So the first studio recording of the brand new series of Top Gear is, as television people say, ‘in the can’. Because announcing that something is ‘on the hard drive’ or ‘all on the digital tape’ doesn’t sound as romantic.
What you may not know about the TG studio is that when the programme is off air the whole set is dismantled and put into storage so that the building can be used as an aircraft hangar again.
With this in mind, the production team is always hugely relieved when they turn up for the first recording to find the indestructible Hilux back on its plinth, the stage is back in the middle of the floor and all the many lighting rigs re-hung from the ceiling. As for the Cool Wall, that’s carefully photographed in detail before being taken apart so that when it’s put back together all the cars can be reattached in exactly the places Jeremy and Richard last put them when they were having a big argument in front of it.
Thankfully, all of these things were in their rightful places yesterday and the show went without a hitch. Granted, it took the presenters one or two attempts more than normal to get the opening link just right but after that they were on fine form, as was this week’s guest, Hulk, Munich and Black Hawk Down legend Eric Bana.
You can always tell the really sound people amongst TG guests by how much they hang around after their interview. Sienna Miller did. Jay Kay did. Steve Coogan did. Stephen Fry did the first time he was on and was frightfully apologetic that he couldn’t second time round because he had a pressing engagement back in London. You get the picture.
Suffice to say that the Top Gear team thinks Bana is a bloody good bloke because he was there until the end, watching the rest of the show and then enjoying some of the aftershow Terrible Buffet in the production office.
In fact, he was still there talking diffs, carbs and the higher language of muscle cars with Hammond when most people were making their excuses and leaving. So yes, he’s a great guest and proper, proper petrolhead for what everyone hopes will be an amazing opening show.
However, The Mole has to share with you what was LITERALLY the most amazing thing about yesterday’s recording and it happened some miles from the studio, on the way home.
Sitting at a roundabout behind a Mercedes E500 and a Porsche 911 Carrera S – powerful cars both – it was hard to ignore a black Fiat Panda containing none other than TV’s James May which had drawn alongside them.
The roundabout cleared and Captain Slow made an uncharacteristically brisk leap away from the line, straight onto the knuckle whiteningly tight slip road that feeds into the A3.
The Porsche tried to pull out to get around a dithering Volkswagen ahead, the Mercedes clinging to its tail, but before either could make a move James had seized the advantage, taking the OUTSIDE LINE around all three cars and disappearing into the distance.
There can be only one conclusion. There is a keen and remarkably fast driver with a black Fiat Panda in the Guildford area and he looks a lot like James May.
Top Gear is back on TV on November 15.
Surely not 2 James May’s? There can only ever be 1 and he’s the original.
Am looking forward to watching the first episode of the new series, nice to see James being given the chance to hold the fort…
He should do it more often.
Good Luck guys.
I’ve been waiting for weeks for this Sunday…bring it on!
now we know who the stig is…
Can´t wait for it!!!!
You can see that May is the only one that has to actually drive a normal car in heavy traffic.
It’s all about skill; any id10t can thack a big merc down a runway, but can they do the Marble Arch at rush hour?
I’m soooooooo loking foward to Sunday night.
BRING IT ON!
Cant wait for the new series!!!
ps all top gear series need to be at leat 10 episodes long
Love the Beast?
Can´t wait for Top Gear
Can’t wait for the new series.I have seen a new christmas morrisons advert on tv with Hammond.
When is it back?
Yay! I’m looking forward to the new series. Hopefully you will have taken onboard some of the suggestions from the fans with regards to the show.
Sorry but you’ve come to the WRONG conclusion, I have no doubt that it was Captain Slow (now re-badged Captain Fast). After his win at MPH last week I’m sure he’s on a roll, (no, not the sort that’s dangerous in a car).
Great to have the boys and the toys back. TV is not quite the same without them. Granted they are on Dave all the time…but that doesn’t quite count.
Is that the stig pretending to James May? And how the heck can a Fiat Panda outrun a Mercedes and Porche, unles CPT Slow had stuck a thumping V10 under than Panda…
This weekend is taking forever to be here…
wish sunday would hurry up !!!
I WAS THERE YESTERDAY!!!
WHAT A DAY!
cant wait for sunday.seeing Top Gear Live although Im very miffed my tickets havent arrived:( Looks like a long queueing session is in order:( oh well.The first programme will be on Sky+ in case we dont make it back in time, and also for future ‘reference’of course!will be odd seeing the lads in the flesh(nice odd though) and then seeing them on tv later.roll on Sunday. three fit guys, poh and some nice cars too! what more could a girl want?!(….Jezza James…..sigh!)
Can’t wait till Sunday, going to TG Live during the day and new series starting perfectly an hour later than normal for when i get home – Awesome!!
Awesome! can’t wait for this .Top gear is the best programme on the telly!
Maybe someone’s nicked the remote control for jame’s car??
ive heard eric bana is coming on in the chevy lacetti. whos he!!!!!!!???????!!!
I cant wait for top gear and as for having Eric Bana on thts awsome
yes 3 more days!
oh w8 my camp is in 3 more days FML
Eric Bana on Top Gear? woah if he’s a petrolhead then i might think he will be the quickest aussie on Top Gear’s SIARPC!
can’t wait, can’t wait, can’t wait
i just can’t miss it!!!
@Geo – Eric Bana is an Australian who made his name as a skit comedy actor and portraying one of the meanest SOB’s in the Australian underworld “Chopper” Read. He’s gone on to star in films like Black Hawk Down, Troy and most recently he played Nero in the revamp of the Star Trek franchise.
He’ll be a good guest… very much a petrol head and very much an Aussie sense of humor (aka a p!ss-taker)
James May is the Stig. We all pretend it’s Schumi just to be nice to the 7 time world champion.
James,
Go find him and hire him, then you can have more free time
Cheers
you’re back!!!!!! cool!!!!!!!!!!!! nice!!!!!!!! such a shame it’s at nine first week, i’ll still watch it! i can’t wait!! only 3 days!!
James May can outrun the other two because he has the brains! Great driving is strategy, not showing off. Winning is calm and considered planning, not a flashy testosterone display!
Well I will be there on Wed for the recording (episode 2), cant wait, so glad its back, TG is and will always be……the future!!
DO WANT NOW PLEASE!
Cant wait til sunday. I swear James is a racing driver
Lol bring on TopGear !
Yeees! An actual pertol-head for a guest! More of these please!!
Ban is the ultimate ozzie petrol head. Check out youtube for the trailer of his “Love the Beast” documentary, about him and his mates restoring his first car (a 1974 Ford XB Falcon Coupe) and running it in the Targa Tasmania rally. He races a 944 and a 911 regularly. I can’t wait until Sunday!
Just getting my fix of TG on ‘Dave’… Think I might need strapping down for Sunday!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So glad Top Gear is back Iv missed it loads. The week isn’t complete without Top Gear.
Hooray for the return of Top Gear!!!! First Top Gear Live, now this – I’m in motoring heaven
Bugatti Veyron Crashed into Lake!
Bugatti Veyron Crashed into Lake!
Hey !!! LOOK at this !LOL LOL !!!
Bugatti Veyron Crashed into Lake!
Hey !!! LOOK at this !LOL LOL !!!
my parents won’t let me stay up to watch it
Who’s The Mole?
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!! !!! Cannot wait, it’s gonna be freakin’ awesome!
P.S. Sucks to be you Ryan, no offence
anyway, all joking aside…speaking of “Black Hawk Down”…I want to say thanks to Top Gear for making past episodes with real military personnel! More Of That in the future? Our Veterans Day was yesterday…my Dad is a WWII vet and I am a Gulf War Era vet and we would like to send a “Shout Out” to all active duty and veterans of Britain,America,and Australia…We salute you! Be vigilant and stay safe! Top Gear Rules in America!
Ha ha sounds awesome, wow surely that’s not the James May is it? Maybe an impersonator!
Can’t wait ’till Sunday!
James is a driving God!!!!
Top Gear is back!! O boy o boy o boy o boy o boy o boy o boy!!! Can’t wait till Sunday!
As for James and his Panda…so much for Christian motoring I’d say, ey?
I cant wait for it, TG is so cool and I’m so glad that Eric Bana comes around, he’s kinda cute but not as cute as the Hamster.
And my driving teacher says I’m not a good driver, I did exacly the same thing on a roundabout as James.
CANT WAIT FOR TOP GEAR…CANT WAIT AT ALL
BTW THT VEYRON VID…DAMNNNNNNNNN…SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE CAPTURED THE LOOK ON THE OWNERS FACE
i cant w8 2 c top gear again !! saturday nites havnt bin the same w/out may,HAMMOND and clarkson !!
surly it wasnt james may coz as we all know he cant speed 4 toffee !!!
luv u topgear !!!
xxxxxxx
THAT SOOO WAS NOT JAMES MAY !!
LUV U TOPGEAR !!
COUNTIN DOWN THE DAYS ….
Whoa boy! Odds on that the Veyron taking a bath makes it into a news segment
Oepss I told the guys from Hull you guys
would be back in May!:p (what was I thinking)
But lucky you guys are back on air this
sunday. Can’t wait…
P.s good luck Mr.Gizz
I hate Americans that thibk they make top gear. Well it is British and nothing to so with the Us. I can’t wait until series 14. Only 7 episodes long expecting more!!
anyway top gear is back on
from your biggest fan
hope you read this jeremy,james or hammond
SJUKES
I have no idea when we are going to see this in the US but I will be waiting.
the vid is great lol
It sounds like we are in for a treat on Sunday! I wonder if you guys captured on tape what happened to Captain Slow after the show. You guys could put that online!
I never new panda’s were so quick or the driver remember the factual US trip he over took Jezza and clung onto the lead sadly big fan of Jezza.
Im watching no matter what my mum and dad say
I knew it! He’s the stig
Hint: stripes shirt. 
James May needs his nickname changed he is getting faster and faster each series!!!
Hey ! JC RH JM , your show top gear is my fovorite tv shov all time
,ai wish series never end 
p.s sorry but ai english write not very good
DD
top gear rules!!!!!!!
P.S i would like 2 see jay kay and gumpert get knocked off the top of the lap boards
What r u on about, Bill Oddie was always the stig!! Black stig died coz HIS MOM was a racist
James Does seem to have got a hell of a lot faster since he went out in the TVR With the Original “Flying Scot” (Jackie Stewart) so i wouldnt put that kind of speed above him now.
as for who the stig is? well, its clearly an f1 driver, clealry someone with no fear what so ever, and someone small, may i post up that BANZAI that toyota hired to replace glock, his lines around Interlagos and Abu Dhabi looked very “stig”.
I can’t wait to see!The first show …Romania,there were the Lambo,Ferarri and the Aston,my country…
Yeh!!!! I am going to get my fix!!!! Sunday’s are great again~!!!
LOL, what has James been eating or drinking? XD
Well I cant wait for this to start again … roll on Sunday ^^
love the beast:
http://videos.streetfire. net/video/Love-the-beast_ 698319.htm
I know the said traffic lights and slip-road, because Guildford’s sixth-form college is right next to them, and I go there =)
Great fun being picked up by the parents in the BMW, tyre-smoking power-slide on the slip-road is the only way of picking up enough speed to join the flow of traffic. Now, guys, something for 2011 – it marks the 40th birthday of the magnificent Rover 3500S, a proper V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive sports saloon-come-executive express, which marked the peak of the British motor industry. I hope the occasion won’t go unmarked!
About May in the Panda being ahead of those two cars.. could it be that the other two were actually driven by Clarkson and Hammond? I mean.. Clarkson has a thing about Mercs.. and Hammond does own a 911 as far as I know. And the two happened to be side by side.. hmm..
When will we see them here in the US?
LOVED James May on the Moon this week.
I hope its good because the last episode in series 13 wasn’t that good!!
yyyayyy!!!!
can’t wait for topgear to come on the telly again, and finally i think richard has cut his hair!!!!
yyaaayy
oh yeah and eric bana is awesome
If there are two Albert Halls, I guess there can be two James Mays as well.
Sooo excited for this new series (even though we in Australia won’t get for another couple of months but which time the BBC of SBS will ahve lopped off half the good bits) and Eric Bana is a true-blue petrol head. If you’ve seen his documentry Love the Beast (which Clarkson was in by the way) then you’ll know what I’m talking about.
I have been waiting for this along time. But in the last series you missed out on something when you showed what you will be doing in series 13 and you never showed the one with the AUDI R8 and the Corvette ZR1 i think.
Hold on to your spleens everyone
Are you sure it was James May in that Panda?
hopefully we’ll get more episodes this series – the last one was only about 7 eps long
Top Gear Go go – Ferrari
jiiihAAAA YAMAHA !
cANT wait for madness !!
though, it has been looong, very ; late in fact.
christmas is soon on, this season will be only a bit shorter, BUT that SAVES MONEY, for 7 Quality Episodes.
So evryone, get ready – set —> TOP GEAR !!!
some say, he’s James May.
and that in the winter months, he actually grows younger!
Finally, something decent to watch on Sunday night…
I can summarise like so:
Beer + TG = One Happy Chappy!
Yay! Yay! Yay! Can’t wait!
What a day sunday , firstly full day at Topgear LIVE then home at 9pm to topgear on my telly how good of a day is that ??
sois los mejores, yo vivo en españa y soi un fan vuestro, veo vuestros capitulos en una cadena española por que en ingles no os entiendo.
traducir todos vuestros capitulos a español que no solo os ven en inglaterra.
I found this show by accident on YouTube just recently. I now watch it on BBC Canada every day of the week. It is very entertaining. I enjoy the challenges and wonder what are you going to do next. I can’t believe that I am watching a car show. I’m looking forward to the new series and enjoy watching clips of the old ones that BBC doesn’t block me from seeing. From a female in her 40′ fan.
@ francis:
Usted podría aprender inglés. Tuve que aprender español
WHAAAO ! I always knew there is a quick racers living inside that century old body of James May..good on him.
Bana on TG, that should be intresting. Wanna check out his doc about his muscle car (forgot the name!)
Great 2 have TG back…..long live TG
WHAAAO ! I always knew there is a quick racers living inside that century old body of James May..good on him.
Bana on TG, that should be interesting. Wanna check out his doc about his muscle car (forgot the name!)
Great 2 have TG back…..long live TG
Here’s an article about a Bugatti being driven into a swamp. Guy said a bird distracted him. $1m car.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ id/33906595/ns/us_news-we ird_news/
That’d be a good one for an upcoming News segment.
Here’s another article about the Bugatti. $1.25m, 500 miles on the odo. http://www.chron.com/disp /story.mpl/metropolitan/ 6718117.html
Whoooop! Whoooop!…..no joke, TG is British….that’s why we can’t get Enough Of It!….said, a long time ago,”Python” and “Young Ones” fan!
“Hot metal is what I like…if I don’t get to see it….On Your Bike!” Haaaaaaa Haaaaaaa…..I never said I was a poet and didn’t know it! You Go Top Gear!!!!!!
I’m looking forward to a FAB weekend… Mph and TG Live all day tomorrow….. and again on Sunday…. and TG new series on Sunday night!! it doesn’t get much better than that!
Can’t wait for new Top Gear
As usual can’t wait for the show, shame it’s on later though, i guess i’ll be too tired for school, BIG WHOOP
.
I can’t believe TopGear is going in HD!
I’ll be watching this sunday
See you there Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow
Jack Sadler , Newmarket
Eric Bana 4 number 1! & we now know that Jeremy clarkson has bought a james may costume.
Top Gear and Dr Who on the same night! Bad Co touring again! *goes all giddy and faints*
@ QWERTY (Post 76) “SBS will ahve lopped off half the good bits) and Eric Bana is a true-blue petrol head.”
Haven’t you heard…. it’s worse that that… Channel NEIN has the TG rights now…
im sooooo exited,
A. TG back tomorow
B. Ive just heard what could be my new favourite song
Can’t wait for the new show to start, it will be great to see the boys back to the regular Sunday night spot. I’ve got a question for you…is the new Porsche 997 gt3 gen2 featured anytime in this new series ? hope so as I get mine in Three weeks lol.
i am fed up i cnt stay up for my mum dosen’t let me srty up
no i mean stay
At least the new show should combat the blues now Top Gear Live is over. It was fantastic so we need something to look forward to, me and my mate Rossa.
I Love Top Gear, Richard Hammond is super….
can,t wait and at last it,s in HD !
i lihv top gear i david 11 i phrom iezrhl
not iazrhl it is at israel
Stand-in drivers with wigs. Fakes!
http://tinyurl.com/yej3p3 b
How disappointing.
(((
Didn’t we say all along that James might be the stig? Come on people! It has to be him!
i just started to get into this show, thanks to an uk co-worker HELL YA i want more challenges never ever stop this show!!!
For all you Sky+ HD customers out there, Top Gear starts tomorrow at 9pm on BBC HD (channel number 143)
First ever series in HD? Sure as hell beats standard def BBC
Cannot WAIT
Sorry, i’ve lost all respect for you three now. I was watching videos on youtube and it turns out these three can’t even be bothered to film half there stuff. Most of the time, the people driving the cars are just stand-ins, Richard, James and Jeremy only do a days worth of filming in the UK on the cars and 95% of what you see on TV, like them driving in Romania (this Sunday) is done by stand ins. All these 3 do is go there, drive for an hour, record the in car and out of car shots and go home. It may be entertaining, but just makes you lose respect on the opinions of the presenters.
It wasn’t a Panda that James was driving, but a Veyron in disguise.
cant wait for top gear i have been watching top gear since i was born
Why did “UK/USABRITopgearfan” post spam on the best car site on earth? Anyways, Season 14.
FINALLY!!! IT’S COMING TOMORROW!!!
What’s a Veyron doing in a lagoon in the middle of Texas? Poor guy.
Speaking of which, why is there a Citroen floating in a dam?
I remembered the first Top Gear episode I ever watched. James may took the Veyron to 253 mph back in ‘06.
ahh…good times…
And so it begins again. Can’t wait.
Does James have a stunt double?
I love Top Gear I am its Biggest Fan
fantastic ,its back,rumour has it, that the captain and the stig are one and the same and in a panda ..no doubt in my mind..thanx for the link about the spanner who took his veyron for a dip,i think the phrase ‘high performance car ,no performance driver’ doesn’t quite seem enough..wot a PLUM ! see ya sunday night…..hercule
me again,hercule with a complaint ,i bought an official top gear stig keyring with a metal bit and a stretchy stig attatched to it,the metal bit has come off and is now lost ,possibly for all time,my little grey cells have failed to find said item….tut tut top gear ,not good enough, bye bye …hercule
I was in the audience for this show on wednesday. I can assure you the show is fantastic!
YES NEW TOP GEAR
Has anyone from anywhere outside the UK noticed that the count down works to 9pm on Sunday which ever country they are in
According to the countdown on the home page, the show starts in 50 minutes which will be 9pm WST
wooh hoo! top gear’s back and it will (hopefully) be the best series to date. but can they beat that mighty 10th series in 2007 with series 14. That story about james in in his panda is funny, just shows you that you don’t need a big supercar, but which would you choose to have? a fiat panda or a ferrari, i know which one i would choose…
@ #110 and #114
1) a person wearing a black curly wig? The closest any of the guys have had to that was Clarkson about two decades ago…
2) They have never made any secret of the fact that some of the pick up shots are done after the fact… why are you surprised after 14 seasons?
At any given time the show has (I think) at least 3 film crews out and about getting shots for the show
With the races especially they always do one as a ‘real time run’ on board shots and some chase car/crew van shots to get the real outcome, but then they go back and do pick ups to get the more ‘artsy’ shots after the event.
Pick up shots are one of the biggest staples in any non live televisual event… it’s just part of the craft… If second unit needs to be done when the guys are off getting the next round of first unit stuff, then I say good on them!
It doesn’t make our viewing enjoyment any less. The only shots that would be 2nd unit would be the wide shots where it doesn’t matter if you can see the drivers face or not…
Some fresh Top Gear and Rugger all in one weekend! And next weekend again… The missus will not be pleased.
Will this season finally see them on the Panzerringstrasse in Bergen-Hohne? I’m gettting bored with the annual visit to the Nürnburgring and that German bint.
Hear that gents? Panzerringstrasse: Over 40 miles (65 Km) of asphalt and concrete with no roadmarkings, traffic signs, or traffic lights for that matter. Its a wide tanktrack with a sometimes negative cant! You really have to take a look.
Sorry, but the last series was repetitive and boring at times… Maybe time for a rest perhaps?
how couid you stand that ****
that did that sun ofa*****
my dream caris the bmw m6 and the corrvet Zr1
Actualy cant wait for the new series…..
Its almost here Top Gear Fans
TOP GEAR WICKED!!!!
THE STIG IS NOT MICHAEL SCHUMACHER!!!
Can’t wait for my Top Gear fix!
not long to go now…
Go James go!! I can only assume that when his frustration gets high enough, it suppresses his ’slow mode’.. and you get a sort of schizophrenia-like effect..
Oh god, i though that Eric was a new presenter for a minute.. Thank god! Would’ve ruined everything, didn’t realize it was E.Bana.
Anyways, great show.
I have been ill over the past week….
But today I was cheered up with Top Gear magazine, with my free Duel DVD which I watched, and Top Gear TV tonight. But the others in my household would rather watch I’m a celebrity so now I have to wait until wednesday to watch Top Gear!!!
I’m from Bulgaria and I was thinking that Bulgarian roads are the worst in the whole EU, but I was wrong i have never see roads as bad as that in Romania….good job guys!!!! I’m so happy you are back
There was a comment about a Bugatti driven into a swamp somewhere in USA
What will you about this driver? happened a week ago here in Bulgaria. Destroyed the beautifull Ferrari in a tractor
Believe me: in Bulgaria the roads are worst than in Romania my friend!
Please please help, my boyfriend is driving me
mad, he want’s to know where James May gets his floral shirts. Can anybody tell me please.
many many thanks marilyn
im so glad that TOP GEAR is back i think that the bbc should just giv all there funding 2 running this show there’s nothing else on tv that even come’s close so thank’s guy’s 4 another cracking show plz keep them coming i also think that LOTUS are prob the best car producer out their ???????
For anyone that doesn’t know Doppelkupplungsgetriebe means Double-clutch transition.
Having just watched the first two programmes of the new series.Its time these children grew up. Their driving shows no respect for the cars they drive,sets an extremely bad example to young drivers and bears no relationship any more to the cars the average person can afford.
The programme shows three very spoilt presenters wasting licence payers money to satisfy their own egos