novelty will wear off as quickly as his FFX accelerates, it was a really entertaining moment! Loved the FFX lap btw – look like a batmobile special or what?!
The main race feature was quite entertaining but strangely muted compared to the usual fare – not much happened. The train was a nice idea but otherwise, a dull feature. The best moment was a coal-faced Clarkson collapsing in the hotel bar!
Also, Jezza’s Evora test was great but overall, a very average episode..but still twice as good as just about anything else on the box! Have to mention the ‘James May on the moon’ program which followed – a lovely piece of tv.
Is it me or is Richard’s hair slowly becoming more and more like May’s?
It’s really not a good look.
Jojo…..how dumb are the comments on here ?……are they all American ?
W-Hortencia – I was thinking that too…and his evil laughing is getting a bit annoying lol
not all american maybe sooty65 n acurisor……
nick,deffo a swift batmobile….looked fantastic !…thought the show was good overall though ?…W_H……Hammond is May in 10 yrs time lolol
i am in 2 minds as to whether schumi is the stig. if he is – great; if he isnt then that is also good.
Great show guys, and for the sake of all that is sacred in the world of motoring, dont give it up
I’m not sure if anyones written this on the wall, but really people must learn why only the UK can access bbc vids, its cus they have it written that only people in the country that fund the bbc to broadcast can view it (much like theres vids in the U.S that can’t be viewed outside the U.S and I’m sure some other countries too)… I’m sure someones put it on youtube, so please stop annoying me and others with your whinnin that you can’t view it.
Also another top episode… looks like a fun filled series ahead… but probably more moaning from people that theres not ‘real’ car tests even though theres a whole list of websites with ‘real’ reviews to read.
Jojo……..your in “the know”,part of the production team,u know the boys….Who Is The Real Stig ?….cmon,tell us !
well its a closely guarded secret but to put you all out of your misery I shall now tell you…… its BEN COLLINS
i think the only way to prove to all the fans once and for all that schumacher is the stig is by seeing the other episodes! and if we get offical annoucements from the BBC and TopGear to say whether he is defo the stig or whether if it was a pr stunt. i reckon he is the stig but i cud be wrong! and if all the stuff that was cut out from tonights fliming should be realised to prove that he is the stig cos i am getting fed up with the he is/he isnt debeat! funny after all this time people want to know who it is and they reveal and people still dont know wot to believe haha! madness.
it was a great show! loving the orange shirt jeeza when did you start working for comet? haha! and awww bless hammond on that bike heehee!
i miss it,and i want to die
hammondlover…….see above……….several posts lol…..it’s BEN COLLINS…..feel free to google/wiki lolol
n Jojo,thanks for the confirmation that the Stig IS Ben Collins……..some people have a problem with it ?…denial or Americans ?
Post….do you work for the production team???
Back to pub names……..How about “The Piston Broke” Think About it!!!!!!!
Only one word to describe top gear ands that ‘Epic’.
Pah! Fifth Gear was better. We have Wookie, Jason Potato, Lurch and Vicki-Bloater Henderson.
Acurisur, have you seen the outtakes, shumacher didn’t even know what the stig was! what I want to know is what was he doing on top gear anyway? kinda pointless really
Please please please make the videos watchable outside the UK, it’s very frustrating to be a very big top gear fan and not be able to see the backstage videos. I have been a fan for years, it makes my Sunday watch top gear. I’ve been to TopGear live, I have the videos, I even have the annual! Now I want to watch the videos. Great show, and looking forward to the next six
Ashie,no,am just a fan of the show……but a little google/wiki digging helps get a proper respective lol
I was very shocked when i saw shumacher under the helmet… i say if theres going to be a new stig now he should be green
to support the enviroment 
perspective*…….cuse my typing
So, I don’t think Schumacher is the stig
Tiffany Dell – but you don’t have the stig
The show rocked =] very exciting to brighten up our mundane Sunday evenings. my entire family is so glad the boys are back, we gathered around the tv to watch with baited breath…counting the hours/minutes until Top Gears’ triumphant return. And the Stig!! wondering whether he is Michael Schumacher or not, you do like to cause speculation and excitement for your viewers!!
So glad the show’s back, and what a first episode. keep it up lads!
That kettle was bloody good….I seen this at Prestonpans(South of Edunburgh
Of course M.S is not the Stig. However it was great to see him on the show!! fantastic, well done!!!
other than that, we at home are very happy that TG is back!
the stig ISNT i repeat IS NOT schumacher it is BEN COLLINS ….. repeat after me BEN COLLINS….
Okay, I’ve just been viewing a few news reports across the web, and it turns out that most of them do claim that Ben Collins is the Stig, with the others saying that at least four people take the role of the Stig, often with Ben Collins as one of them.
I’m now guessing that ‘revealing’ Michael Schumacher as the Stig was done in response to these reports, attempting to keep the Stig’s identity a mystery.
The question is, now what do they do? Kill the while Stig off and get another one, leave the Stig and the person(s) that play him as they were before, or just replace the drivers, keeping the character intact? I don’t know. But I think we’re all going to find out at some point.
Wow what a show!
Thanks you Mole for the insider gossip and info, backstage videos and out-takes a fab idea.
GREAT SHOW, LOVED IT!
^I was meant to write ‘thank you Mole’ lol.
Top Gear is Wickedis!!!
well said Jojo,u know wots wot,respect.
gm_matthew….nothing will change,Stiggy (Ben Colins) will carry on doing the track tests,n hopefully the programme will keep up the same high standards.
gm_matthew who knew eh???
WHAT A START TO THE NEW SERIES, ONE OF THE BEST EVER AND ALL THOSE YEARS WANTING TO KNOW WHO THE STIG WAS WAS FINALLY REVEALED. I HOPE THE SERIES STAYS AS GOOD AS THIS AND IT WAS NICE TO SEE JEREMY DOING SOME WORK ON THE STEAM ENGINE.WELL DONE TO ALL INVOLVED IT WAS VERY ENTERTAINING
u never fail me Top Gear, once again my Sunday night, and for that matter my week, has been made brighter and happier with the best use of my licence fee i could imagine.
If i paid double the licence fee could we have 14 shows instead of the 7 mentioned?
Even Inspector Clouseau could not identify the real stig and long may the mystery continue.
13 lucky for some. Best Show Ever.
I don’t know what else to say about this legendary show other than Thank You Top Gear cast and crew for continually entertaining me like no other.
Bring On the next 13 series.
no matter the stig is schumacher or not both of them(or him) was the great driver….and fan like a lot
Genious, thanks for a really cool hour. It is rubbish though that i can’t see the website videos and the behind the scenes footage. Please try and put them on youtube for the rest of the fans all arround the world.
cheers
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
I’m amazed at how good TG is all the time. But the way you guys manage to surprise and amaze us every single time for 13 seasons is completely beyond me.
I’m all made of goose bumps. Bravo!
This is the real Stig tbh: http://bit.ly/107v46
Brilliant to have the show on our screens again. Sorely missed. Keep up the good work
You could see it was schu by that time in the FXX, he followed the making of that car and he knows How to drive it properly! but still I think it was one of the best shows ever on top gear!
congratulations for it!
From Portugal(Madeira)
I have never ever commented on anything in my whole life. But this comeback episode was absolutely jaw dropping. I have never felt jealous of an audience in my whole entire life. Honestly, this show was amazing. I have downloaded the episode, because it will go down in history. Seriously, WELL DONE!
Too much Schumacher and mildly interesting Lotus car review and not enough train! More train! TRAIN!!! =D
2 questions:
1)How come shuey took the liana around the track at the end instead of the lacetti?
2)How come the ferrari fxx qualifies if the DBR9 doesn’t?
sorted the best car program on tv !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice race but not unforgettable. Great races have dream cars or dream landscapes… or both.
How about normal people in a priced car or me in a truck you want a laugh
The new episode was FANTASTIC! But PLEASE make those behind-the-scenes videos available to those out of the country!!!
is it just me or is top gear starting to wear a bit thin?
this series is definitely a great improvement on the last one. more cars, a good race and even a guest. but after 13 seasons its becoming all the more transparent and predictable.
Maybe its time to send the good ship top gear to rest?
When are you coming to Mexico?? You need to come to Mexico and drive in our highways, will be great to do a challenge by considering the time of just crossing Mexico city… or try to arrive to an specific address.. and if I could drive the car for moderate price probably I can give you a surprise.
I am one of your BEST FAN !! Great show!!!
Feel free to contact me when you have a chance to come to Mexico City at alfredo.delosrios@yahoo.c om.mx
please never stop making the show it’s amazing
brilliance utter brilliance!!! just one thing is bothering me. I think… and i know a lot of you think the same way, although the FXX did an amazing lap with schuistigi at the wheel it does not deserve to go on the board because its not a street legal car and if was well you never use it because it will always be in Maranello
Great Episode boys and girls!! Pretending that Schumacher is the Stig was quite hilarious, but you can’t fool us hoho!!
The Stig actually cannot remove his helmet, because he does not breathe air.
Great Episode! Epic vehicles, epic scenery, everything for the film was just epic! The news got a bit awkward feeling but, beyond that, this show was a fantastic rush.
I don’t know how you guys do it, but once again, you have out done your selves. Perhaps one of the most brilliant Top Gear episodes yet. Looking forward to another great season!
gr8 work guys with the new series.
schui the stig ,please stop fooling us , even a 8 year old could tell that he is not the stig.
but all’s well that ends well.
hope u guys continue the good work.
Well, obviously, the Schuh is not the stig, even in the Fezza FFX, you could see that.(holds steering wheel pretty different, than the Stig usually does). EPIC SHOW, non the less.Nice car, that jag,and the Tornado is something else too.Looking forward, to next sundays show, which hopefully has the three most memorable sentences :”How hard can it be”? “That s not going well” and the obvious conclusion: “Ambitious,but Rubbish” in it
congrats guys, great show once again,if you keep that standard up, i don t mind, if its only 7 episodes this time. Even if i d hope for a 52-ep series, at least once a year 
Why is the FXX (more accurately, Schumachers FXX, as he owns it) still on the board when it’s not road legal and can’t get over a speed bump?
Oh, and to that FXX,(trackday only-car) it shouldn t be on the lapboard times with the road legal cars. but i d rather open a new lapboard, for all those Caparos etc.And even if Schuhmacher isn t an F-1 driver anymore, i wished he d done a time for that Lapboard in the lasetti,just for the record.
I knew Schumacher was the stig. He must have benn sick of the motor press annyoing him. As for the steam train vs bike vs car. It aways prove whoever is driving a car will be the quickest on long distance journeys. I suppose Clarkson needed that workout.
Guys That was astonishing. Well Done!
And as a suggestion why don’t you come to Romania and have a cheap car challenge.
Great show >>…
oh my god i loved it ive was waitin all day for it to come on and it did and that was wirth it by a mile
love you guy andy,jc,jm,rh
The perfect guy for the job didnt expect him though…
I have a request, I’m not sure if it has been done in the past, I would be nice if you featured the cars you actually drive (daily commute car) and compete between each other.
You did kind of kill my excitement of the race thanks to Michael Schumacher being revealed as The Stig. I loved the FXX lap by the way, but is it road legal? The Renault F1 still beat it, but if you get on the road with that thing, you’d be dead before you know it.
Wow!!!..I was genuinely surprised it was schumacher. Brilliant, Simply Brilliant XD. Job well done, this series is going to be a blast.
great show
please think of the people outside the uk. We want to see the outtakes also.
Schumi is not the stig
Yeah, the show was more than BRILLIANT, though Schumacher was quite a surprise for all of us. And I still beleive that the Stig is a bloke who has know understandig of ducks or whatever, but he isn’t a Schumacher.
Keep it fresh, as you always do it !
And by the way, why can’t we, foreigners, watch those videos from your website? I think that not only I would be happy, if you made it available for everyone. Many thanks Guys!
my fav driver in the whole history is the stig and button loses
can u get any betta??
Some say that he has a stig-wife and two stig-children. and that he lives in car hating switzerland. all we know is hes not the stig but he is michael schumacstig
Mr Clarkson you sillyface. The FXX is not road legal take it off the leader board!!
I’m begging, let people outside of the UK watch the extra-stuff!
It won’t kill the BBC, will it?!
The race from London to Edinburgh, was good, but as this was supposed to have been 1949, then James would have been able to drive at the maximum speed the car was capable of, as in 1949 there was no top speed limit on de-restricted roads. I can recall being on the back of a Vincent Black Shadow, along the A30, travelling legally at 109MPH in the 1950s.
to Shaun 137. i have to say I agree with him, sometimes I do miss the likes of season 4,5,6 in Top Gear, when they were both hilarious and sensible. Now, more and more often sensibility is gone through the window
Great episode, funny to see James win for once!!
It was a very good episode. However, I do have one complaint. When the Ferrari FXX was posted on the TG lap time board, it should be taken off. It is not road legal in Britain.
Let me get this straight – the FXX is allowed on the power board because it has hydraulic lift for the front so it can get over speed bumps. If so, why hasn’t the Caparo T1 been reinstated? Production models have the same device so why hasn’t it been put back in it’s rightful place at the top?
I was actually in the audience. It was absolutely the best best best experience I have ever had!! And I met my all time hero. Thanks again for the photos Jeremy and James. You guys are just totally awsome. Richard was really funny on the bike too. FANTASTIC SHOW WHOOP WHOOP.
Love you boys x x x x
+1 for letting us plebs overseas watch the backstage vids…
yes, let us see the vids!
In response to Lee Taylor, uh yes, I have seen the outakes, as I’ve said several times, I WAS THERE ON WEDNESDAY FOR THE FILMING OF THIS EPISODE. I saw this programme on WEDNESDAY, unedited. That’s how I know the Stig is NOT Ben Collins, The Stig IS Michael Schumacher. One incident that DIDN’T make it into Sundays programme was when Schumacher’s private jet took off, Clarkson exclaimed “That sounds like The Stig leaving,(pause), actually that IS The Stig leaving!” I’m tired of this now. Take it from someone who was there.
“I don’t think Schumacher is really The Stig!”
Christ, what planet are you people on? I mean, really. Did you happen to miss the last two minutes of the show? Where they spell out the joke for those a bit slow on the uptake?
That nonsense notwithstanding, tonight’s show was a mixed bag, but a very welcome return. The race was simply fantastic, and all of the harrumphing from people who don’t actually give a damn about cars complaining that it didn’t have enough calamity and falling over is idiotic, but predictable. Don’t listen to ‘em, gents: those of us with petrol in our veins who’ve supported you from the start loved it. Gorgeously photographed, and a genuine nail-biter. The Evora review was a bit bleh, but then, so is the Evora. You do the best with the hand you’re dealt, I suppose.
And as disappointed as I was not to see Schumacher doing a proper lap in the Liana, I can’t help but wonder…was it maybe that Schumacher *did* fire off a lap quicker than Ben Collins’ 1:44.4, and perhaps out of respect opted not to air it, so as not to show up the actual, proper Stig? Hmmmm…
Sorry guys, but I really don’t think Shumacher is the stig. Or maybe he is, and you put someone who is absolutely cr*p in a stig suit and gae them the job of doing Shumachersa. Or maybe you just importedd Shumacher and told him to pretend to be the Stig. anyway, something about the stig is wrong. There.
fantastic….and the idea of putting shumi behind the wheel is just brilliant.of course the FXX could not be driven properly by any other men. what a stunning performance.perhaps shumi is not the everyday stig but who cares? it s been wonderful to have him there. the best part of the show was jezza s question-what do you drive? absolutely shocked…a chroma? wow…this coming from a men whose car collection is…..endless. great show guys.and once again you have got to realise….ferarri are the best.
Excellent show, boys! i’m glad you haven’t admit who the real stig is.
But as if you would anyway
another thing….don t you think it would be nice to have on your site the fastest lap chart?
A welcome return to form. Really good show to kick off the new series, and not much I can find fault with at all. Although it was a shame not to see Schuey doing a lap in the reasonably priced car (we all know we wanted to see it), the FXX gave plenty to dribble over! Really enjoyed the race – was fun to see Jeremy doing something that might actually be considered as “manual labour”, and the Jag was simply beautiful! Would so love to own that car…
…anyways, all good. Keep it up guys. But for the love of God Jezza, lose the Easyjet shirt please!!
The FXX really needs taking off the board and Evora putting on.
Still.. was the best TopGear of the year. XD
Michael Schumacher is not the stig i can prove this because his mummy told me!!!!
Of course is Schumacher the STIG! Otherwise Ferrari wouldn`t borrow the FXX, he is owning one! If you look on Youtube, you will see that schumi fxx is exactly the same. All those fast cars wich they had on the track are borrowed just because schumi is the Stig. If you say: Jay Kay is the stig, then they wouldn`t borrow it at all.
BEN COLLINS IS NOT THE STIG
i know who the stig is but im not saying
ian
Mindboggling. I taped it and watched it twice. But I don’t like the FXX added to the Top Gear track list. It is not a road legal car. Also there was a rule that a car should be able to go over speed bumps. This car is just too low. Therefore I suggest (to keep it honest) you remove it from the list. Else what’s next? An Aston Martin LeMans racer?
If Schu really is the Stig, and there’s been TG Live, and this looks like the silliest season ever (in a good way) – are they wrapping it up?
The whole show was great and it was really funny, especially when clarkson staggered into the Balmoral Hotel, covered in grime and soot and puffing and panting….
great show guys.
never thought that the stig was michael. but at the end jeremy said that he maybe wasn’t. i am confused. maybe next week the stig is lewis.
that was a fast car that ferrari fxx. but it was really ugly. the race was again halerious and of course the car won!!
see ya next week
guys please let us from outside the UK see the uploaded clips please.
Loved the show, just what I need after a busy day at work! Great to see James win one of the epic races (maybe he’s been somewhat hampered by Richard in past races? – controversial!)I am also pleased that Oz and James drink to Britain is being repeated, as it always makes me laugh.
Also enjoyed the two programmes about the moon landings that James did, he was quite the action hero with the flight in the U2 and preceding training.
I liked the episode, especially the race, but it felt a bit rushed and scripted, there was less banter than usual which was a real shame, and apart from the race there was just the one car review and the weird michael schumacker thing, who by the way i dont think is the stig and i bloody hope not because they’ve ruined it if he is!
The race was the best bit so surely it would have been better to show more of that, do a top gear special on it, with just the race, that way the rest of the episode wouldnt have felt so rushed through?
If you want to keep immigrants out of the country, let us watch them new clips, cuz if ya don’t, me and me friends are getting visas to the UK…:) And getting jobs there… And we are really cheap workforce… And we are also quite qualified, too… And we know how to deal with eastern mentality… Getting it yet?
That was another amazing show and completed sunday. It was funny and always interesting. Laughing all the way through especially when hammond kept on making all thoughs hero noises in his helmet…
That “bored with top gear” guy..why did he even bother posting a comment..Loser!?
Great show – went down very well in our house with all the boys young and old!
I really loved this show, but:
About the Stig: do you really think that Renault would let a Ferrari driver drive in their F1 car? That was a testdriver from Renault. I am sure that Shumi wasn’t in the suit of the Stig all of the time (when on tv), in some cases I am convinced that it was somebody else. And now for a serious question: what will happen next? Will he drive without his helmet on, or will there be a new Stig ( like last time ). Or will he keep his helmet on and keep everybody guessing if he really is the Stig ( I think that if he keeps the Helmet on it might not be Shumi after all ).
Greetings from Holland!!
p.s. look at season 6, episode 10. JC gives a big hint in the interview with Mark Webber.
Not that anyone is reading this 297 comments down but my god was that episode amazing. Exactly what I’d expect for a series opener from the Top Gear team. When are you going to accept that America doesn’t want our own Top Gear and in fact wants the real Top Gear to air on BBC America the same night it airs on BBC2?
Thanks for a great show from Americaland.
I drove all [afternoon] to get back to you…literally. Went down the M1 like my engine was on fire. Great opening show – London-Edinburgh didn’t seem to me to be able to produce a really good race – and I was right – it was a great race! It was in the spirit of what the best races on TG are about – it’s not about the gadgetry and the stunts – it’s about what the North Pole and Botswana was – three mates having fun in interesting/beautiful machines. It was nice to see James actually getting a machine that worked (and he won for once!) and Jeremy’s genuine enthusiasm and love of the engineering shone through (regardless of soot). My late granddad loved trains, especially steam trains, he would have loved every second of it. It just breaks your heart when you realise how useless this country has become; we’re no longer producing Brunels and Macadams and Sir Christopher Wrens and nobody even bothered to preserve an original Peppercorn! It also shows how good rail transport could be to leave roads for cars not freight – that poor steam train limited to 75; pity Jezza couldn’t accidentally get it up to full speed! It was a genuine nail-biter because you had no idea whether Jeremy or James was going to make it to The Balmoral first.
Ah, The Stig = Schumacher. Not really, but it was a fun stunt (next time will it be Ralf?)
My only complaint – Jeremy, please: my life = I work and I sleep; Sunday nights I sink down wearily into an armchair for a couple of precious hours before I start working again – but that shirt was actually *painful* to the eyes. It imprinted behind my eyelids long after 9pm. Not even James’s worrying fondness for pink “floral” print shirts has ever done so much retinal damage in so short a time. Please, never again! Didn’t the fact that the camera crew could only film you for a few seconds before turning away from their lenses with winces and watering eyes clue you in?
Today (Monday) is a comedown: from Top Gear to inferior gear (5th gear). I love the fact that 3 slightly-eccentric fashion-reject middle-aged blokes on Top Gear are infinately more entertaining than the likes of 30-somethings Tom Ford (good TG writer but awful presenter)and that skinnier version he co-presents with (what a knob) on 5th Gear – with their ‘trendy’ facial hair and fashion-victim clothes for 18 year olds (fine if you’re 18 – silly if you’re in your 30’s) and boorish 90’s laddish ‘humour’. Rubbish.
Top Gear, I don’t believe you.
Oh I forgot:
. That’s what you get for being the ambassador of Bacardi.
Shumachers lap in the Liana: see for your self what alcohol does to you
One thing I have learned from all this…
DO NOT READ/WATCH THE SPOILERS.
Th car, bike train race was brilliant, and I’m sure I would have ’squeed’ when I saw James sat there at the bar, but I all ready knew the outcome, and it ruined it for me!
However I refused to read any thing about the stig unveiling and was duly surprised to see Michael Schumacher; IT WORKED, IT WAS BRILLANT!!!
(Oh sh*t, wasn’t gonna use the B word!)
Thank you BBC, I see at least some of my licence fee has been put to good use
Fabulous show lads, epic race (shame the bike didnt do that well, operator error or lack of instructions?). Thought the ’stig taking his hemet off’ was a bit silly though, like schumacher is stig, yeah ok. I spy a series of unmaskings here. The annonimity is the beauty of the character so its not going to be given away.
All together lots of laughs, Jezza insulting carious groups of libs and leftys that will nodoubt moan to anyone that will listen and enough smiles to make my face hurt.
One complaint. As always almost no publicity that the new series was on. I found out by accident 20 mins before it started. Come on BBC, its your best show, tell us you are putting it on!
Bloody hell, I have’nt missed a episode of top gear on telly, watched MPH in South Africa. And yes , I have to wait 2 years for DSTV to show the unveiling of the stig on telly!Shit,shit, shit!!!!
I enjoyed the show as always, but some of the ‘larking about’ seemed a little bit too rehearsed for me.
I was worried when the Stig’s identity was revealed (why would they do that?) but was happy by the end of the show to know that Michael Schumacher is definitely NOT the Stig. Hopefully he will be back next week in his true anonymous form.
I thought that last nights Top Geaar was a brilliant way to open the new series. But I have to be honest and there were a few drawbacks:
1. Im not sure I truly believe that michael schumacher is The Stig
2. Hammond’s hair! It reaaaaally needs a cut. :L
And to all those above who disapprove of the Ferrari FXX; its gorgeous, fast and sounds like a true car. Plus, environmentalists hate it (Y). All the more reason to get one. Ha.
Anyways it was bloody brilliant and I will be enjoying the next 6 weeks
Oh, will there be any way possible knocking sense into my younger brother’s head; that wants a Nissan Micra when he is older :S
Top Gear? James May cheatted?? you used the A1M through Durham County, you did not keep to the Great North Raod, there is no way you won, because the old A1 has a speed limit on it of 40mph through Darlington, Aycliffe, Ferryhill, Durham, Chester le Street, Gateshead, Newcastle. You cannot claim a victory by using the motorway, by-pass, etc?? The Tornado Won not your crummy Jag?
Top gear is the best. Keep it up.
…
But the stig and the schumy thing was a bit bad
Why lets cut out monday, tuesday and thursday.
I dont want to wait :////
first of all welcome back chaps… ace show!!! i thought jeremys shirt was awful, and the race was brilliant nice too see jezza do some work must of been tough looked it!! and who would of thought micheal schumacher was the STIG, good idea that one but i think its Johnny Herbert !!! roll on next sunday for the next episode
I was really quite disappointed, great photography and all that, but it felt very staged and not at all natural. You’re trying too hard instead of being yourselves.
Come off it, it was not the Stig, we measured the difference in height, so lets have the real one, not some foreign racing driver paid to take the bread out of a British workers mouth.
Totally agree with nr.28 Baggiesguy !
Felt like watching Fifth Gear at times… Even so, still better than any talent-hunt-audition-thin gy or diet-show which seem to dominate TV nowadays.
Why I cannot watch videos on webside from Ireland? Please lads, just a bit of common sense.
Stig no way, my mates says all put up job, BBC news said so when asked. as for the Tornado, Clarkson won, I should know I followed May up part of the way, he did not keep to the road.
Schumacher?!
go top gear go top gear GO
i know everybody wanted to see the stigs face. but it is bad. now when TG make the jokes about stig ” some say … ” it will seem out of place
Great first show guys; can’t wait for more!
But a few things:
1. I knew that The Stig was going to be somebody ridiculous. I know it was a ruse! hahaha!
2. Jeremy; Orange is NOT your colour (your shirt and skin tone cancelled each other out)
3. Well done James for winning! You got your own back!
4. Richard; are you going back to your ‘art student’ phase? (You know what I’m on about)
One of these days you will be able to tie it back; and that’s not a good look. Cut it back; or else! (joking by the way)
Keep it up guys!
The lap by the Ferrari FXX was quite outstanding but can it stay on the leader board?
The Ferrari FXX is not a road car! http://en.wikipedia.org/w iki/Ferrari_FXX Check out Wikipedia its a race car based on the Enzo, it made good TV though.
thats definately not really the stig..if it were they wud have to get a new one!!!
grey stig anyone?
Noooooo, we would have to get a green Stig or a red one
.
The first show was absolutely fantastic, but I doubt the Stig is Michael Schumacher. Can I suggest a race between the Stig and Michael Schumacher, if that is possible?! Well done to James for winning, well done to Jeremy for surviving the whole thing and well done to Richard for persevering. Roll on next Sunday!!!
Loved the latest episode!
You guys had me for a moment that schumacher was THE STIG, but saw at the end that he was a special guest, nice work!
Keep this going, otherwise I’ll have to watch fifth gear for all my car info, and we don’t want that happening now do we?!
Top Gear will always, always be my favourite programme, fifth gear on the other hand, I’m sorry, but you guys are pillarks..
Regards!
yeah! good show =) I totally loved it! and schumacher as THE STIG never thought that.
and what a lat in the Ferrari 1.10.?? !! daaamn!
but was it faster than the T1?
Top show, the wait has well worth it, also nice nod to Sniff Petrol in the Lotus bit. Good work.
James May implied towards the end of last night’s show that it always was quicker to go London to Edinburgh by car. What a silly comment……..In the 50s and 60s a crack express could do Kings Cross to Waverley in 6 and a quarter hours, taking water from a trough via a scoop while travelling at speed. Beat that in your car James, pottering up a single carriageway A1, passing through every town and city, stopping for fuel, food – oh, and of course, the odd breakdown!
Dear Hair Bear Bunch
1. That will put up the demand for the stig!!
2. J c’s Back problem no more
3 Don’t you think the hamster would have been better to use his wheel to start his vincent
4. J.M was he a french pollisher in a past life
5. Top program 10/10 you find it hard to better that but i guess you will try
6. What has 620 bhp per Ton
0-60 3.2 sec
Restricted to 190 mph
and does 40 mpg and £150 F/C ins
Not my Micra my M/Cycle
I was insanely brilliant! ‘49 race was magnificent and epic! But I sincerely hoped that the train will win. Nevermind, my expectations were high and I was stunned! Great job everyone! Thank you!
Sunday nights are back!!! Roll on episode 2
Mixed feelings about yesterday’s show.
“Lotus Dress Shop”? That made me laugh.
The race was nice. Beautiful train, gorgeous car, awesome bike. Richard was hilarious in all his boyish glee.
But the Stig thing… That was a big disappointment. The moment it became clear he was going to ‘reveal’ himself I was “no, please don’t ruin it.” Then out came Schumacher, which was quite “WTF?” Then logic kicks in which tells me “Nah, he’s not the Stig.”
Whether he is or isn’t, the whole feature was quite ridiculous. It almost ruined the rest of the show for me. The Stig character shouldn’t be messed with like that…
I agree with a previous comment about there being too many spoilers – I like to buy the TG mag every month and regularly come to this site but you seemingly can’t avoid stumbling across a blog or something which gives away all the juicy bits from the new series…I know, I could just try and refrain from reading it but it’s that damn temptation!! moan moan moan
Ha we still dont know who the stig is thank god, i was like on the edge of my seat lol, i said to my mrs it aint the real stig as if you look at a stig pic to shuey in the stig suit the real stig is broader in the shoulders so please we still dunno who stig . shuey was only there as he works for ferrari and that they were using the FXX great plan guys loved it.
Nice shirt but just not Jezza. We all know Schumi could never be or have been the Stig, nor will the Stig ever really be revealed -that would quite take the flavour out of the show- but very funny anyway, I laughed my head clean off. Off course, Schumi is humorous as only Germans can be… Ahem. Why the crappy lap in the Liana? That one wasn’t funny. All in all, sunday is truly sunday once more.
I only fear that this may be the end of the Stig-phenomena. Please let Stiggy stay on, in whatever way!
we love stig and dont want to know who he is, im so pleased he wasnt truly revealed.
Good episode, but Schuey is definately not the Stig.
Only one problem with the episode: Stig/Schumacher’s lap in the Liana. Why couldn’t he do a proper lap to see how fast he was?
yes, a bit too much hype(from the mole) and perhaps a tad too much anticipation from the most of us.. it never really kicked in.. There were of course ups and sporadic downs but most of this episode was just simply too subtle..
Greats :Shots of Jeremy on the tornado..great sound,well timed effects, beautiful cinematography..Richards blackshadow theme twitterings,he IS quite angry little man:D
Not quite so greats : shots of the tornado itself that seemed to last forever and ever and ever, the lack of perspective of james in the jag, no real feeling of tensity during the depiction of the race itself, Schumi’s total and utter indifference, the fact that he didn’t actually do the anticipated lap.. and the feeling thatbesides the “great” race there wasn’t really a story line.. would have loved to see james in period clothing while driving the jag for example, less sarcastic brownosing from Jezza while interviewing Schuma.. a bit more about the fezza fxx..
Summa summarum not bad but a little rushed and def. not upto hype..By far not the best show ever.. Good to see it back though, hope like good wine you’ll better with age…\
Liked it? I BLOODY LOVED IT!!!!
My life is complete again!
..it was like getting into a ferrari, turning the key ..and nothing.
.. a kylie !!!
best show back on tv!!!!!!!!!!! cant beat it !!!!!!
I felt everything was over scripted, not the usual top gear unscripted malarkey.
nice, nice , reallyyyyy nice…’
nice to have you back.
This was one of the best episodes Ever!
great job. Hope to see episode 2. Cant wait!
Woo Hoo!
I think that top gear should go to Riphays scuffle in somerset, would love to see that.
I thought the stig was Ben Collins… oh well Michael Shumacher is fine.
Nice Job!
No discussion, best show ever…
BUT PLEASE ALLOW VIDEOS OUTSIDE UK ALSOOO
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
anon please refrain from abusing the top gear show, i bet your the presenter off 5th gear aint you and that your jealous cause TOP GEAR IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!
Hi folks
I was in the audience there, when that happened, im in the background behind JC.
When that helmet came up and over MS face, the place atmosphere was electric. It was amazing.
Its been very hard to keep quiet about it too, but great fun winding people in work up about it.
Well done the team, fabulous first episode, but, you have a lot to live up to, what are you gonna do to top it?
Good work, love the show, all the best
Tony
Guys, I simply love you.
I adore, every single frame of the show.
Good luck!
p.s. Can`t wait for next week
very good show.
Glad the Stig thing was a wind up I dont want to know who he really is , I like not knowing.
The more James May the better
please do a fav top gear presenter servay coz i think James is most populer now.
Joanna xxx
-TOP GEAR PLEASE READ THIS-
I know that will have made no difference, but worth a try. Great show, awesome race (not typical top gear race), good guest and funny as usual.
HOWEVER, lay off the toliet humour and such, talking for 2 minutes about Ranulph Fiennes diarrhea isn’t that funny.
dudes and peeps there’s a way around the UK thing thing… do a google search for “uk proxy” should bring u to a website called xroxy.com
you basically surf through this proxy so that your location reads UK to the iplayer here…
according to my norton it doesnt detect anything funny…im not working for them…
but yea i tried other stuff like hide my ip…but…that cost much more…this is free for 3 days and only 7 quid for a month…
damn i really do sound like an advert… but how else to say it…
so schummy is the stig ? OK. so was it just coinsidence that oneof ferrari’s most exclusive cars was also there at the same time as their most famous employee,would they have entrusted the car to just anyone? My opinion is that schummy was stig for a day !!! great show, loved the race, keep it up boys
Absolutly loved the show, had me in stiches.
The lap in the FXX by Schuy was stunning but theres one small point, dont the cars on the power board have to be able to get over a speed bump and as the FXX is track only and they dont have speed bumps on tracks……! It will have to come off, because thats what happen to the Caparo F1 car and that beat the top time.
Great show any way.
And btw i think the boys were great.
However it seems like being back to school, one’s a little groggy. Hey me too. So maybe all the weird synchronisation will like all fall off.
It felt abit weird, masked by the excitement and starvation of waiting for this episode, the way the program was done.
To my own surprise, I got abit lost at the latter bits of the train race, I think it was abit too long.
Asking schumi more questions would have been better! It seemed like it was rushed so that they could squeeze the remaining bits of the train film in.
So it was like trying to squeeze the feature film of the makadi-kadi salt flats, but not having the kind of content of wonder and amazement that had.
Nonetheless, this is the ONLY show I love to bits. I love the producer andy! Should see the outtakes where he kinda takes a more centre stage! HAHA.
Poor camera men on outtake 2!
You could feel their sadness as they were holding those lenses. 
DONT BE SO CRUEL ANDY!(though i know you are) heh!
What’s wrong with Jezza’s shirt? I quiet liked them
And the new seasson promisses to be really good. Looking forward to another Sunday
Maybe the Ferrari blokes had a say in the FXX staying there.
in italian, “we came all the way down from italy, bring all our computers and air tools to set the car up and even a trailer for Michael and you do not let us be on the board?” And followed up with what Jeremy Clarkson once said “you make mistake, I kill you.”
Ha ha knew it would be shui as his personal FXX is the only black one! Recognised it from the start.
Such a shame that gorgeous train didn’t win though, the first time public transport actually deserved to win, and great effort from Jeremy!!
shumacher is not the stig coz he has a different outfit and talks differntly to an interview i have seen!!!!!!!!
PLEASE, we want to see the behind the scenes clips just as much as UK residents do!!! At least put them somewhere where we can see them like youtube. Great show anyways, just a perfect season opener!
why does he drive two stupid fiats
I loved the show on the whole but I felt that you guys kinda held back on the Evora review? It feels like there was a lot more to be said like for example a deeper comparison with the Cayman (good way to talk more about the Cayman too since it’s not been reviewed on TG yet)
AND WHY DIDN’T WE GET TO SEE SCHUMI ON THE LIANA?!!!
(
Although it is still by far the best tv show in the world, this episode was far from the best TG ep ever made, imo. The interview with Schumi was not that good and the ‘news’ was just the audience laughing all the time. As Nashon put it: ‘the starvation of waiting’.
It’s probably because I actually like cars, and most people watching TG now are not really petrolheads, and just want to watch an entertainment show.
The Evora/train race were pretty cool though.
Looking forward to next week!
The “Michael Schumacher” who drove the Suzuki Liana is a lame joke
wow nearly 400 comments and the show was only on last night , well that says it all ……
i loved the show , i found it very funny with clarkson in the train with sutt all over his face ….
and very suprised by who the stig was but i get a feeling thats not the real stig…
cant wait for next sundays show!!
cracking show, i like how revealing the stig has somehow made the stigs identity even more disputable, im glad to see top gear back, best way to spend TV licence payers money ever!
Extremely glad about the good review of the Evora. Good effort regarding the race aswell, although i bet the hotel was not too happy about the black smear Jezza left on the wall
As many posters before me mentioned, the fact that the clips are not available worldwide sucks big time. We can’t watch the whole show which is bad enough, so why can’t we have at least the clips?
A brilliant episode! Keep up the good work!
Nice lap in the FXX. all very impressive. now take it off the board. How can this be driven on UK Public roads when the owners arent even allowed to own them? last i checked race tracks dont have sleeping policemen. take it down.
The Ferrari FXX should be on the other laptime board along with the ASton DBR9 and the F1 car because it’s not road legal.
ANd schumacher should have done a proper lap to go against Hamilton and buttons laptimes.
TAKE THE FXX OFF THE LAPTIME BOARD AND PUT SCHUMI IN THE LIANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@363 most racing drivers don’t care about driving on public roads one way or the other. Might as well be a Fiat then.
last night show was (in jeremy’s frequently used words), absoultely stunning, brilliant, awesome, fantastic and definetly mind boggling good!!!
… and what exactly is wrong with driving a fiat?
Fantastic show was delighted to see Schumacher has a personality and can laugh …
I loved every minute of it, even my girlfriend was quiet for the full hour – which means something, TRUST ME!
Epic show, end of!!!
Great show. I’ll forgive you for not showing how fast the Lotus Evoracan go round your track, because that Ferrari FXX was just stunning.
One problem though. Since Ferrari keep the FXX you own, and only deliver it race tracks for you to drive, how can it go over speed bumps?
Remove it from your lap time board immediately.
THE SHOW WAS GOOD AND ENTERTAINING THE RACE WAS ALSO GOOD, PROBABLY NOT AS GOOD AS PREVIOUS RACES BUT SINCERLEY A GOOD EPISODE……..HOWEVER AS MENTIONED BY SUM PPL ABOVE THE NEWS PART AND THE GENERAL STUDIO BANTER LET ME DOWN AS IT CLEARLY SEEMeD TO BE VERY VERY HEAVILY SCRIPTED ALSO NOT ENOUGH NEWS ABOUT CARS…OTHER THAN THAT…ROCK ON!!!!
I agree with 374 btw. The FXX should not be on the list, streetlegal or no. It’s not publically available. Then again: nor was the Enzo, sort of… Maybe it’s time for a second list: the specials.
And Schumi ought to have done the Liana lap, if anybody.
Bloody rubbish episode ive never seen so much rubbish by schumacher being the stig coz it is so obvious he isnt the stig so y lie about if u keep this up then u will lose alot of viewera
Excellent!! However, I don’t beleive that Schumacher is the Stig. There were small head movements to indicate “yes” or “no” and the Stig never does that.
schumi- the best driver of all time, strange that he was revealed with the fxx which he helped develop (which isnt even road legal) in my opinion just a joke to boast the TV viewings.
the best show to date , best race out , and the stig what a laff
The FXX will be taken off board next week, i think. Also, the evora’s time was on the board as ‘lotus dress shop’, or something like that. cant remember what time it did though.
Absolutely loved the race and the Schumacher interview. The FXX shouldnt be allowed on top of the board!!!
Keep up the good work, boys.
Thought it was a pretty poor show to be honest. Schumacher scprited saga that was put in last minute as there was an offer to put the FXX round the track.
You could tell it wasn’t the stig driving it as he actually did a good lap and didn’t jump the grass coming out of Gambon.
Top gear is getting more scripted than eastenders… come on boys your trying too hard
im a bit out of breath after then endless scrolling done to reach the comment box. TOP GERA IS BACK!HAHAHA. good show.
take the fxx lap off the board!!!
Ferrari wouldn’t let anyone but Michael Schumacher drive that car,so The Stig’s identity
is safe,so leave him alone.
The Stig set a lap time in the liana already if i remember right he did a 1.44
Wasn’t Schumacher given the only “Black” FFX as a thank you kindly from his employers after retiring from F1 ??? (Saw it doing a hot lap and then thought, I think I know who owns that)
That was just pure genius. I absolutely love your show and last nights was one of the best. I loved the race as always, but Big Schuey being the Stig was FANTASTIC. You lot just get better and better. And when he did the lap in the Liana, oh my god!! My sides still hurt. Genius!!
Great show, but get the FXX off the top of the leader board…. Your rules – it won’t go over a speed bump
Guys,
get the hair under control…. Clarkson is the only one looking remotely normal, that’s how bad it has got!!
Dear Top Gear
Last nights show was for me the best you’ve ever done. Richard Hammond’s “dick barton” type commentry whilst riding the Vincent had me howling with laughter.
Lads TV at it’s very best, keep it coming
Schui (ultimate respect) won’t drive the liana he’s scared of not being able to beat Lewis Hamiltons time. Nice to see Jeza getting dirty and doing a bit of work ,..lol Can’t belive so many peoples think that was the stig, do they think Ferrari would let top gear loose with FXX i don’t think so !! Bring back the Toyota pick up, oh and thanks for the steam. Regards, pls keep up your work.
Really good show, there is also no better feeling than knowing there is an hour of Topgear on Sunday eve to vegitate in front of!
Just a small negative point about last nights show which goes back to the whole debate over trying to appeal non car fanatics while giving petrol heads what they want. Coming from the latter catigory I think it was a crime to go through the effort of getting a car like the FXX on the show without giving it more attention, if it can lap the track that quick im sure theres some cool stuff to bring up about it!
this is just a small point in what was a cool show.
Keep up the good work (if you can call it work!)
The new Atom will surely top the lap time board and probally stay there for eternity
brilliant show, never gets stolid or boring, complete silence reigned for the full hour. one problem now though… i feel like an addict after a first fix, next sunday couldn’t come quick enough. oh yeh n i agree it aint the stig and i promise to stop watching the minute they really unveil him, pressure from wannabe fans shouldn’t provoke a response from such a respectable and frankly awesome show. again well done guys on the comeback and performance, loved it!!!
Nice “race” as always, but there were too many continuity errors in Hamster’s ride on the Vincent to believe that it was real. Rain … dry … rain … no foul weather kit … dry … rain … too much weather, too often. Wet-soaked leathers one minute, dry leathers the next? We know JC hates bikes, but this ride didn’t add up straight.
SHIT
Was it a good show? That’s like asking if you thought it was a good show watching Kristen Scott-Thomas, Kiera Knightley and Fiona Bruce smeared in honey and then thrown to the lesbians!
amazing show as always!
Long may it continue!!!!!!!
Bloody great show!
Let me watch the behind the scenes stuff though, I only live in Ireland. Its not that far away!
It was an AMAZING show!!!!! Seriously, it is going to be hard to top that as a beginning show and lol it was very funny, i felt sorry for Richard though…:( x
Superb show. Not sure about the stig being Schumacher though….an elaborate ruse maybe
Brilliant show each series gets better and better. But when can I get in the audience I have been on the list for 2 years!! It’s killing me. Loving Hammond’s hairstyle this series he looks as hot as usual!!!
Great fun about ‘The Stig’ Of course it isn’t
Schumacher
And the stig is… dah,dah,dah,DAAAAAH! Michael Schumacher! Like is he b****ks!! LOL. Good effort though in throwing the conspiracy theorist off the trail, keep em busy for another few years or so. Made me laugh when he went for a spin in the Liana, nearly took out a camera man in the process I was PMSL. But seriously guys congrats on a fantastic starter to the series, I am looking forward to the next couple of weeks cus it looks like it’s going to be an absolute corker.
Manc Lass.
PS: I liked Jeremy’s shirt last night it made him look sexy.. OMG did I just say that out loud? I must wash my mouth out with bleach immediately!
Top Gear, Simply the best car show…. In the worrrld!
I have to admit that, although the show was brilliant yesterday, it did feel as if everything was rushed and that more proper reviews should be done. (If there were more shows per series, then they could stretch them over the shows an dit wouldnt feel as rushed. Also, they shouldnt take the whole show over with proper reviews) Apart from that, keep up the good work.
Is it just me, or if one removed all the comments about whether MS is the stig or not (and put them in a seperate blog), and the same with ‘please can we watch these videos outside the UK’, then there would on, be abou 100 comments in this blog, not 400 and a bit!
how to follow it will be the most interesting thing…good signs, good signs
Good episode, but not as good as i expected. I really do hope that this is going to be the last series, because the idea is getting old now and going back to just reviewing the cars like in the old days would be really costly. And one more thing, I think Jeremy was really in trouble with Schumacher, the interview was really really bad, there are so many things that Jeremy could’ve asked, yet he askes some boring stuff and made jokes that were so obvious and weren’t funny. Jeremy is losing it and that’s why it should be the last series. Great franchise though.
*would only be about … (soz about the spelling).
[Maybe the other 6 shows in the series are more concentrated towards proper reviews]
Also, what happened with their ’stupid, pointless roadsigns’ campaign. They should bring it back!
I liked the show all in all, but the stig thing ws obviously a sham, the FXX is not road legal, so no doubt will be taken from the board next week.
the race was really good, but the stunt with ’stig’ was dissapointing, and some of the questions asked of clarkson were poor, trying to be funny.
i thought the show was absoulutly amazing, it was better than i had expected!!!!!! i am not convinced that michael schumacher is the stig!!!
i am obsessed with top gear!!!!!! it was funny when richard hammond said ’starting the black shaddow is a bit…erm..tricky if you are..erm..a bit small!’ and when he was on his bike making those noises lol he’s cool and jeremy on teh train, i’m suprised he didnt say power!!! ‘throw me on the fire just to beat james and richard’ hehehe…….jaguar!!!!!!1
sooooooooooooooooooooooo excellent
The show was great, although it is not the best one I have ever seen. I can’t wait to see the next episodes, though.
However… PLEASE… don’t punish me for being born in the wrong country and make those videos available for everyone! I (and, as I read the comments, many people) would be very grateful if you did that.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!
I loved the show, everything in it…GENIUS, but you absolutely have to remove the FXX from the top of the Power Lap board. JC took the Caparo T1 off the board with a time of 1:10:6, because even though it’s a road car it could not clear a “sleeping policeman”. You can’t even take an FXX on the road and even if you could it would never clear a “sleeping policeman”. If the FXX stays, then you should re-instate the Caparo and reset/restate the rules.
Keep up the good work though, the best show on TV bar none. Can’t wait for Veyron Vs McLaren F1.
Brilliant show. Welcome back to our TV’s.
Come on does anybody really believe schumacher is the stig? He maybe drove on that episode but im pretty sure he has not went from 50 odd million bucks a year a couple of years ago to driving for top gear. And the show? i thought this was a car show. top gear has been getting worse and worse with every episode with totally pointless and far too scripted crap every single time. TERRIBLE. Fifth gear is a far better watch with a far smaller budget. Better drivers too.
That was a truly brilliant start to the new series. Those who disagree are crazy! A good race, brilliant guest with a twist, and a new fastest lap time. Looking forward to the rest of the series now!
One of the best episodes to date, good work boys!
I know these may not be being read by now, but still, that was TV at its very very best. And not just the Stig moment. If all TV were that good relative to their own disciplines, I would pay double the TV license happily. This show keeps getting better and better.
I cannot believe all of the journalists this morning ridiculing the Michael Schumacher moment. Guess what you utter baboons, we probably guessed ourselves he is not the Stig week in week out. We do not care. It is all part of the fun, which you all seem so bereft of understanding. Maybe they are jealous that their work does not have 8 million people on the edge of their seats. It was TV gold, even my mum sent me a text message straight after!
The rest of the episode was spectacular too. I look forward to the next 6 Sunday evenings like a child does christmas morning.
Last thing, didn’t anyone else think the Lotus Evora was a bit of an ugly duckling?
Macher is not the stig is he?
would be class if shumacher was the real stig!!!!!!!!
Hi we were driving home from edinburgh and saw the train being filmed from a helicopter and said “they must be making a film”!!! wish we had known what was really happening! it was exciting to watch knowing that we had seen it for real. Great show, glad you guys are back Sunday nights sorted for another few weeks xx
but then again its better not to no who he is hope we never find out plz keep it a secret
I believe that the FXX doesn’t rightly belong on the power lap board for 2 reasons -
1. It would never get over a speed hump and
2. your average Joe (albeit a very rich one) would not be able to buy it.
please guys, we want to see the videos , is there any way we can ?
The FXX isn’t street legal so needs taking of the board.
Why is everyone reporting Michael Schumacher is the stig, he so obviousley isn’t
I take it the FXX is Schumacher as it hasn’t git the stripe or red wheels
Hi last nights TG brill, but James has to be disqualified as he was driving on motorway instead of A roads, so the train won well done Jeremy and of the Hamster the less said the better.
Hey Guys,
I loved the episode, however it seemed a bit rushed to me. It always seems to me like there was so much more filmed that was cut due to time restraints.
Great show guys, but only one problem I noticed, and that is with the FXX’s time. Am I wrong in thinking that the power lap board is only for cars with tax disks and that can go on the road? I believe the FXX is track only and not road legal, maybe it should be taken off?
this is the fullest of comments article I have never seen!!!
woohoo was greaaat, good hoax with stig, cant wait til next weeks show
After the 1st Eps I amped for Top Gear Live, my son gave me a ticket yesterday for fathers day! I can’t wait to meet Schuey if he is The Stig
One of the best shows of Top Gear,
I hope to see more of this shows,
Greetings from Holland and watch your show next week with great expectations.
Such a good show, i was on the edge of my seat when the stig pulled his helmet off. I think you should have kept the secret though,
and chances are it is not really schumacher, but still 10/10
great show, but i cant watch the videos because I ain’t from england, Can you change it? please
Hey you have a great son, my wife bought me 1 for london last year and it was the best show eva. Goin again this year. Macher/stig is al over there website…
Well, I think the episode was a bit normal with a bit awkward scriptedstyle dialogue in the studio but the rest was pretty good. I loved the Black Shadow thing Hammond had going on before his legs starting going crazy!
I guess we were just hyped for something amazing and it was just normal and that’s why some of us are disappointed.
Cant wait for next week when our expectations are back to normal and so are the episodes
.
Thanks matt – can’t wait to go! Bring on next Sunday
fantasticoooo
Wow what a show – just wished Schumacher could have been on the 6th show (got tickets for that one and Schumy is my hero). Fantastic start to the series – looking forward to seeing the show in person.
wow 450 comment!
told you the tornado race was gonna be good,
lets hope a stand-alone dvd will come form this if the a1 trust can negotiate wiv the beeb etc.
there are hours of superb footage available.
the chopper shots are amazing !
we saw the chopper at 50′ above, alongside and all the way!
only one glaring error
he said the loco was 3 years old,
shes not
shes not even 1!
btw
we had a fantastic run last night back from folkestone wiv tornado
we tore up the ashford-tonbridge straight stretch !
my family were on tonbridge platform
they said they have never seen anything like it, going through at such speed ! lol
we had to brake for the curve there 50mph restrctn.
was lotsa fun lol
steam rocks
http://www.a1steam.com for tornado info and stuff
Hi great show guys, keep it up. I think we all know that shue is not the stig at this would spoil the mystery, there should be now a yellow Stig. BTW any sign of TG dog coming back? Hope Oliver is keeping well.xx
Can I just point out, no one has mentioned that the peel is no longer the smallest car, Is jeezer goin to try and test drive the new one ? Or will he give it Schumacher, lol
Must admit, as first episodes go, that was epic! Not sure I believe that Schumacher was the Stig, but that’s the whole point behind the character, you’re never sure- almost like the Father Christmas of Petrol Headism, would be great to know, but would ruin it… But, the atmosphere in there must have been brilliant, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! Awesome show, looking forward to the rest of the series!
Great show and as for shue being the stig had me in fits..
Nice one lads….
mr ‘bored with top gear’, go and get a life will ya?(or some sex…) The show deserves all the credit it gets coz its entertaining… If you want facts, figures and ‘proper’ reviews, go and buy a copy of any decent car mag, look at the back pages and keep yourself amused with all those pretty numbers and stats….. or watch fifth gear!
rant over so anyways….. MORE OF THE SAME PLEASE!!!! PROPERLY AWESOME SHOW!!! thankyou.
if ir schuey, then why did he race against the germains for the brits in dat last episode of 2008, ahaaa!;)
Great show, good to have TG back after a long wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* if it was, damn !
The Stig is Schumacher!!!!!!!
Absolutely breath taking moment.
Nice one…
I have never witnessed such a breath taking moment on television as when the Stig revealed his identity! That too keeping in mind Michael may not actually be the Stig…
Another high quality production, but I should have been there! I’ve been on the audience waiting list for 2 years, then I was told “congratulations you’ve reached the top of the list, however you may still be unsuccessful, if you are, join the waiting list again!” I should really go in the huff, but it’s such a good programme I’ll keep watching!
Schumacer can’t be the stig as he was round my house all month test driving my Zafira
Amazing show guys!
And Schumi as the Stig was priceless… I was honestly stunned when the helmet came off! Maybe it’ll be damon hill next week?
Could do better. Just put more real funny moments, outtakes and deleted scenes. Why is Hamster turned into a Camp Hamster. Needs more Daft challenges, such as communist cars (slow down you bitch) or it needs to do the big one Amphibious Cars England to America. Do this and top gear will be back in business. To be honest though Top gear is going down the wrong route. Get rid of the crowed, shit jokes, and false humour. Needs to get a bit more gritty and down to earth but not so far or top gear will become fifth gear Just my opinion.
The show was awesome! I loved it, keep it coming, I’m looking forward for the race between McLaren F1 and the Bugatti Veyron, also the Ken Block episode.
It was good to see the boys back, but lets face it … schuey is not the stig … i am
The Ferrari time needs to come down. There’s no way that’s a road legal car and it sure can’t get over a speed bump.
i loved the new series i dont think micheal schewmachar is the stig!
but i love the new series though
What a lucky guy Jeremy was … NOT to drive the motorcycle …
Brillaint first episode lads, rest of the series looks amazing too. Well done!
schumacher is fantastic and he got skill to be The Stig, but is he for 100%?
btw i’m looking forward for the next episode
Great job TG
Holy heck! 470 Comments..
Great show guys! Race was great, and “The Schumacher” was real awesome too! Got me full of adrelanin, for some reason? It was great.
But i hope he’s not Schumacher. I mean it would sort of “fit” if he was, but i like it better when he’s unidentifyed.
Allthough of everyone on this planet, i think M.Schumacher would be the best one to actually be the stig.
good show it made me laugh all the way through and i cant believe the stig is F1 legend Micheal Shumacher
The best hour of my life so far.
Great show, the best bit of telly in months, Shueys a legend!!!!!
Bored with Top Gear man, Why watch and log on to Top Gear if your bored and hate it!( Are you a male chicken or what? )
Beautiful Television.
Enough said really, apart from the congratulations to all involved. It’s what telly was made for!
fantastic!! best show ever!!
two words : bloody brilliant
i dont think i have ever seen so many comments on anything ever!!! not even a max mosley h8r’s blog site!! :L really good show and it was class to see the reaction from the every 1 when shumi took of his helmet (classic)i knew las week at least i had a good idea as i seen the fxx in a pic and knew it was shumi’s it even class to c jezza get star struck (its must be scary meeting ur hero’s if he sh*ts it!!!)and i think ul agree thats the 1 guest we wer always wishin would 1 day b on the show. i got more excitment outa that show than iv had outa any f1 race all season! TG is the best show every nuf said
i think the show was great last night!!! how come shumacher isn’t really the stig ?
OK episode but the race was… boring!
The FXX is on the wrong lap time board too! Get it moved while those tanned pasta fanciers aren’t looking!
soooooooooooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!
he is not the real stig
stig is back next week i wont ruin the surprise of his colour
Dissapointing about the stig because even though I was curious as to who it was, I didnt want to know till the very last episode (I know it might not be Schuey). The FUNNIEST part was the crack about the Skoda Catholic Church while Jeremy was wearing an orange shirt.
great show
Brilliant show, been watching the show for a long time.
Must admit, as first episodes go, that was epic! Not sure I believe that Schumacher was the Stig, but that’s the whole point behind the character, you’re never sure- almost like the Father Christmas, but would ruin it… But, the atmosphere in there must have been brilliant, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up! Awesome show, looking forward to the rest of the series!
Well Done boys
Simply a great episode and as for the Stigs revel it was just amazing I can discribe how great it was!
Bloody brilliant show! I really thought Jezza had it in the bag until James stormed past! Poor Hammond, though, that didn’t look like too much fun. The FXX lap was great, but it probably should be moved to the non-official lap board. That thing sounded like a supernova driving past. Michael Schumacher OBVIOUSLY isn’t The Stig, and I liked the last bit with him getting lost.
What a change to go to work and people not talk about those daylight robbing MP’s!! The funny thing is we always wanted to know who the stig was and now everyone is now doubting he really is the stig -eh those lads are very canny – and as for the orange shirt – in my personal opinion [as orange is my favourite colour] it was great it certainly ’suits you’ Jeremy and if its any consolation Morgan could never get away with that colour it would clash with his tan lol
Some say he’s NOT Micheal Schumacher, but that he stole his face to keep his identity secret.
All we know is….he’s still LOST.
THATS NOT THE STIG!!!!
You should make every “Star in a reasonably priced car” come in as the stig now.
Make a feature of it. Also, clarkson should be made to travel everywhere by steam train, as the expression of actually doing a hard days work was fantastic.
On a serious note, thanks for saving Sundays again, gives us all something to talk about at work.
He is the stig i know someone on the inside the clip at the end was his first lap in the reasonably priced car. And Shumy ant the stig are the same hight.
Amazing show! I have to say Hammond on the vincent black shadow was awful. Amazing Ferrari lap,1.10.7! Great. I am so relived that you are back on telly now! But the lap not even Lewis Hamilton could do that. Stig(aka) Michael Scumacer ,could do a lap like that.Such a joy and brings a smile on my face to see Captain Slow win something!
It was absolutely brilliant! It was worth the waiting! I must say I was surprised when the Stig was actually Schumacher, it had never occurred that he could have been it. Anyway, it was a great show, a superb race, Well Done James for winning it! Hopefully Hamster got a good massage after his ride, poor chap.
Awesome. In Belgium, all media believe that Schumacher really is the Stig. Well donne, guys. Some people still don’t know the concept off Top Gear.
great show-one of the best yet, Schumacher is not the stig! he would have never had the chance of risking injury racing around the top gear track etc whilst being a F1 driver.
the real stig is james may!!!
The stig revealing was great, and the race was made good by how close it was between may and clarkson. great episode i give it 9/10
One of the best races for a long time and a great way to start off the new series. From the spoilers I’m sure that what is to follow will be just as good, if not better. And as for The Stig, I really don’t think that it is Schumacher. The way JC ended the show was too obvious. Keep it up boys! x
It was great but the FXX should not be on the board because it isn’t a road car and it wont be able to get over speed humps or all of the other cars that have been taken off to should be put back on
OH MY GOD YEAH,IT WAS SO SO SO SO SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SICK YEAH AND I ENJOYED IT SO MUCH OK.
I LOVE TOPGEAR YEAH.
ITS MY FAVOURITE PROGRAMME YEAH.
I ALSO LOVE CARS SO MUCH OK.
FROM KATIE
why is richard trying to be funny all the time? whenever he talks its so akward.Should of done a proper review of the fxx!. great race though
Ok, we all like TG but what bores the hell outta me is when they focus on irrelevant crap like racing to scotland in three forms of dead machinery. Or crushing cars, or trying to make them swim or sing or dance or whatever the hell they “come up with” each week for our jollys. Bit of fun fine – I said a bit. But when the whole show becomes a show about “Look how stupid we are” I go meh. If I want stupid I’ll turn over to Big Brother to get the real thing. But I want car reviews I want car info, I want car stuff. Sometimes i worry old granddad, graddad and uncle Tiny now actually believe they’re kings of light entertainment and need to provide this shit rather than give us straight heads up on cars and car stuff. I mean all we need next is fuzzy costumes and we have the Banana Splits. And I can just hear Granny Kalxton shouting “Ooh Brilliant lets do that, great Hamo you can be Mungo”.
In short Pfft 4 outta 10.
Thank god your back!
Great show, keep up the good work!
Not a fan of Jezza or anything i think he represents, but kudos to him for his efforts on ‘Tornado’. Even when such machines were in regular service, crews were changed, sometimes en route. Mr. Clarkson may be the first man in history to have fired a steam locomotive throughout from King’s Cross to Edinburgh, a magnificent acheivment for an untrained, unfit middle aged man with a stated preference for cars. I suspect the exhaustion in the bar of the ‘Balmoral’ was not acting! Just standing on the footplate of a moving locomotive for 6 hours is tiring enough!
Fricking amazing guys!!! Absolutely adored!!!
Schuey deffo not The Stig. He was only there because he had to drive the FXX, Ferrari wouldn’t let Stig drive.
Anyone else notice tiny Hammond’s hair? Oh my god it was horrendous!!
He’s getting a little bit pudgey in his old age too!
Anywho, great series opener, and really looking forward to the rest of it
Keep it up!!
the three of them have lost there fashon sense well when i say three james never had any
SJC.. If you’re looking for car reviews then you’ve come to the wrong place. Top Gear is an entertainment programme and they enjoy messing around with cars. If you don’t want to watch it then don’t and stop complaining.
For God’s sake let us have fun…
i thought it was amazin the show last night i wouldnt expect on the show you showed us who the stig was im such a big fan icalled my cat the stig! any way the ferrari – i wouldnt thought it would break the record but it did the challenge was so cool unlucky 4 hamster he got cramp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
the show as amazing to see the stig aka micheal schumacher driving the ferrari fxx was so cool !!!
I LOVE TOP GEAR. I WATCH ALL THE RE RUNS. BUT WOULD LOVE TO SEE CARS THAT I COULD AFFORD TO BUY. CLARKSON MAY & HAMMOND MAKE A GREAT TEAM.LONG MAY THEY REIN.
just to let you all know the ferrari fxx is a track car and they will not let just anyone drive it thats why micheal schumacher took place the car should not of set a lap time but also if thats the case they can reinstate the dbr9 cos that did a 1:08,sec lap
ALL OF IT BRILLIANT THE BEST EVER NO WAIT ALL YOUR PROGRAMS ARE THE BEST EVER
TOP GEAR ROCKS
HAMSTER ROCKS
that part were the stig showed his face was cool, they should do it more often lolol
Fabarooney show. Should have a different Stig revealed each week to keep us all guessing to his true identity maybe???
Steam train was fab,loving Richard in his leathers, James for once looked cool in the Jag. Keep it up boys x
lololololol
im so glad its shumacher.
hes a great driver and i hope he still is the stig 4 many years.
good luck wif the future bar TG
fantastic show guys, everyone has been saying that Schumaccer isnt the stig, i still think he is though, why did you show us all the stig though, are you shutting down ? or are you doing something with him as a challenge ?
Awsome! can we have TopGear in HD plZ then it world be perfect
Really good to have TG back – don’t watch TV otherwise. BTW Hammond, get a hair cut or more gel.
It Was Awsomw
Oh and so glad you didn’t reveal the true Stig, got a fair idea who it is but really dont want to see. You’re gonna use this to introduce guests all through the series I guess. Wonder what you’ll do if they don’t fit into the Stig mould.
Amazing show. I love the TG races and last night’s was one of the best! Original and relevent – We are more likely to enquire whether it is quicker to drive to Edinburgh or get the train then we are likely to ask the fasted way of getting across Japan!
The Stig reveal was fun. The FXX was Schumacher’s own car and he’s the only person to own a black one. It makes sense that this was the main reason he was there. The Stig reveal was a nice little joke but surely no one has really bought it?!
Nice One TG!
i loved it
Must say it was worth waiting for guys 
keep the good work up, can’t wait too see the next episode, TopGear FTW 
Boss episode
but the FFX? Thats not road legil? + if it is thats rewind the power lap board
I really don’t think anybody in the world could knock Top Gear? You’ve done it again lads..Bloody ACE! Oh and i’m so glad you finally got the real driving god on the show!
How the hell ya gonna follow that show though?
As a whole FANTASTIC!!! haha and micheal couldn’t drive the suzuki round the track EXCELLENT!!! keep it up lads. top gear all the way
IF THE STIG REALLY WAS MICHAEL??????????
Brill new episode and looking forward to the rest
but please Richard switch on your headlight whenever you ride a bike, espeicially when it is raining hard, better to be seen than be a has been mate !
Cracking show. If the stig was anybody, i’m glad it was him. I agree with some of the comments, the FXX shouldn’t be allowed on the board- No chance that’d clear a speed bump!
I also think it’s a shame schui didn’t do a proper lap in the suzuki, BUT i did laugh A LOT when he hit the camera!
All in all, brilliant show, keep up the good work!
verry good show . i liked it…
what happens with the stig now?
i hate it that i cannot see the video’s on this site (the new ones)
no nice comment then.
y the hell cant ppl outside of the UK also watch the video’s you post.. top gear is not only watched in the UK..an its bad enough that we have to wait so long for the new series to get here.. so at least keep us happy by allowing us 2 watch the vids
LOVED the new show, got it off to a great start. We all know the Stig isn’t Michael but it was still really cool to see him take off that helmet! Keep up the good work!
in 1949 the steam engine would not have had to stop to pick up water, new crew etc so I think it probably would have beaten the car (this is according to my Dad who used to be a Fireman on the LMS)
A fairly average episode im afraid.
The race was good but the studio stuff seems a bit forced now and lacks the spontaneity of previous series.
Can we cut out all the cheap cock and gay innuendos too? The lads are a bit old for it…
W.O.W. Sorry guys im just speachless.as ever brilliant,brilliant show.always has been & always will be WELL DONE…
The show wasn’t as funny as I hoped. I am excited that top gear’s back but that publicity stunt with michael schumacher was not funny and obviously false.
T.O.P gear
the utter studipness of some viewrs.. if u dont like it watch something else.. but plz dont give us an essay on how they must change and the go on about yr gran or something..plz feel free to go watch yr big brother
What an amazing show!
So funny like always.
MS as the STIG! No way… they never reveal the stig.
Top Gear = greatest show on a sunday!
Shumacher aint the real stig the BBC said it was a one off The real Stigs Identity is UNDERCOVER !!
Superb episode. I was jumping up and down when the FXX was doing the lap
another great show cant belive we saw the stigs face.
Schumacher, as the Stig, did drive the FXX, and so technically he is the Stig. Schumacher’s gloves were different to the stig’s though, in the FXX he had red cross stiches on them, like in the studio, but in any other car, his gloves are simply black and white.
With his face covered in soot, Jeremy sure reminds me of someone… Oh yes, it be Herman Munster
Top Gear please allow us to watch outtakes outside UK. PLEASE PLEASE…!!!
Decent show, race was great, all the ‘epic races’ are good segments and one or two of them per series will be helpful for the show. It seemed like there was a lack of actual cars though, the show seems to have lost it’s way a bit. Fair enough the main point of the show was the race which dominated the run time, hopefully there will be more actual work on cars in the upcoming episodes. Same with other segments like the news, keep the fun, just make it about cars, not crap. As for the cheap publicity stunt with the whole build up by JC to the Stig revealing, that was very lame, scruffy and poor, I would expect it from big brother, not from TG. And as for the serties length, 7 episodes?! That’s disgraceful.
mint
na dont think he is the stig….
its not the stig its just that you have to be ferrari registerd to drive an fxx everyone knows that and im only 14
great first show back guys =]
only one thing… did you really have to reveal the stig =[ fair enough the vast majority knew who it was ( apparently) but now we know(?) he is the stig .. the mystery is gone , the infamous stig image will never be the same , it will just be another F1 racing driver, driving cars round the top gear test track, nothing much special about that.
An amazing start to a set-to-be fantastic series!
Mediocre show in my opinion, top gear has certainly went downhill, but ofcourse..BBC at the controls..how can it not?
The Stig’s identity remains unknown, and that’s a good thing! I noticed that Michael’s earwax was yellow, where the Stigs is cryptonite..to keep superman away.
i loved the episode but i watched it on youtube plese let us watch ur videos for the people who live outside the uk i am sure you will not get broke believe i alot of people love this show i watch these episodes endlyand buy them from itunes so pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls pls
episode was awesome, but schumis not the stig. clarkson looked awesome at the end of his train ride. fxx looked superrrrrrrrrb!
I thought the show was pretty good! Really liked the race and thought the whole “revealing” of the stig along with the schumacher lap were very amusing. My only criticism is that it does seem to be quite heavily scripted and i would say that it would be nice to see a more “1st USA TRIP” feeling of the lads falling in love with truly shocking cars that hardly work while the “bantering unity” of the boys keeps them going without being edited to be “funny”. Don’t try to be funny! Your all funny anyway!
Anyway Top Gear is the greatest thing on tele followed by the F1 coverage. Great job and keep it up but be more natural (and crap!)
P.S. Watched the episode again today and found it much funnier the second time.
absolutly without doubt the best show on the telly 5th gear eat your heart out well worth the wait for the new series…
oh my god. amazing. i loved every second of it and cant wait for sunday .
Time to change stiggy again then, wonder who it will be next time
loved the new sires and good two see jame win
i can sum it up in one word,,,brilliant,funny,gr eat,ace,proper entertainment,top gear dogs dangly bits,unique,fanblummintas tic …i think i’ve over done it a tad…great to see ya back on the box,who was the genius at the beeb who had the whizz idea to do progs on ‘effing bloody poetry the other week ?out of touch with the pulse of telly or what ? any chance of getting THE TRANSPORTER in the chevy for lap, c ya
fantastic opener…….great race although hammond did look a bit of a plum on that bike and schuey as the stig…… BRILLIANT !!!!!
FXX is deinately not road legal and for sure cannot get over the speed bumps in wantage. That is probably why Schumacher was on the show as they wouldn’t let the FXX into just anyones hands its hardly a normal car. I still want one though!!!! Anyhow its good to have you back looking forward to the focus rs against the megane. Megane is gonna walk it! …. EGGS!
Amazing first episode. I was holding my breath and bouncing up and down on the sofa when Stig walked slowly up to the sofa and took off his helmet. The race was brilliant, and I loved Richard’s transformation into a 12 year-old on that bike, all he could do was make comic book noises! Epic.
I dont know someone mentioned it or not, but we knew that Ferrari made a matt black FXX for Schumacher, and when I saw it I knew it will be him under the helmet.
Anyway it was a fanbleedingtastic show, I cant wait for next sunday!
Excellent show guys.
P.S. Just please leave people who live outside the UK watch the videos you upload on this site. Please.
I am a Huge Fan I watch it every week and if I miss it I Watch Dave.Last night was Brilliant becuase The Old Jag won and The Stig taking off his helmet, I mean, Who would Beleive the stig Was Michael Schumacher a Brilliant Start to the series.I also have aquestion, Are You Getting a New Stig? I’ll be watching next week!!!
Well done TG team. There were never a dull moment.
A great start for the new series! Who would have thought that Schuey is The Stig, at least for one day
. He played the Stig very well.
Of course he isn´t the real Stig (if there´s a real one). Just think: long time ago The Stig drove with the F1 Renault R25 around the circuit. I don´t think that Michael would have done that because he was still driving for Ferrari.
I´m also curious about the next Stig introduction. “… all we know is, he´s called The Stig” isn´t right anymore…
Just saw the last part, but I record it!!(Like I always do, don’t want to miss a thing) So I can’t wait ’till Wednesday when I don’t have to study anymore and can see the first part.
I reckon the reason why Schumaker was reavealed as the Stig is because Ferrari would only lend Top Gear the FXX under condition only Schumaker could drive it. Remember Top Gear had a Red Enzo borrowed from some celeb coz they couldn’t get one from ferrari a few series ago.
a good show – but not great. as already mentioned FXX is not road legal so shouldnt be allowed on the board, and the greatest F1 driver of all time was doing the lap-thats got to be worth an additional couple of seconds off a “normal” stig! race was ok – but the other races have been much more entertaining – as clarkson needs to be in the car to provide the comdedy! and the news bit is rubbish – get rid or actually talk about cars..not vets
If Schumacher is the Stig, you can say that the best driver in England is a German… How about that bombshell
Great show lads Hammonds humming was really funny Jezza was so unlucky. Stig had to be a F1 driver but it still shocked me keep up the good work.
i think the stig is ben collins
Epic 1st show. always loved lotus nice to see their new car was liked.
shumasha isnt th stiggllewiggle. yaaa
The best Top Gear ever made even better by the apperance by 60163 Tornado which I adore.
shumaccer was the stig only for last night because the fxx is a special edition otherwise it was a good show
lol when they told us they were going to reveal the stig i thought they would make him ozz clark just to annoy james
It was a good show and thats all. Don’t get me wrong it was still one of the best things on tv at the moment but only a 6-7 out of 10 for top gear standards.
I enjoyed the race although it felt oddly edited, it was good to see Clarkson have to do abit more work than the others this time.
I also enjoyed the tongue in cheek ‘unveiling’ of the Stig, however the questions posed were really naff and were probably the least interesting questions you could have picked.
Reading a few of the comments I have also noticed that a lot of people seem unhappy that they still haven’t got tickets, in the last 5 years i have applied 3 or 4 times without luck so i would imagine its some kind of lottery.
Schumacher was only acting as the stig for one day because he was at the british grand prix for the day and brought his fxx to the studio
what i think anyway
after 5 minutes scrolling down this page i am happy to say that that was the best top gear ever!
Entertaining, really. From that perspective (the one which the masses will side with) yet a great show again. One thing – can we please have some actual car reviews/data? The Evora for example – it’s designed to be the first modern Lotus that works properly on the road. Therefore, couldn’t you have done a review of it ON the road?
I guess it’s just me thinking that. Another good, entertaining show guys. Sunday nights are back.
great start to the series you tried to trick us into thinking Micheal was the stig, just what ever you do DON’T REVEAL THE REAL STIG it will wreck the show and there will be no more, some say
Coolest show ever, can’t wait till next week…
I think the whole unmasking of the stig wasnt true because schumacer helped design the fxx and the only way to get it on the show because it is so exclusive is by sending a person part of ferrari to drive it.
Anyways i am probably one of the youngest avid watchers of top gear, and have been for the past 5-6 years.I am fantical about cars and of course top gear(the greatest show of all time) and from the taster at the begining of the new series and what went on in the first show of the new series am very very pleased by you guys(as usual) and keep up the outstanding work cos’ you guys and the crew are my idols and i dont think there will ever be a show more entertaining, exciting or as fun to watch as yours.
schuey was just their to drive that mega quick fezza, it wasnt the stig. did u all see schueys lap at the end, it was bad but funny. at the end where it shows the crews name it said special guest: michael schumacher
Brilliant Start To The Series The Race Waz Brilliant And The Train Waz A Beautiful Machine And Deserved 2 Win In My View, But The Car Was Also A Brilliant Machine, Whereas The Bike Well We Dont Need 2 Say Anything About That
how old are you avid watcher Greatest Fan I am only 12.
I found it really enjoyable. i couldn’t believe that captain slow won!
the next one of the series sounds good dosnt it.
To all the people that want to watch video – find a web based proxy that resides in the UK and visit the Top Gear site through that.
e.g. http://anonymouse.org/ano nwww.html
well well well top gear just gets better and better guys you are fab
top gear have come back with a bang WOW
when i said i am probaly one of the youngest avid watchers i mean it cos i have been watchin since i was 6 and am now 12
Fantastic start to the new series guys was an epic show but can you please admit that Micheal Schumacher isnt The Stig please cos its blatantly not him. He is a technical advisor to Ferrari – F1 and road car side. How would he find time to do both??
Crappy show, cut down on the races and focus just a little bit more on the cars. What happened to car comparisons and funny comments about actual cars and not locomotives. wtf?? 90% of the show was about the race… for the last three seasons too much time is spent on races. I know this is infotainment first and a car-test show second but cut down a bit on stuff that has nothing to do with cars. Im sure there are plenty of interesting things to do involving car racing or other activites involving cars and not bikes, planes, rockets, locomotives etc…
Hillarious (Woo! 600th Comment!)
quality but we all know that the stig is really ben collins!!!
Schumacher is now my best presenter on Top gear. But he is my most faverot person in existance, even better than my parents, thats proberly because I am 14. You are God to me, hand on heart.I hope that you will reveal your self at next years MPH show because I will be there, please.
great show guys (nice joke about the stig)
If schumacher is not the stig, then top gear must be punished. Ben Collins is not the stig and he is a basted!!!
loved every minute of it. But don’t fool me that Schumi is actually the Stig.
Loving the news series, couldnt wait for it to start and wasnt disappointed, absolutely brilliant! Nice joke about the stig, i was sure it wasnt schumacher..
Thanks again Keep up the good work guys!!
i must say, i was a bit disappointed with the news this time. the rest of the show epic, shumi was classic and the race was profound. but…. the news was a bit staged. i do belive though, that the good old feel will be back next sunday! other than the news, fantastic!:D
brilliant episodeguys but i doubt that scheue is the stig!!!!!
the stig that was on the program on sunday wasnt the stig. the stig is Ben Collins. the rest of the show was fantastic though.
great show but we all know that its not ms he only went to drive the beast and the real stig is Ben collins
how about top gear V fith gear on big brother?
Is was a Great Show! But why dit Jc put the Fxx on the powerboard. Only roadcars can go on it. That was the same with the Caparo T1. So I really love the Fxx. But it doesn’t belong on the powerboard.
Wow! that was an amazing show. Was glued to the tv from start to finish. Loved the stig piece with schuey, got to admit you did have me fooled for a couple of mins. I’ve always believed the stig to be an ex F1 driver and when he took his helmet off to reveal Micheal Schumacher, i just got a bit excited to see that i might be right for a change! But i did realise then that it was just a stunt for the first show, but nevertheless it was an amazing show and well done. Looking forward to next week.
Whether it is Schuhmacher ir not I don’t care I love the show regardless. This week I spent a fantastic day at Jonathan Palmer’s Bedford track thanks to TG magazine – I ow know how bad a driver I am – irrespective of what my wife says.
it was the best show i ever seen and the sitg revel it was fabulous but i think like jeremy that he isn´t the real stig so i came with my own stig intro some say he has a fiat croma for company car and he does´t know the track verry well All we know he is not the stig
he is the stig´s german cousin
Not the best race, but great show, and way to keep everyone on their toes the whole way through
I love Top Gear. I think that you shouldn’t have revealed the Stigs real identity because he should still be a secret to public. It has sort of spoilt the “some say” game because now everyone knows who he is. You should get a new stig.
Fair opener for the new series, not up there with the best tho. Spoiled it a bit with the revelation of The Stig, if it really is Shuey, the myth of an invincible driving entity from another realm is gone (and thats a lot of material to throw away) or he isn’t, in which case what was the point other than you got his FXX round the track (which isn’t road legal and should therefore not be on the Power Lap board)and his time should have been taken seriously in the Leana, to show how he compares with the other F1 drivers who have been round. As for next week: “Some say, that the Aston was being driven by a German in the Top Gear/UberGear challenge at the end of Series 11″ and that ” His helmet is specifically designed for a square head. All we know is….” Come on chaps, bit more effort please. Mr. Clarkson can have a day off though, i’m surprised that loco didn’t give him a heart attack.
Schuey acted as the Stig probably beacuse that was his condition if Top Gear were to use his car(FXX)
No one is likely to read this cos its so far down but anyway well done lads, great show
but why can’t overseas people see the videos??? 
great show been watching it for years
but y did u tell us who the stig was. but i dont think he is. i think its cuz the car that was gan round the track the real stig was not insured to drive it. it sounds silly but it could b true.
keep the great shows up n wat happend to top gear dog
Top Gear is back. Good.
It started bit iffy. The race was not as funny as the other races in TG history. I think it was missing one key ingridient – Jezza in the Jag. He makes beating boys that extra sweet.
Nice to see James finaly winning.We also saw him drinking with Oz and going (almost) in to space. Bit to much May for one evening unless you are old lady with on mobility scooter.
Good show. A quiet(ish) start to the series -only 7 shows, lazy gimps (joke)
The train, the Jag and the bike were all things of beauty and the race was piece of genius thinking – great work whoever thought that one up. It’s nice to see May win one finally, with or without Hamster.
Schumey as The Stig was a great piece of television. Except the adverisement for Bacardi’s ‘don’t drink and drive’ campaign, but if that was the price to have Michael appear on the show it was worth paying. Then to have drive worse than Jonathan Ross in the Suzuki was hilarious. Although it would have been interesting to see if he would have bettered the real Stig’s and Lewis’ times.
Good start people.
It was funny as hell to see Richard on Vincent. You have to be from Birmingham to travel from London to Scotland in leathers not goretex. Chance of not getting wet?
And he couldn’t make it. Black shadow passing out.Bike couriers in London will give him a stick.
Excellent!
Some of that studio dialogue was painful…
Otherwise, completely spiffing show!
Was the caparo T1 0.6 seconds faster than the FXX?
Absolutely spectacular!
Absolutely fantastic, great fathers day present, class race. You guys have done it again, i wish it was longer than 7 weeks long.
irish fan
I loved the Stig moment.
The lap was FANTASTIC and at least on TG track Ferrari was the fastest. What a car.
I don’t belive that The Jaw is The Stig. And I DON’T WANT TO KNOW. Great twist but lets keep Stig as giza who is so fertile that he makes cows pregnant by stroking them behing ears.
Maybe it is time to change his overalls colour. How about Barbie pink?
New were not that great. Lacked the flow. Maybe Jezzas shirt hipnotised boys. It lacked the spark or maybe some naturally offensive coments.
It was a bit dull, but anyone can get rusty after a long brake.
Whole episode gets fourandahalf stars. Purely due to The Stig-Jaw and Jezza doing Pete Waterman.
Thank goodness all that rubbish about Ben Collins and Julian Bailey being “His Stigginess” has finally been proven to be untrue. I knew it was Shumey all along!
Well I wasn’t alive for the apollo moon landings, so for me the stig revealed was the most exciting thing I’ve ever seen on tv. I didn’t hear about it earlier in the press, and I’m all the happier that I had no idea what was coming. It was all SOOOO surreal, when Jeremy said ’stig’ and ‘head’ at first I didn’t really know what he was talking about. But even when he sat him down I still wasn’t consciously thinking ‘I’m about to find out who the stig is’, I was just absorbed by what I was seeing and hearing. And when the helmet came off Jeremy’s words mirrored EXACTLY what was going on in my head; ‘OH MY GOD!!’
To be honest it does make perfect sense – and I do hope it wasn’t a stunt, that would be mega dissapointing for proper Top Gear fans….
Show was great, that Ferrari was insane, The Stig, well don’t quite know what to say…
Only one issue… When I tried to watch exclusive behind the scene videos here’s what happened: THE VIDEO YOU ARE TRYING TO WATCH CAN NOT BE VIEWED FROM YOUR CURRENT COUNTRY OR LOCATION.
DAMN YOU B&H
Please give access to the backstage footage to people outside the UK
Great show once again lads, however bitterly disappointed that u identified the stig. We will never be sure whether schuemy is the stig or not, and some say… won’t be spoken. I’m looking forward to next week. Is there going to be another special this year?
For those that want real car reviews on top gear…have you actually watched the damn programme for the last 6 years? Seriously when was the last time they actually reviewed a common or garden family hatchback without making a joke of it (fiesta).
The show is about men having mid-life crises’s, being privileged to have the ones we want, and then sharing the results with us in a comedy style.
It is a comedy programme very much in the style of have I got news for you and never mind the buzz cocks. Get over it.
I’m the Stig, I got a tee shirt from my son to prove it!
that was an awsome show
but i think they have took the suprise out of the stig now coz it kept us guessing a bit
jermey you would won in 1949 as there water troughs along the railway line a scoop was lowered from the engine tedner which filled it no need stop so in 1949 the scoop saved a one hour on journery time
Is the Ferrari fxx a road legal car, and should it be on the lap times board. Like Jeremy said Ferrari don’t let you take it home, so you can only drive it on a track and never on the road. So should it be on the board with all the other road cars?
If the Train-Car-Bike race really had have been held in 1949 then the train would have won easily. In 1949 the train would not have had to stop for water as it would have picked up water from water troughs along the route so the water stop times should be decucted from the actual time also the Great North Road would have gone through the towns not round them on the new by-passes which would have made Captain Slow even slower. So in 1949 reality the train won
A railway man
You have to make those video’s available for people outside of the UK. I am dutch and I enjoy Top Gear very much but I would like to see some video’s on the site like the behind the scenes footage. So please make it available for the whole world.
About the first episode, the train should have won JC worked himself practicly to death just to lose by a tiny bit even though the jag is supreme and certainly one of the best cars ever made. Í don’t think Hammond is going to drive a bike the next couple of months or even years !!
If the next episode’s are as good as this one you might have made the best season yet !!
i love the show — it was a triumphant return of top gear – not only the best motoring show but one of the best shows ever on tv!! bravo
Great Show, although can’t believe Hamster risked himself on the A1 in the pouring rain without any lighting, bad form and not a contribution to promoting road safety nor self preservation
Firstly I am a huge fan of Top Gear (who isn’t?) BUT literally what was the point in that publicity stunt of the stig? Wasn’t really THAT funny or anything, utterly annoying is closer to how I felt.
Pretty average episode, (I think everyone would prefer a review/race including a new car, not the Jag.. talk about Zzzz) and the scripted banter gets a little tiresome, maybe make it less obvious in future
Absolutely fantastic show – then again it always has been!! Bit disappointing to know the identity of the Stig, but all is not lost when we learned that it was Michael Schumacher, well done. I think Hamster on the A1 without lights driving a classic bike showed us what real men did before the nanny state mentality took over. Steam train – excellent and a tribute to those who built it. The Jaguar was just perfect….. Looking forward to the next show.
I am deeply upset and angry at the thought of a Ferrari on the top of the power laps. A car which can not be driven by anyone on a public road, not even the Shoe himself should not be alowed to be on that board.
Many small puppies and kittens will be drowned until I get what I want!
On a better note. Absolutely brilliant. I can actually watch something on TV again other than MotoGP. Keep it up guys
i dont think the stig is actually schumacher, great show lads really enjoyed cant wait till next week
Cracking episode as always, having Schuey on it undoubtedly made it one of the best ever with the lap in the FXX! However, since he isnt really the Stig, would love to actually see how quick he went round the track in the Suzuki!
Any chance of that?!?!
Keep up the entertaining and brilliant work!
It was fab! only issue for me was the fact tht the FXX’s time stayed up on the board. its not road legal and should be removed! if not then the Caparo T1’s time should be re-added because that is road legal!
Why don’t people understand that Schuey-stig was a hillarious set up? are people so dim witted as to not be able to understand the point of Schueys ‘ambitious’ lacetti lap?
After the train journey, JC was BLACK BLACK BLACK – yet his hair was still grey!
Hey Top Gear, my 2 boys (13 & 17) could out drive you guys, but we all think your great. But Mr Clarkson why don’t you stand for Prime Minister, we are all sure you’d make a better job of our current government!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look forward to seeing you at Top Gear Live in November. Hope it’s as good as last year!
Why cant i watch any of the videos because of my location its soooooooooooo anoying,PLEASE!!!!! fix it so i can watch them here in ireland———–>Great show.
Well several things become obvious reading most of these comments.
1) Alot people who follow TG, realised the con was on when they saw the Ferrari pit crew and Shumis’ custom Fxx
2) XXX XXXXXXX needs a body double to wear the Stig suit so he can be SEEN to be doing his job as techical advisor in the background of some shots.
3)Some people just don’t just don’t get the spirit of The Stig
4) The “cocking around” needs to appear less forced.
5) Clarkson doing manual labour is amusing
6) That Jag was beautiful. (Oh wait? Hardly anyone mentioned that)
Bloody brilliant Sunday entertainment.
The FXX was incredible.
In referenceto point 2 any professional driver of 4 wheeled vehicles should be encouraged to wander down on shooting days and wander around in the background, to increase confussion. I’m sure a few would take up the offer to raise thier profile and for the lulz.
Great episode!
i don’t think the FXX’s lap should count due to the speed bump rules, though. it did make one of the best sounds i’ve ever heard, though.
the train race was cool too, but somehow i expected more. i guess it was the lack of things breaking and bursting into flames. can’t wait till next sunday!
being Canadian, i obviously can’t view the additional videos, and am annoyed by that. maybe if i complain about prejudice against non-Brits we’ll get it globally.
Could you guys please try a 250cc Superkart around your track?
I think it probably would beat all your records by far.
Welcome back to Top Gear of the season 7-8 caliber.
I have been anticipating the return of Top Gear for quite some time and I am glad to see that the show is still alive and kicking. Thought I do think that Top Gear is on it’s way out, it is doing so very well.
“The Antique challenge” was well done with proper filming angles, situations and spontaneous ending.
I noticed that James seems more alive than 2 seasons ago and a tad more than last series. Good to see that he still has some bite(referring to the road rage moments in the Jag).
The Top Gear Crew has managed to do a “chef d’oeuvre”. I am looking forward to all the other episodes.
As for the 100th episode mess up, there is always 125… no?
All the best boys!
Sorry, but as cool as the train and Schuey being on the show were, it was all overshadowed by the FXX absolutely smashing the lap record. I thought it would be up there, possibly the fastest, and it did look fast and planted on the track. But winning by that much was absolutely amazing!
Great Start to another Great Season of a Great Show…. Please allow Non UK residents the ability to see all videos…. Thanks JB
Great show but please let us non UK based viewers see the outtake videos! Please, pretty please with sugar on top…
Michael Schumacher is the Stig…now THAT’s a bombshell! Loved the race between a car, a train, and a bike c. 1949, and it was awesome that the car won this time around. This is what Top Gear’s all about…epic! You all did not disappoint…now to wait for next week’s show.
Bloody brilliant..classic Top Gear too..funny..witty..superb ly entertaining…excellent cinematography…what a brilliant team you guys have…..
loved it, as always, but why are the outtake videos region locked????
i’m in australia, will have to wait more than 12 months to watch this episode on SBS (we have to endure the australian version first) so why should i be denied the outtakes?
youtube, here i come.
I thought that Top Gear episode was brilliant as always. It was the first time I ever saw a ferrari at the top of the lap board & seeing James in a Jaguar XK120, Richard on the Vincent Black Shadow & Jeremy in the Tornado Keep it up!!!!!
Great shooowwww…!
I love that jaguar xk120
Fantastic show. I love the races.
FXX is NOT a road car and should be taken off the board.
I think they get any racing driver that happens to be available who is Stig height and get him to be the stig for that week
absolutely amazing, surprises, twists and loads of laughter
Take the FXX off the board! Don’t tell me it can go over speed bumps
Ian thats exactly what i was thinking also epic show keep it going, fifth gear its miles behind
gr8 i love ToP gEaR YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brill ! what a show Keep up the good work ! this alown is worth ther licence fee .
is was funny to see Jeremy all in black, what i dont like is that i cant see video’s of backstage scenes and intervies
Keep Em Comming
really is stig michael schumacher!!!!!!!??
To LGWS go to the BBC I player you can watch it from there I did as i was at the British GP untill monday
Truly Awesome Guys !!!!!
This show is just so bloody good, all the hard work you guys do never goes unnoticed, i still watch clips from 2-3 years ago and get a kick out of them, and seeing how the first Episode in this series turned out its no doubt going to be a cracker!!
Great stuff,
Rabbit from Oz.
the first show was ok – but thought too much scripted and didn’t laugh as much as normal that intro was very childish.. aiming at the sun/mail /beano audience a bit too much..
cant believe anyone falls for schuey being stig.. they just dont get it..?!
and why oh why dont you film this in HD.. you have some of the most skilled camera/directors (and all the others involved) in visual arts – tv and film..
Loved the first show guys. I can’t wait to see everything else you have cooked up for this season!
The fact that Schu even appeared on the show speaks volumes. Did you hear him talking about the North Pole excpedition – The 7 times Champ is a fan too!!! and he’s German!!!
I have followed Top Gear from Day 1, i am an avid fan and watch all repeats on Dave aswell, Sunday nights are the best night of the week again, I can’t wait i hate it when the series comes to and end!!!! Clarkson,May and Hamster work well as a team NEVER CHANGE!!!!, Fifth gear SUCKS!! Sundays race was BRilliant Nice to see Clarkson get dirt on his Face
Love you guys now and always keep upthe good work as you keep up my spirits….
I’m pretty sure that not only is the FXX not street legal but also I doubt that it would make it over a speed hump so it shouldn’t get top spot. Otherwise great show.
Loved the race…Clarkson getting his hands dirty, brill
And who is going to be revealed as the real Stig next week…Alan Carr?
I still think the team should design and build a ‘top gear supercar’ one that isnt a joke ( well some quirky stuff inside), but one that Stig can take round the circit and tick all the boxs that Clarkson demands of any car.
Anyway GREAT show
Top gear RULES!!!!!
who ever the stig is … he is a legend!
Great first show good stunt with stig but still great show cant wait for the next one
What next Clarkso peels a cucumber on a rowing machine while Hamster hauls himself up a building in a tin bucket and May pumps iron in a sarong – bring it on TG you’re amazing. I don’t care what you do, you’re just insane mens. You guys should make movies or a game have you got a game? I’ve got the t-shirt and been to every show. Can I suggest a medieveal theme jousting or MMA cage fighting. Like everyone above all deep in love, like me, with you, I’d just like to summerize “we all want you to get your kit off and do it but to each other first so we can watch and love you more”. Your number one fan. The internets.
Realy a great show!! Keep it up guys
Fabulous fabulous show.
The race was put together superbly and absolutely beautiful to watch. Andy, your show just gets better and better.
I am the stig
i downloaded the show yesterday and watched it immidiately, and wow it was awsome!!!!!
one of the best bits was at the end when jezza lies down and james liftys him up :”jeremy, talk to me”. but of course . the stig. tough what’s gonna happe on ep2? jezza: now last week the stig revealed himself so we had to kill him! but top gear isn’t top gear without the stig, so we got ourselves a new one!
but it was the bast hour of my life!
I was expected something more interested from you. So it’s sunday show is 13/20. Please can you BACK as really TOP GEAR?
The show is godles! Great job, excellent! Excellent upcoming episodes (info from the trailer). Just godlike!
Good job boys !!!
Very nice show, very great race, unforgiven “bombshell” about the Stig…PERFECT !
Thank you soooooooooooo much !!!!!
Love you so much
JC i love you
episode 1 incredible!!! perfect!!! cant-tear-eyes-from-scree en
And cancel f**king russian top gear
imagine being on the train and having it break down, all because of Jezza’s stoking LOL
Great show, guys, about time T.V. got interesting again
Absolutely LOVED it! Brilliant race! Love the Jag!
You are sly buggers TG team! The Stig reveal was a bit of a shock, but very good! Well done to the stig for that super quick time in the FXX!
Welcome Back !!!
What a bloody great first show !!!!
Great Cars, Great Race and hey! Schuey as STIG EXCELLENT !!!!
ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was an excellent show (as ever!) but I have two comments:
1. Cheap shot with MS frankly. Yawn.
2. I had no idea it was on – about half an hour before the show, my husband saw the non-news article about the Stig’s supposed unveiling. Is that all the advertising/trailing you could afford?! Boo.
I heart Jeremy. I heart him lots and lots forever.
Fantastic show keep it up and for the adminstrators of the site pls let non uk users watch the video’s it’s a shame we cant see those things
Keep up the good work! Very nice episode of Top Gear.
Awesome, Un programa INCREIBLe!!
The best program of the television.
From Spain thank you!!!!
Great show once again
Jezza looked like a safety cone with that orange shirt on
Hammond sounded like a 5 year old when he was on the bike
That is the most determined diving I have ever seen from May
Is just me or is May and Hammond looking a bit to similar with the hair?
Lastly, the convicts from the colony would really like to see the behind the scenes videos to alleviate our punishment of watching of TG Australia
haha nice one guys, i liked the part with the FXX will you be lapping the 599xx soon? That will be a good lap i wud say.
Anywhos great show keep up the good work and roll on next week
Great show!!
Next time you do a race remember to syncronize your watches(James). The race started at 07:23, but James’ watch shows 07:50 when he starts the car. Or is he just being Captain Slow?
Let us watch the videos from outside the UK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!
If it is a licence issue than block everything not just the new ones…just stupid
i love these show and i live for it
please showe it in bbc arabic
For once, why don’t you actually drive a car like an Evora on the road and tell us something meaningful about it? Having got a Cayman there to show us it driving past in the background, why not compare the 2 rivals? – drag race, lap or laps of track, maybe spend a day or two in each.
Anyone can powerslide round an airfield with massive runoff areas – it’s becoming very tedious.
i think the show is always great and you 3 always make it funny. And i loved hammonds black shadow theme tune.
I’m liking the reavealing of the Stig running gag.
that is not the stig so why u lyin coz before how can he have been in england and a f1 car in a different country so why r u lyin to every one,top gear will lose viewers and people visitin the show
I’ve come back to the UK from Hamburg in just enough time to watch Topgear but, it was not a fetish or sorts still, the lie on who stig is quite harmful. Jeremy on the other hand, wore a shit in orange so, might not know about that all orange is not good even though, orange and red is quite cool. The race was quite boring and no one cares for a train specially if its old and so, it was mostly boring.
Honestly the best show i have ever watched.
Nothing tops it..
ABSOLUTLEY BRILLIANT
Definatley want more episodes..
But i wonder if schumacher is REALLY The Stig.. ??
Sunday’s show was quite good. I loved that Jag. It is rather unfortunate that those of us in the U.S. (Connecticut) are unable to view the videos and news outakes. Hopefully things will change. I read that some people are upset about James’ and Jeremy’s scout/ Catholic comments in referance to the Skoda. It seems some people in the UK get rather bent out of shape by anything that comes out of Jeremy’s mouth. No sense of humor over there?? I hope the BBc doesn’t fine or punish them in some lame way. Take care. Keep up the good work.
My guess would be that in next week’s show the boys “reveal” that Schumacher locked the real stig up in a cupboard in order to claim the stig’s fame and glory
quite simply AMAZING!!! schuey as the stig! what a great suprise the best show on telly!
I just have to say one thing:
JC: “….is it Susan Boyle?” LOOOOOOOOOL
Extremely good show guys, can’t wait for sunday.
wish they did not reviele his identity :/
. . . ducks cant flay
Absolutly Brilliant show. Loved every minute.
I think the Stig is definately Ben Collins and The Boys are trying to cover it up. But that is part of the fun.I thought the Ferrari FXX was a brilliant car and much better than that Lotus. Big up to James May who finally won a top gear race. P.S my new Fiat 500 Abarth is arriving tomorow. Same car as Michael Schumacher!!!
Great show! 2 comments. “Old steam engine”? It is probably the newest engine in the country – steam or diesel. And why reveal The Stig now? Is it because his correct identity has finally been revealed? If so, has TG shot itself in the foot and, by responding, accidentally confirmed his identity?
As a couple of other people have pointed out, and I hope it gets mentioned on next weeks show, the steam train would’ve been able to run non-stop london to edinburgh by use of water troughs between the rails and a scoop on the tender, easily allowing it to beat the car. It would also have been allowed to run at higher speeds, though with some post-war trains being 15 coaches ( roughly 600 tonnes WITHOUT people on board!) speeds of 70-75 mph were fairly standard.
It’s just my opinion but i don’t think the usual Stig is Michael as their driving style is a bit different. Stig would power slide more with the FXX but in the video he did not even slide once…Like how michael drove in another car i saw.
just an opinion.
great could of been better though cant wait for the rest of it!!
Best episode to date!!
loved it…… but the mystery of the stig is still there following the elaborate twist at the end of the show
TopGear kind of hinted who the Stig was when they showed the FXX. Schumacher is the only one to have it like that. The others are different (red with white stripes). I picked on this because I attended the charity event where Schumacher drove people on the track, including Zidane, in the same car.
The driving style is as different as water and fire. Schumacher is more composed and more precise, Stig is all over the place. Worlds apart. Shame Schumacher is not the real stig. The track would set new records
.
Cheers for the good show lads and looking forward to the next one
.
it’s not THE Stig, insider info this, he just came on just to keep the things interesting, do not fall for this, though he is an amazing man, driver and sports person, he is not THE Stig.
Thank you and more later.
Great show as always Top Gear is the only show that is consistantly great. Loved it big shock what a start to season 13. keep it up.
Good Show, but the FXX should come off the board, or all of the other non-road-legal cars go back on, and it is blatently obvious that Schumacher isn’t the Stig, he’s not tall enough!!!
Didn’t think of that one, did you Top Gear??
schumacher isnt the stig derrrr come on as if
yes i agree all non roadlegal cars should go back on the Aston Martin DBR9 with less power was quicker and is british and you can buy one for £500,000-£750,000 so should deffinatly go back on the board!
I loved the race between the black shadow, the jagg and tornado, and the track test of the lotus evora. Classic Top Gear as it should be. But the Schumacher and Stig thing ruined it for me. he’s obviously not The Stig anyway. Back to normal for the rest of the series hopefully. Im looking forward to it with those new challenges.
oh, and i agree about the FXX by the way. get it off the board. I reckon it was schumacher driving the FXX anyway.
y lie 2 us bout schumacher being the stig there is just no need!!!!!
the reason the fxx is still on the board is cos ferrari and schumacher were there and topgear just pussied out! either tht ior they just were paid by ferrari 2 keep it there?
Why did they give the Stig. That’s the most dumb thing ever. I Don’t even believe Shuey is the Stig!!!!! Does Anyone else?
This was one of the best episodes-in the world!
sorry “go watch big brother”
My fav part was at the end when Schuey tried to take on the mighty Suzuki Liana and failed. Just shows what a beast that car is compared to his F1 Ferrari’s. But bloody hell he drives a Fiat Chroma or whatever it’s called
Wow! This new series looks exciting. I was just in Queensferry and drove down (my dad did) and I love it! Jezza, is that Lotus Evora a hoot to drive. How can the FXX stay up there? Michael Schumacher isn’t the Stig. Ben Collins is! I missed Fifth Gear. oops! Please can we see James drive ken blocks impreza. i may be coming to mph 09. soory. great show guys! keep it up! who is the mole? ><
can i drive a mclaren f1 against veyron hammond? cool. i am looking forward to that
p.s. i collect turbo challenge
ok,1st of all the stig cannot be M.S. AsTG dont have a bottomless pit of dosh, they got the FXX, and Shuey etc cos that FXX WAS the one he got when he left F1 they come as a team.
James, should have come of the A1M cos it wasn’t built in 1949,(I live here,it definately did not exist) so should have gone round via Birtley, but he could have got lost cos its not well signposted now, and it was James Driving!!!.Felt sorry for Richard, but it reminded me of an ex of mine whose bike did not like the rain,and it did let you know.Jezza doing ‘Manual work’ creased me up, but he did look knackered at the end.Jeremy speak to me – brilliant line.
Please TG though dont spoil it by over scripting, they don’t do scripts well.
I LOVE TOP GEAR don’t get me wrong compared to other shows this kicks ass but as far as top gear standards goes i think it has been consistently slipping (VERY VERY VERY VERY SLIGHTLY but still) ever since season 10 (possibly with season 7 or 9 as the peak) but still i am ecstatic that it is back
You stupid, gutless, rubbish, shoe wearing, old mongroel, tart, annoying, complaining, orange shirt wearing, of a baboon useless BBC of a thing! Why is BBC so rubbish as to not post these videos to the rest of the world? After all, it reads on the bottom of this screen “BBC WORLDWIDE” Now that´s a lie!
By the way, Clarkson you mammoth, take down that FXX lap time because that car is not road legal, and that board only belongs to road legal cars!
(no offense to anyone, the show is amazing, love it, keep up the good work, and great humor, and I am not actually swearing in the bad sense, its just something to catch the attention of BBC which should be a bit more intelligent and promote TG around the world properly) Clarkson´s take on allowing these videos to be shown worldwide: How hard can it be?
it was awsome but i don’t think schumacher is the stig
What can I say but WOW!!!!!! However what I don’t understand is JC, Hammond, May and the Stig are all brilliant actors.Why haven’t they made their own movie yet? I mean the director and script writers are brilliant they create more suspense, comedy and action than any Hollywood crapfest, so why isn’t there a movie? I know I would watch it I even have the perfect title for the film.How’s this for the title TOPGEAR THE MOVIE.
I thought that the episode last night was one of the best episodes of To Gear ever, because it had a simply ridiculous race, and it had Michael Schumacher humiliating himself! What more could you want from a car show?
Please…someone invite these kids onto the show and congratulate them for a fantastic homage piece to Jezza and his drive in the teeny weeny motor through the BBC offices…and just leave it to the Rozzers to be po-faced about the whole thing…H&S finger wagging at it’s finest. I think these kids have a great career ahead of them…
http://tech.uk.msn.com/ne ws/article.aspx?cp-docume ntid=148127158
dont think no-one will read this but anyway.
ep 1 bit dull. race woz bit rubbish as high tg standarda go – nothing exploding/breaking doqn massively/going wrong drasticlly etc.
maybe something to work on? also stig revealing himself was good at the time, but it is much more likely that there ARE several different people who play stig.
but now the only viable options is to get a new stig, or show a shot with schumaker talking about being the stig, with about 20-30 other stigs coming in behind. NOW THAT WOULD BE A KILLER SHOT WORTH WATCHING!!!!
Fantastic Start, although I’m still not entirely sure that Schumi is the Stig!
But the rest of the show was brilliant, finally for once, Captain Slow winning the race!
Another thing, Top Gear. Why are you revealing the Stig now? I don’t get the point of it, unless it was your last show (which it wasn’t) or that the Stig is leaving. Now that we know who the Stig, it won’t be the same like before…
I think the episode was brilliant, and I have been waiting for Top Gear to test the Evora.
All that I can say is that Michael Schumacher may not actually be the Stig. I wish they had NOT revealed the Stig.
Sorry Guys.
BUT APART FROM THAT, 10/10
By the way, what is now going to happen now that Michael Schumacher is “sopposedly” the Stig? It will be “…all we know is, he’s Michael Schumacher!” Not good guys not good.
I agree to topgear.com’s website terms and my comment follows the code of conduct. Well, I don’t.
I agree with ‘I AM THE STIG’
Oh for goodness sake boys..grow up..or, rather, be like the TG guys and don’t!! It’s just telly – is MS the Stig, isn’t he? Who cares?? It’s just a bit of fun and entertainment and if you think they’d start a series like that without something up their sleeves then you need a cold shower and a brain cell transplant!! If you don’t give the presenters credit, give it to the production team – they have never failed to deliver what their audience want so stop worrying – whatever comes next it will be quality!! There’s a world out there – Iraq, Afganistan (the boys know about that too) so going through major angst over the identity of a TV character doesn’t really become us.
wow it has a good episode to start off the series with.
i cant believe richard messes up the start of the race in the next episode of topgear between a bugatti and a mclaren f1. why didnt they start it again, its so unfair!!
i loved it, made me laugh when hammond couldnt start the bike. Is it true that james might be leaving top gear please give me answers
it was brilliant couldnt stop laughing i really enjoyed it although it was abit obvious that Micheal the Shoemaker isnt the Stig but i still enjoyed Hammond getting wet and Jezza getting stlightly hot and i thought James did pretty well too. Lokking foward to the next episode.
That person on the show wasn’t the real Schumacher! That was just an imposter.
The person interviewed by Jezza is really The Stig. He only pretended to be Schumacher to lead people to think he can’t possibly be the Stig.
Hey guys, how can i see the BBC2 from Italy
? It’s not fair that i can’t see the show from here !!
I love Top Gear but why are you blocking people from Denmark with regards to video content on the site!
We pay for the TV channel that show Top Gear over here and we buy the magazine (which btw cost like twice than in the UK). In other words we give you money but are cheated when it comes to the web site
i really liked the sundays show and i have an idea for a challenge: make a painting with the wheels of a car!!!!!!!!
You just got that idea from the BMW Z4 commercial ‘Petrol Head’
thats the finish of topgear now they’ve suposedly revealed the stig. as michael shumacher is not the real stig.
The first show of the season could not be better. The Stig showing up his face (even though it was just a joke), another epic race and a brand new supercar. And the Dacia Sandero was mentioned again. Great job.
20 minutes into the episode i was wondering if there’d be a decent car shown on the programme at all.
i spent 45 minutes watching a train cough out steam, 10 minutes cringing at the whole ’stig reveal’ thing, then 5 minutes watching something worthwhile in the form of the Evora and the FXX.
Not good for my favourite car programme.
I’m off to read my evo mag.
It was bloody great!! The End!!
Great show again keep it up .
But do you really expect us to belive that
Michael Schumacher as good as he is is the Stig .I think not . So hat leaves us with a bit of a problem are we going to have a new Stig every week instead of a well oiled drip in really bad car .
Anyway enough ranting
Well done Boys keep it up
the steam train thing really good apart from the jokin about the stig absolutely ruining for the show
It’s getting annoying now guys!If ye listened carefully to what jezza and MS were saying in the interview its so obvious they were taking the piss!especially when he was ‘driving’ the Liana!!
I bet they’ll just go back to normal next week with the classic Stig intros
love Top Gear, but i sense a change.
Actually, Jeremy Clarkson is the Stig.He is so(Marlon Brando-like) determined, he starves off half of his weight, and cuts his feet off every show, just to keep it a secret.Then sew them back on again,(We have seen him sewing the roof for the convertible Peoplecarrier, he can do it).And then he eats 5 million calories in 10 minutes,to regain his “normal” shape. He knows stuff about the Stig,only the stig would know.All his rubbish driving is just to fool people.
If you believe that,then you re just as close to reality, as if Schuhmacher were the Stig.
Come on guys.The Stig is a mysterious thing, and it shall not be revealed,what it actually is. Its part of the excitement and entertainment,this show provides. No fun,in giving up on that.All we know is, the Stig is really, really quick, and honestly, thats all that matters.
And i have to disagree slightly with Jeremy, who Compares the Lotus Evora to supercars.well, that thing might handle like one, but it lacks all the lunacy, that a supercar comes with.The Evora is slower than the Exige.No way in hell is a Toyota Camry engine Supercar-like in any way.What makes a supercar a supercar, is its speed and power.
its a mid-engined car, nothing more, and nothing less.Its lap time proves that.
Especially Jeremy should know that
WHAT THE HELL you half witted critics- that was a suberb start to a new series of an already fantastic television programme
….Aaand another little thingy. At the beginning of the Race between the Train,the Car and the bike.How come Richard has to change first, before he can go on the bike, But Jezza is already in his overall, ready to shovel coal?
I smell unsporty disadvantage.
I LOVE THIS SHOW. I got tears in my eyes when I saw Bugatti vs McLaren!!!
What ever the outcome, COOOOL race.
If you dont like the show simple – don’t watch it but DO NOT waste our website with pointless negative comments. As the majority agree top gear is a long serving television programme and never fails to inform or entertain. The show is fantastic and long may it continue
Good show! but wy was the Ferrari left at the top? It is not a streatleagal car that can geat over a sleeping policeman. you should stick to the rules.
I can’t believe some folk think this new series has changed/is sliping/isn’t as good blah blah blah. That episode was fabulous,there was everything in it,the Evora test,the mad race,the cocking about. I agree with comment 779 if you don’t like it thats your opinion but don’t tell everyone else here,WE LOVE IT AND THATS AN END OF IT!!!
Well, as long as somebody asks for opinions (watch title of the Blog)I ll post mine. If you don t like my comments, ignore them.just as simple.I just point out little mistakes,i spot.
I love the show, but i want it to be perfect, you know?because i buy the DVD and spend money on it.
The FXX is not a road car. It should not be allowed on the board like other track cars.
to bored with top gear
your allowed your opinion but really if you dont like top gear why watch it am sure there sumit else you could watch and 7.1 million viewrs who tuned in on sunday cant be bored with it
The FXX is not a road car. You can only drive it on Ferrari’s special track days. Either take it off, or put the Caparo T1 back up in front of it imho. The Caparo is at least street legal, and the production version has variable ride height for speed humps.
The FXX is not a street legal car! And As much as I love to see an Italian on top of the board I think you guys should take it down!!
Looking Forward To Murcielago SV and Mclaren F1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!
Good show though thanks.
Slickrubber….It’s kinda common knowledge that The Stig is infact Ben Collins.Also helps to realise that it’s an “entertainment” show ! lol
For those outside of UK who cant view the video clips, we pay a licence fee for the privelage so until you begin payin please stop moanin about not being able to view them
god dam awsome nuff said……….
keep it up guys oh and please unrestrict the website so people from oh say australia can watch the back stage and behind the scenes vids
hey i paid enuff licence when i lived in the uk as an ex pat give us a go hey ………
LOL, my post was sarcastic, i hope nobody believes that jezza (or the Schuh), is the Stig
I am a Fan,since Day 1.To me, its an entertainment show. Yes they have numbers and facts about cars and stuff.But thats not the point. What makes this show so special, are the ideas they have, and the presenters and how they interact with each other.And how they argue about everything(because they have diffrent views at a thing or car)The beautifully taken pictures and locations.And of course, the Mystery that fills the stigs suit and helmet.I point out mistakes, cause they happen. I don t say “i hate the show” or “its boring” the opposite is true. I love it,and nothing compares to it.
I thought the FXX was not legal to drive on the strets so is it allowed to be on the power lap board?, the rest of the show was amazing, the stig rocks!!!!!
Is it discrimination if they won’t allow people outside of UK to watch the online clips?
GREAT SHOW…
But, take that FXX off of the lap board. As fast as it is, it has no place being on that list because it’s NOT STREET LEGAL!!!!!
I know who the Stig really is…… BEN COLLINS!
hey top gear
your show last saturday was very very good
the race was fun and ofcourse the stig
who could think it was schumi!!!!!!
HI Guys – what a great start to the series – am a devout fan …. Jeremy for PM , James as Chancellor and Hamster for trade and industry !
Look guys although you did a splendidly entertaining Rail versus Road thing with the wonderous Tornado … in 1949 there were NO dual Carriageways and Motorways .. and you would have had to drive through Stamford Grantham , Newark , Doncaster, York etc . I loved James’ Jag , but have to say that the assertion that Road was superior is clearly the conclusion of a man with a steak pie for a brain !!! ( James )
Any way boys – great show – great fun – can you do Tornado VS road up the west coast next ???
Regards – JOHN – Devout Yorkshire man !!!
Hey guys, i don’t know what is the amount of your license to be paid for the BBC (British Broadcasting Channel) but you don’t pay for T G .. you pay for the whole package. For the matter effect, i have a subscription to TG UK wich costs about 9 EUR per month (instead of 3.5 GBP or the half if you make the subscription) so in one way or other i should be able to see the show. One ideea would be to put some acces code in the UK magazine for a password + ID section of the site.
Good show.
Fifth Gear seem to be catching up nowadays so better watch out!
Also The Stig is not Schumacher at all. It was a joke.
o ye!!
i gopt the 800th comment…..
best car show EVER !!
I have a few points to make :
1. Was the Stig really tied up in a broom cupboard while that triangle head stole his clothes?
2. Is Richard Hammond James May’s secret love child, as each time I see them they are more and more alike?
3. Was Jeremy wearing that shirt for a bet?
4. And PLEASE can we have Top Gear on for 2 hours or twice a week as there is nothing else worth paying the license fee for?
Much love and well done and thank God your all back xoxoxo
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOO!
That was awesome on Sunday…
The Lotus Evora running wild on the grass, what will the eco-mentalists say?
And if Michael Schuammacher is the Stig, then I’m the stig too!
Although the news segment seemed a little scripted, overall, it was pretty good. Thank god for Top Gear, the only bit of ’sensible’ TV we have left in the world. I can’t believe this season is only 7 episodes long(short). How is the world going to cope for the rest of the year?
PS: I can’t believe the Hamster didn’t win on that legendary bike…
Now Schumi to do a lap of the ‘ring in the Lacetti- he’d probably beat Heidfeld’s PR stunt (but still be behind Sabine!)
as regards post 792….Mr Darkmax….is it discrimination that we have to pay the BBC Licence Fee ?…quite possibly yes !..but until you pay for the BBC programmes like we have too,I suspect it’s only fair that we get the extras online ,here in Blighty ? lol…(mutters several sweary words).
re post 797,Mr Razz…I am currently paying £139.50 for my BBC tv licence,and considering I virtually only ever access BBC for this very programme,its a tad excessive ! If you would like me to transfer said licence to your tv at home,I’d be most willing to do so lol
re 796,Steamyjohn…..mebbes May should of been more authentic and ridden Black Bess ? worked for Dick Turpin ……….lol
Top quality episode as ever. It was nice to see that Micheal had enough of a sense of humor to run with the gag for his visit.
The show, through non-traditional methods, provided a great end to my 30th Birthday. Was worried I wouldn’t be able to see bits after I got of work, but not so, whole episode. Now if only I get my belated present from family’s visit to the UK in July I’ll be a happy Canadian fan.
well done guys!!! Would you have any advice on a new motorbike or moped for me coz im at collage and i need a motorbike to get from place to place do you know of any not to expensive, easy to use yet cool looking motor bikes ??
ps i wonder what would happen if for one of your challenges: to see who can destroy the most cars in a monstertruck !! i would pay good money to see that !!!!
love u boys xxxx
Who else thinks Richard looks like Suzy Quatro when he is doing the race to Edinburgh???
michael schumacher is not the stig. Ferrari probably told top gear that they thot the actual stig would be slower so they demanded schuey do the lap so they would be damn fast. so for this episode only, schuey is the stig
how come clarkson left the fxx’s lap time up when its not even road legal?
BRILLIANT!!!
It was fantastic, brilliantly done boys!
All though I really don’t believe that Michael Schumacher is The Stig.
Was fun though xD
Could you maybe..just maybe make these videos available for the people who live outside the UK?
I agree with most of the people here. Sometimes you guys are trying to be too funny. Keep the show natural. Anyway, still a great show. Keep up the good work!!
There is no way that the Ferrari passes their own sleeping police man test! Take that lap down!
top gear is sooooooooooo goooooooood
p.s nace new look on the steam train jezza
Best bbc show
Real shame not to have Schuey do a proper Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car lap. It would be interesting to see how he compared against Mansell / Button / Hamilton…!
it was cool and very funny and the Lambo was nice
i herd from someone that the reason michael scumacer was dressed as the stig because ferrari would only let him race the ferrari fxx round the test track because he was an f1 driver. best show on tv i always wach repeats on dave.
WOW WOW WOW I cant say anything more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 100/100 worth every bit of my fee!! need more than 7 weeks worth though.
i was so annoyed i missed the show on sunday!!!!!!!!!
I’m twice as annoyed because BBC America has only Top Gear reruns so far! Anyway…it’s the funniest show I’ve seen in years!