Can’t wait until this speical- looks abs amazing!!
happy christmas TG
xxx

Can’t wait.Merry Christmas Top Gear.

You tell em Andy.
Keep up the good work, can’t wait for this one.

Based on your description Mr. Wilman, it looks like we are in for a viewing treat! I look forward to watching the Bolivia special.

Merry Christmas to everyone at TG! You guys are the best.

this special looks really good…really looking forward to it. Happy Christmas to everyone !!

You guys may have redeemed yourselves with this Bolivia special. I look forward to watching it.

yay! Merry Christmas eve-day Top Gear!! & every1!

Yeeees!!! Can’t wait For this Special i hope it will be good as the other special one’s.

…*-*MERRY CHRISTMAS*-*…
…*T.O.P*-*G.E.A.R*…

Reckon that’s 7 million happy viewers then?

I’m more in anticipation for the episode after this special, as then yoo may have had time to consider some of the feedback yoo have been getting on here and change things in the studio and on the track back to how they were a little bit.

The news section will tell all… (:

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas all!

really looking forward to this.

HAPPY XMAS to all at Top Gear.
xxx

TOP GEAR specials are the best cant wait to watch it!

hope the boys don’t oer play there “carton caracters”

merry christmas!

I have been waiting for this special for so long. I think it will be brilliant!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone at TG, can’t wait to see what you come up with in 2010.

Cressy xxx

You forgot to add up the viewers who download the film. I guess there are a BIG whole bunch of them too.

Happy Holiday!

cant WAIT

Sounds like a good one!

Now, about the edit… how exactly do I get myself in there?

Ccant wait for this

Merry Christmas Top Gear family!!!

A good challenge would be the drive from Russia to America via Alaska and Canada.

You should probably just turn off the comment facility on this blog. If the viewing figures haven’t changed, you’re obviously not doing anything wrong with the programme. You might as well save yourself the headache of listening to the people on here, a large percentage of which appear to be idiots.

Merry Christmas Top Gear!!!
I hope this special lives up to expectations…

Can’t wait!

Finally, someone else who just wishes everyone a happy everything, instead of just merry christmas and happy new year! Let me add “Merry Everyday”, why would we only have a merry day on Christmas day? ^_^

And I am looking forward to yet another TG epic!

TG always does superb specials, so whatever the viewing figures on sunday, I, and I speak for all fans here, will enjoy a hugely entertaining 75mins! Keep up the great work and Merry Xmas

I can’t wait until Sunday! And that cute software called “British TV” is working again! YAY!

Happy Holidays!

Congratulations on another fantastic series – can’t wait for what will surely be an exhilarating Bolivia special too. As you say, viewing figures don’t lie – Top Gear is still the show for everyone to watch on a Sunday night – and fans of a particular breed of TG can sometimes be too blind to see this.

Now, Andy, get some deserved rest over Christmas! Happy holidays to the whole team.

Yay! Can’t wait to see this, i saw the ad and it looks fantastic. Does anyone actually take the Daily Mail seriously anymore? I find them quite hilarious. Especially when they get their sources from ‘a pal’ whoever Pal is, he needs his mouth cleaned out cos it stinks of bull.

I wish you, the presenters, the stig and everyone in the Top Gear office and research department a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

May you all have a safe and happy holidays.

I have no idea whether the rumours of Top Gear winding up are true. I, for one, certainly hope not. If any of you Brits have enjoyed the dismal aspects of Canadian television you would quickly come to appreciate the finer points of this great show and quit whining about ratings.

We LOVE Top Gear over here so PLEASE, PLEASE don’t cancel the show!

Well, I’m past the point of apathy now, I think. If I’m honest. With this Bolivia film I think it’s just a case of same ol’, same ol’ – cars we’ll never drive in a place most of will never step foot, seeing things most of us will never open our eyes to, like the African film or the Vietnam film, and espcially the Artic film. The very definition of relevance.

Anything to pad out a few DVD’s, eh?

Still, at least the presenters and crew had a good holiday. My powers of clairvoyance aren’t exactly top notch so I won’t make any judgements. One merely waits with baited breath in hopes that the episode will say something interesting that we can learn something from, and still be entertaining.

Merry Christmas

Andy, I love you. That aside, thanks for another fantastic blog – answering the critics and getting us all excited for this special, which looks like it will be just that.

Happy Christmas to you all!

Oh, and in response to this bit – the shots of them getting up in the morning after four days of jungle life would make a great “Top Gear – the Shit Pinups Calendar” – get it published. I’d buy it

TG specials never fail to disappoint, Andy, so I’m sure we’re all in for a treat!

Merry Christmas to you and all the folks at Top Gear!

Should be a Brilliant Episode

Cannot wait any longer for this episode, sure to be another classic episode which i shall definately buy when released on a DVD special, just to spite ‘The_minister’ or whatever he/she calls him/herself.

Have a Merry Christmas our beloved Top Gear team!

I´m really looking forward for this one, I just hope it is as good as the american trip or the one across Botswana.
Happy Christmas to everyone!!

This special sounds great – and if the cars really are the stars it’ll be a refreshing change from the current form, where the cars are just props. Looking forward to it more than any show in a long time!

This is likley to be the best special yet. Can’t wait.

Merry and Happy Everything, especially Top Gear.

Monk, you have opened my eyes. I will never ever watch another programme about tigers or Spitfires or volcanoes, since they have no direct relevance to my everyday life and I’m never likely to fly/jump into/be eaten by one.

Seriously, bring on the day when every episode of Top Gear features my car being driven from my house to my place of work, occasionally via my local Tescos. Telly just doesn’t get any better than that, surely?

Can’t wait for this but can wait till top gear ends… Bye – For Now!

andy, youre simply the best. merry xmas to all the tg crew!

Cant wait till this weeks episode. It looks and sounds sweet.

Simple ways to judge if this is any good or not.
1. No deliberate bumping of James’ car.
2. Unexpected reactions rather than scripted moments.
3. A minimum of penis jokes and predictable adolescent humour.
End result – good family entertainment like the Botswana special where Jeremy and James don’t destroy Oliver because Richard loves him which shows that the programme has heart.

hats of to andy wilman with utter respect and deep love to everybody who have made tg possible till date plz guys be there for ever……..tg is so special to me as many a times i get depressed with my tad f#@king life. watching tg makes everything go away and you feel and understand the love and the memories you cherish forever for our deep love of cars that all of us no matter what, no matter who, no matter where we all are, we all people love tg so much thats a great passion we all share together irrespective of all things and differences we have all around the world. TOPGEAR- WILL LIVE FOREVER-DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER…………..TEJAS SHELAR FROM INDIA I SORT OUT MY BITS OF TORRENT WITH ABSOLUTE LOVE.

Merry Christmas to everyone in the Top Gear family from one of the (approximated) 343,000,000 other viewers who have to be sneaky about their fix!

I am looking forward to the Bolivia Special on sunday and I would like to wish everyone at Top Gear and all their viewers a very merry christmas and a fabulous new year ….

i look forward to th new year and wht is to come!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TOPGEAR AND I WISH U A HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

I CANT WAIT FOR THIS SUNDAYS TOPGEAR ON BBC TWO AND I THINK ITS GOING TO SHOW AT 7.45PM, CANT WAIT,IM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED YEAH.

AND EVEN FOR NEXT SUNDAY AS WELL.

GOOD LUCK TOPGEAR.

I AM A HUGE FAN OF TOPGEAR COS ITS MY FAVOURITE PROGARMME YEAH.

Topgear on sunday going to be a good one and i can’t say thi with any bigger praise but TopGear Team you have done excellent and have bought a smile to my face every sunday THANK YOU and Merry Christmas to everyone on here and to everyone at Topgear HQ

Mainstreamfamily:

You have it right. And it’s not really asking that much is it?

I’m hopeful.

I’ve been avoiding commenting on anything The_Monk has to say, but I can’t avoid it any longer.

Since the inception of new Top Gear, it has not been a drab show reviewing only the crap econo-boxes in which you will “step foot”. That would make for a very uninteresting show, apparently tailored specifically to you.

Perhaps you should contact the people behind MotorWeek here in the States, and tell them that you strongly desire their types of reviews. Make sure to mention that you’d like to see them drop any sports or super car reviews, and only review econo-boxes, preferably diesel econo-boxes, in which one day you may have a chance to “step foot”.

I must make the statement that I do enjoy MotorWeek, even if it is a bit drab. That said, it IS NOT a show for the masses, mostly only attracting car nerds and people doing research for a possible vehicle purchase.

The African film, the Vietnam film, and the “Artic film” (Arctic has a C), were all epic journeys, which allowed the viewer to indulge in some excellent escapism. The very point of videos like that are the fact that the viewer may never get a chance to do those things themselves, and to provide an escape from their mundane repetitive reality.

Thought I’d also add, if you want to ride any of the motorbikes that you saw them on in Vietnam, I’m certain that you could find a way to experience at least the Honda and the Vespa without incurring a large expense.

Merry Christmas Andy and the TG Team.

TG is always the hightlight of my week and I am really excited about the Bolivia Special.

Keep up the good work lads and I look forward to seeing more great TG episodes in 2010!

Even with a few setbacks in the 14th season, Top Gear is still my favourite show. hats off to the camera crew and the editing team.

Merry Christmas everybody

I am a total TG tool.

and this one time, at band camp…

Just got subscription for xmas, best pressie ever! ♥

TopGear thee best! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� ��♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� �♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� ��♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� �♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� ��♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� �♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� ��♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� �♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� ��♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� �♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� ��♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� �♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� ��♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� �♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� ��♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� �♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� ��♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� �♥

This Special should be somthing special!
Merry Christmas

Can’t wait for this one.

Merry christmas everyone at Top Gear.

looks good, but i dont want to wait 3 more days…well anyways merry christmas TG, if you’re into that stuff

Sorry Monk – usually I agree with you (TG’s going downhill, too much staged crap, ‘comedy’ that isn’t funny and supercar after supercar going round in circles)…

BUT

I love the specials – and provided this one doesn’t turn into another forced slapstick episode (and so far all the specials have been great in my opinion) then I think this will be wonderful TV.

Even better for the fact that Andy has said the cars are what this is about and the Mole said we’ll remember why we fell in love with TG in the first place.

TG – The specials are fantastic – I just wish the regular shows in the studio were what they used to be.

Very much looking forward to Bolivia, I hope it reminds us critics (and you TG staff) just how brilliant TG can be when it’s not being just another reality/comedy/candid camera programme.

Merry Christams to all of TG : )

P.S Monk: Give it a chance… it’s Christmas!

I can’t wait for it, I’m sure it’s going to be super cool!
Merry Christmas to the whole TG-team!!

P.S.S

The comment further up about ‘How to tell if it’s good’ (no.42)

Absolutely spot-on!

Firstly, The_Monk, I don’t appreciate you using my username. Secondly, I don’t know if you’ve ever heard the story of Brer Rabbit, but you are the Tarbaby.

Working up tp two days before TX and on Crimble Eve?

Respect to the Top Gear crew!

Just in case that analogy isn’t understood, here’s another: I kicked the skunk.

i cannot wait this show iss beyond brilliant and i hope itt will last 4ever i love u top gear

xxx

Merry Christmas to everyone on the TG website, and in the TG studio , can’t wait for this special!

you could do a whole show on those three idiots getting a car off a boat!!! i bet that wasn’t scripted. but why is it in the show? to show the presenter’s idiocy, right?

the people who don’t have any problems with your show are idiots too. After all, they have something in common with the presenters.

that sir, is why your show sucks.

Dear Mr. Wilman,

Christmas has been cancelled. Santa was watching your show and has become violently ill. Santa is vomitting uncontrollably.

You are on Santa’s permanent bad boy list.

Sincerely,

Santa’s Head Elf.

Can’t wait for Sunday. TG’s specials are always excellent and this Bolivia one sounds like it’s going to be one of the best.

I’d like to wish all at TG a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year xx

Well, commenter #69 is a right grinch, isn’t he?

But enough of that. I await this special with torrents at the ready (hee!). In the meantime, Happiness and Merriment to you and the rest of the TG team.

Brilliant, brilliant show! I hope that this one will be again more “unscripted” and spontaneous! pray for that…

Merry Xmas to you too, Mr Wilman, and to all the crew and staff at TG.

Can’t wait for the Bolivia special, it looks like it’s going to be a great one!

Hmmm, looks like some naughty people have been nicking other people’s usernames. Not very (mr)nice at Crimbo!
Anyway, very much looking forward to Sunday night. I prefer “TG – The Shit Pinups” to any other calendar available. With the possible exception of the RSPB’s
A safe and happy holiday season to all the TG mob, the other Final Gear tits and most of the TG blog commenters

This is certainly going to be epic.

Wish everyone including topgear a merry Christmas.

Sorry to be misunderstood…I wasn’t laughing with you I was laughing AT you.

Well said, Mr Wilman. I have loved this series, personally, and I am looking forward to this episode as much as I looked forward to all the others. Keep up the good work guys and hope you all have a happy holiday. XX

Evan (Mr. Nice):

i LOVE Brer Rabbit!. Do you like Harry Potter too? I do. I bet we can be best of friend cause your so smart and stuff and you know all those things you do. Can we be friends? Please!

Nice one Andy this looks a cracker of an episode!
Merry Christmas all,Andy,Jezza,Richard,Ja mes and everyone involved with the brilliance that is Top Gear (oh and everyone on here!) xxx

Evan (Mr Nice):

I don’t know if you’ve ever heard the opera Tosca, but you are Tosca and I am Scarpia (before act III).

Just in case that analogy isn’t understood, here’s another: You’re a tool.

In 1914 on Christmas eve in the region of Ypres Belgium, the voices of German Troops were heard over the sodden trenches of the Allied troops. “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night) was the start of one of the most famous unofficial truces in human history.

From somewhere a football was produced and a giant 50 a side game of kick-around was played, the dead were buried – and enemies for a short period of time were friends… all in the spirit of Christmas.

So… if men at war some 95 years ago can harness that spirit – why can’t we?

Who joins me in asking those usually headbutting and posturing on these boards to take a step back for 24 or 48 hours and allow us to have a merry couple of days?

Andy,

I love the whole Top Gear crew from the highest to the lowliest member, but you are my hero. I have been dreaming of this next special ever since I read about it in Oct. I bought a box of tissues today just for the occasion because the specials always brings a tear to my eye. And I will surely need then after the show for the feelings of sadness that I always have that it will be many months before Top Gear is back.

So I wait for the newest offering and am already anticipating the next season. BRING IT ON.

I honestly love you guys.

Oh and about the viewing figures, I am not surprised they still remain high. There are a lot of people that just enjoy the show for what it is and do not go about pissing and moaning over every stupid little thing. I think you are worrying too much about the vocally stupid. You guys have a fantastic show. And there is nothing else that needs to be said.

I have a quarm about your viewing figures, they are much bigger than that.
Im shure you have seen the seed/leech pool of the internet downloads.
There has got to be another many million there!
(yes i do download it but because im not in the uk =[ and itl take 6 months to get here….)
Cant wait for the new eppisode!

Dont change… fith gear reviewed little rice boxes and look where that poo show ended up! (it got canceled!)

Thanks andy and the rest of the guys!

Merry Everything!

….ah, don’t mind them! They love to bicker on these blogs which I find rather hilarious!

…that was directed at #82..

Merry Christmas from Texas!

Mr Wilman,

I died for you so that you may go on living and make crappy tv.

You’re weolcome,

Jesus.

…ready to sing a Christmas song?….”Oh the weather outside is frightful”…
“And Top Gear is so delightful”…
“Since we’ve no place to go…(except work)”…
“Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!”

Merry Christmas Top Gear and everyone!

How many viewers do you get from iTunes? Not that this season is there yet, but how many? Oh, and besides: Why isn’t this season there yet? Because I would absolutely pay to see it.

Can’t wait!! Sunday come now!
Sounds like another historic Top Gear film is about to hit the screens..

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all at TG
Thanks for a great year of telly
looking forward to next year

Really looking forward to this Bolivia special! Merry Christmas people!

although crude, #69 is spot on.

You can add to those figures above people like me in Australia who download the show from…somewhere, and watch it a day or two after it’s aired in the UK. Looking forward to South America!!

Occasionally I saw the TG video on internet, I am so attracted to TG’s brilliant work.

Merry Christmas from China TG fans. I am not sure if my english is a little strange to you UK guys, anyway, I would like to say ,thank you Jeremy, thank you Richard, thank you captain slow, thanks TG team.

Is it sad that this is what I’m looking forward to the most this weekend? actually, don’t answer…I don’t care. Hurry up SUNDAY! Happy Holidays From North Carolina!

By the way, when will TG team produce a China special ???

Show a old, big , mysterious oriental country to the viewers.

After the Vietnam special, you should make a China special.

Come on ~

And you forgot to add all the viewers on different internet sites. Might as well be 100 million. And you’re not really on in the US. Keep up the great work!

Horf… they estimate that the global viewing numbers for TG each week is up around 350 million world wide including torrent downloads.

that ought to be good. happy christmas tg

Comment 77 is not me, evidently someone thinks it’s funny to use other people’s identities on this site. Just made one letter a capital – your not fooling anyone, asshole. Whomever you are; you are the bit of cruddy jam between the toes of the lice on the ass of the blood sucking parasite that sucks the life out of the bacteria that feeds on greasy pond scum. Your life is complete worthless. You are a thief and a liar. You take up space. Go away.

Hello Andy, merry Christmas! Best wishes from Poland, a land full of TG fans. As a photographer and a starting videographer, i’m amazed at the cinematography and editing in TG. I watch some episodes over and over again to guess how certains shots were done.

And the selection of music is also mindblowing. I tried to track down who’s responsible for the choice of music for TG and a David Pollock came up. Is that the same guy who writes record reviews for the Independent? Anyway please send him my best regards.

And as far as viewing figures are concerned – always add the millions of viewers around the world who, although devoid of any chance to watch BBC live, download the fresh episode within minutes from torrent sites and are delighted.

can’t wait! Merry christmas to you all!

Happy Christmas to all, even the whining sad twits who think they know f-kall about TV.

Looks great, but one thing. What happened to the cool wall? And the Top Gear Awards?

When you are talking about figures you are also forgetting the torrent people. A lot of people also download the episodes through torrent. But can’t really keep track of that number.

Dear Andy,Jezza,Hamster and May Just a quick thank you for being the only consistantly entertaining show on tv. If only everything could be as good as Top Gear. I personally count the days until I get my fix of new TG. Keep up the good work, ignore all the negative comments and finally, Happy Christmas to all of you.

MMMMMM!

thnks for another good season of top gear. i live in adam and am very glad i can finally see the live show. hope the bbc can show you some respect for the numbers you pull in by having you on at a steady time. i have one problem with the new series is that some bits eg the art show from last week jokes and arguments and the jeremy chrashing into the canal seemed too set up,thus not as funny. keep that in mind next season.. luv u all

Read the blog and read the comment Mr W referred to by love2goC…

So just wanted to wish love2goC a very Merry Christmas and hope she has a happy 2010.

You do raise my expectations now, Mr Wilman. But even if it’s half as good as you promise, I’m sure I will love it.

As for viewing figures, don’t forget to claim the thousands of viewers abroad. In my case, I watch the new series on the BBC on sunday and on monday I watch the last series on Belgian television, as it’s in HD.

280.000 viewers last monday, btw, in Belgium to add to your list.

It seems The_Monk is easily pleased afterall. But why does he want to “learn something” from a show about cars? He’s a car nut – what could he possibly learn from 3 TV presenters about cars that he doesn’t already know?

It seems no matter what’s in the show – even if it’s a great special and he likes it and thinks it’s the saving grace of the series – he’ll find something that wasn’t in it to complain about – and now it’s “education”. Good grief.

And yes – none of us buy crap cars and race round the world or goto far fetched places to break them. But that’s entertainment. Education? That’s learning which supercar you’ll never even sit in goes fastest round a track you’ll never drive on. There’s your education Monk >_> “Hey sister, the Discovery Channel’s down the block – we just want to blow stuff up and sell some phones”

This has probably been said before, for which I apologise, but 1000 comments since the last blog entry were a bit too much to wade through.

I’m as big a fan of the show as anyone, but my major problem with it at the moment was summed up by another poster on another forum, as follows:

“There’s two different types of the ‘ambitious but crap’ aspect which makes up a great deal of the show. The first is where they really try at something difficult but still come up short, like the one where they did the endurance race at Silverstone, and then there’s the ‘forced crapness’ as seen in the last episode where the painting falls in the water, the sculpture falls over etc. The latter type holds no appeal for me. ”

That’s it, in a nutshell.

I can’t wait to see this on Sunday. If it’s on at least a par with Vietnam then it will be spectacular. I thought Vietnam could never be bettered but I have a feeling Bolivia could be the greatest episode ever!

can´t wait

The one really annoying thing about TG is the ‘Star in a reasonably priced car’ It is getting far too long and just spoils the otherwise brilliant show. I for one want to see the lap and max 5 minutes of talking, not the 10 – 20 currently being done.

P.S Merry Christmas, I am very exited at the prospect of the latest special

The BBC are being awfuly confusing with their schedule today!
If it’s on at 7.45, it’s a shame you’ve been put up against Eastenders. And James May’s final episode of Toy Stories is being put up against Corination Street.
Ill have to watch the soaps because of the rest of the family, but Im going to be recording TG and James May (despite the fact I have the dvd already!)

This should be great, it looks very promising from the trailer

x

This should be amazing!!
Especially as it lately ties in with my recent love of South America.

And should also be a great started for the upcoming Dakar rally starting next week!!!

Can’t wait!!!! :D

That should be quite something and as i hope very funny like always. Merry xmas to everyone and a happy new year folks

Add me up to your tally, Mr. Wilman. I live where, sadly, TG is not shown on the telly. It’s a shame I have to break a few rules just to enjoy my weekly dose of Top Gear.

Have always enjoyed TG and have seen every episode since Season One (with the fat guy instead of May). Got to admit though, I do find the earlier episodes lot more entertaining. Still, I look forward to enjoying the coming show.

This Bolivia special sounds like a fun “Welcome To The Jungle” 4 x 4 escapade! Lol! By tommorrow, I will wish I was in Bolivia with all the frozen ice we will presumably have! Funny thing about 4 x 4’s though, they don’t do well in ice…lolol! Our town vehicle, a Chevy Tahoe, is already “down for the count” since it’s 4 wheel drive is now shot from last week. I’m making a sign to put on the driver’s seat…”Do not drive this vehicle to the raw water pump station or you Will Get Stuck!” Lol! I almost got stuck yesterday driving our F150 Ford truck as well…lolol! It will seem like this tommorrow,…..score: White witch of Narnia 1……4 x 4’s = 0 (zero!)……

Hi Top Gear family!!! I’m very exited for this Top Gear special. I always wanted them to go to my country. We have great fan roads there, just driving from departament to departament is a challenge. Keep it up Top Gear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks TG! The new special will rock!

…just went on “The Daily Mail” from TheDrudgeReport….

Nah…..don’t worry about the “Daily Mail’s” out there or viewing figures….what do they really know?! Answer: Nothing!

I read where you guys are also having a White Christmas as well….COOL! Lol! Are we ready for spring yet?….lolol!

…I am! I am! I can’t even get my ‘Yota out of my driveway….lolololol!!!!!

After reading this and your blog from last week I went through and watched the new episodes again.

What you have is more than a TV show; it is Fine Art. Cars and television are just the medium of presentation.

Take the very first episode of the series. Sure, you might have planned to get lost and drive the GT cars through a rural village, but you could NEVER plan the reactions of the villagers, or the children writing in the dust on the cars. You perfectly closed the gap between two extremes of humanity.

Or the bit when the semi truck backed into the Sandero. It had to have been at least partly planned, the timing was too perfect, but James’ sadness afterwards was palpable. The emotion was clearly real. Yes, it wasn’t as nice as the GT cars, but in destroying it, you gave it value. Even a Sandero is better than no car at all.

I really must add at this point that the camerawork, editing, and sound are all improved quite a bit in this season. Top Gear has always looked good, but from a technical standpoint this series is the best yet. Genuine congrats to the entire crew.

You already know how to keep Top Gear fresh, because you are already doing it. You plan for the unexpected, and when the unexpected happens, you take it and run with it. That is talent. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

Please ignore all the anoraks with no life – top gear is one of the few don’t miss programs on TV. Please keep up the fun, cocking about and occasional car related piece. Every show makes me at least smile, and many make me laugh out loud.

Excuses,Excuses,Excuses! The show is not what it was and rather than make it better you call to your figures? If you dont make the show better they’l drop. The problem is i watched Top Gear for years since when it was a car show. Since the caravan ep you gained a new viewer that found the show entertaining and rather than make the show for the loyal viewer you’ve said f##k off to them and are making the stupidest thing on the telly. Why do I want to see car journalists do an art exhibition where Hammond so conveniently knocks his easel in the river or the electric car where they happen to leave the car on a hill and it crashes. If next year ye don’t make a decent show you wont get my rating on a sunday night.

You keep saying regularly on the show “makes you feel ten years old”.
Well my son is ten years old and would love to be in the audience next year. Is it possible.

Happy Christmas to you all! Hope you’re enjoying the day.

Can’t wait to see this.

I absolutely cannot wait and am hoping that this special doesn’t make me blub girlishly like the Vietnam one did, although I *am* a girl so hopefully that can be taken into consideration.

Merry Christmas Andy and I hope you and the family are having a suitably epic time xxx

I can’t wait for the bolivian special, it looks fantastic. I think some of the negative comments are unfair as the guys work so hard. Its not going to be brilliant all the time. Keep up the good work guys you are the best. I would like to wish all at T G a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2010.

That looks really cool and i am rally looking foward to it Merry Christmas TOP GEAR.

love top gear ~~!!!

the shots of them getting up in the morning after four days of jungle life would make a great “Top Gear – the Shit Pinups Calendar”.

Oh please Andy… that would be an awesome calander! I’d take those three on their worst days over a bunch of firemen and their posing pouches!

@130 – PistolPete.

I’m pretty sure I’m correct on this, but can someone please say otherwise if I’m wrong, but I think you have to be 18 to be in the audience.

I have heard tell from people who have been lucky enough to go that it can sometimes get… um… a little “fruity” in the language and innuendo department and has been deemed unsuitable for innocent young ears

Maybe sometime you can come to peru and race CAMINOS DEL INCA, its a peruavian rally race, the race is more or less half the country long.

To All My Democrat Friends At Top Gear:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010 but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

To My Republican Friends at Top Gear:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Happy Christmas to Top Gear & their whole team for bringing those amazing shows from some amazing places on the planet.

Special Merry Christmas to Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May & The Stig.

P.S what present did The Stig get for his Christmas?

@ Lit-Bit
I hear ya sister! There are still some ladies out there who prefer a bit of unshaven, dishevelled ‘rough’ rather than waxed, pruned, polished boys we are told we’re supposed to like. Eugh! I loved the polar special for that ‘rough factor’ and can’t wait for this one for the same reason…..oh and erm the cars…ahem. Please can we have the Shit Pin-ups. Bring back the cavemen.

I can’t wait.

I ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥� ��♥ TOp Gear! cant wait for bolivia special

Congrats on being the show of the Decade BTW

Congratulations to all the TG team for being voted the TV programme of the decade!

Top Gear team, Ive watched the show since series 1 when you had JC, hamster and that fat bloke as presenters and it has always been fantatsic. Please ignore any stupid people who say that Top Gear is sometimes boring just because you dont do big challenges all the time. Back in the days of series 1-4 ish, there would be one challenge a series and the rest would be a good honest very entertaining car programme!

Please ignore people who say you should stop and please dont let 5th Gear be the only car programme!!!

Sadly I live in Portugal and won’t be able to see this for years due to copywrite and sales imperatives
As to the Road of Death in Bolivia, doing it in a car is easy but dangerous for the rest of us….. those who did it by bike and have to face oncoming and down-going traffic!!! I suspect I remain unique in having done it in a kilt- a true Scot of course!!! Thought I’d use the kilt as a parachute if I fell off the cliff
How I wish I could see the show!!!

Well done Top Gear you won best show of the decade.

@141: Vicky, surely Hammond is a fine example of the ‘waxed, pruned and polished’ man who Essex ladies love? I too watched a repeat of their Polar special recently and I was nearly blinded…not by the snow but Hammond’s whitened teeth! He’s a right little poser with his high-lighted bouffant – the sort of guy who shaves his legs regularly, using the excuse that it makes him ‘more aero-dynamic’ when he’s cycling in his lycra shorts!! lol JC and JM though, you have a point – rough as!!

@ Em
“nearly blinded by..Hammond’s whitened teeth” Ha ha.
Very good point made and I have to admit it wasn’t Hammond I was thinking of…..

Looking forward to this. I enjoyed the Botswana and Vietnam specials, mainly because you didn’t know what was coming next, and, as a photographer, I always love the stunning scenery and epic camerawork. And then there’s one more episode after this I think? Anyway, looking forward to it. Happy Christmas for yesterday and have a great new year TG team and fellow TG fans.

I just wanted to add my congratulations to the whole team at Top Gear for being voted best show of the decade. (I bet Channel 4 are a bit miffed that their countdown programme has basically been ruined by The Sun etc. revealing the results!)

It is thoroughly deserved and a testament to all your dedication, hard work and enthusiasm. Here’s to another ten years of fantastic episodes – please?

omg i cant wait i am counting down the days and hours i love top gear it is the best show in the world my mum says what you watching it again for because i love it she finks jc is childish but i love the show i would watch it all day if i could long live top gear so i was happy when it was a extra longshow 15mins more of top gear i cant think of anything better. also i am glad that top gear won best of the decade they desevre it sooooo much i love top gear 4 eva long live top gear
this is going off the subject of top gear but did any1 see james mays toy storys it was amazing i want to see them again and again.
back to top gear i love them all.
I CAN’T BELEVIE THAT TOP GEAR IS GOING TO STOP OMG NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO IT CANT
IGNORE THEM IF TOP WAS NOT ON OUR TVS WOT WOULD WE DO HAVE TO WATCH FIFTH GEAR DONT GET ME WRONG ITS OK BUT LIVE WIV OUT TOP GEAR AND RICHARD NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOO TOP IS THE ONLY GOOD CAR PROGAMME TOP GEAR TOP GEAR ALL THE WAY :):):):) ITS 17HRS And 15mins omg lol very happy now

|ƒ±sÔƒ±­_¶§÷¸+� �Iþx\¦WÌ!!Mc¤ƒ?

I have finally had enough of the negative commentary for some members of the fan base. I understand that we are all fans and that you wish for top gear to return to the format you prefer, but it has not and will not. It is made and created by people that are not you or me, they do what they think is right for the show and the whole audience, including the ones they wish to bring to the show.

There are things I don’t like and things I love, but that is life. Monk et al you can say what you want like me, but in the end it has nothing to do with you alone, for a show to grow and continue it has to change, history show any programme that does not withers and dies off, so allow the change, protest by not watching, be constructive (and not constructive and then destructive in the same sentence)

So sorry to rant on my first ever flirt with blogging, but I got sick of the attitude and relentless whining

Please carry on Andy, Jeremy and the team, you guys are a beacon on an otherwise dreary television horizon.

P.S. Any chance you can do a slot on rep cars, there are a lot of us and we have to live with the car for 3 years at a time

this looks AWSOME!!!! MERRY CHISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL AT TOP GEAR!!! LOL

lol lolololololol

i love richard hammond he is fit xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx

very excited and can’t wait probably the only American who watches Top Gear

can’t wait probably the only American who watches Top Gar

woooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooop

some say he has 3 arses and others say he has 19…all we know is that he is called the stig

looks amazin cant w8 2 woch it !! :D:D

I really look forward to see this episode. It must be very funny, as Top Gear always is! Keep up the good work!! Merry christmas and a happy new year to all of you!

@Monk: If I want to watch serious car reviews, I’ll watch Fifth Gear. Ok… if it really returns for another season. But I watch Top Gear for the guys, for the humour. Though admittedly the early car reviews were fun, but were they useful? Anyway, I agree that TG was better, but it’s still great.

All I can see on local TV is serious car shows. They are drop dead boring, even when they are well shot. And I love cars!

@Andy: I think your 7 million are quite conservative, there are many, uh, outside of the UK, who uh, like to watch too.

top gear will always be good its just that the newspapers put anything good down

i agree totally not mant bbc shows have there on world tour and have top gear Australia and america

i want to see 50cent in T….G….

No Joke! Of course there are other Americans that watch and love Top Gear….here’s one right now, typing on this blog. What Niall said above!….TG is like a halogen floodlight in the mediocrity of what TV has become today! Too many boring, “dumb-downed”, non-reality reality shows….and they follow the law of physics…”garbage in, garbage out”!

…and now for something completely not serious

…lolol….sorry Simon C…….

….Top Gear owns the telly…..Top Gear owns
the BBC……..
Top Gear owns Britain……..
Top Gear owns Gordon Brown…….lololololol!

….I could type what I’m thinking but I better not……..lololol!

_______ ___
! ! !
! ! !
! ! ! !
!   ______! ! !
! ! ! !
! _!____ ____! !
! !____ ____! ! WELL HELLO LADIES..
! !(0) ) !( (0)!   ! PLEASE FORM AN ORDERLY
! !~~~~ ! ~~~~! ! QUEUE…
/ / ! \ \
////! _ _! ! \\\\
! !\_____/! !
\   !_!_!_!_! /
\ \!_!_!/ /
  \_________/
!!
/!!\
!!
 /\ (Actual size)

Can’t wait to watch, will be opening a nice bottle of red and watching vietnam before hand as thats my favourite special so far then roll on the xmas special.

Why’s the time posting out by an hour??

Well according to the posting time from my perspective it says it’s around 12.30am … when reality… it’s 10.35 am where I am

Love you jezza !!x

Hello Cabrones at TOP GEAR TEAM.

Add me to the list of the viewers of TOP GEAR. I watch the show every Sunday night from Monterrey Mexico which I download from a torrent site.

I just have to say that there are much more people who love TG TEAM’s work than you can imagine.

Top Gear is the greater tv show of any kind in the whole universe and there is no human or alien show that can beat it now or in a million years.

Thank you Top Gear for being the MOST CHINGON SHOW EVER.

Merry Christmas and it’s great news to hear that there will be Top Gear next year.

Lucky UK viewers , we in Australia are still waiting for the current series & have to suffer ad breaks with 10 minutes cut out of each show !!We get a mini Top Gear , please get us the full show !.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! I cant wait for it. Looks just awesome and your whole rant on viewing figures was pretty impressive. I hate to complain but you folks a BBC HQ need to write to BBC America HQ and tell them to air more new top gear episodes. Were only starting Season 13 this January and ive been watching most of the shows on youtube so please I beg of you to get them on the same schedule as you. As for that, otherwise, GREAT JOB

Can’t wait.

As reading further blogs, i am informed to read that you have won show of the decade, congrats. However, i keep reading blogs about topgear stopping and i need a deffinitive answer of yes or no cause stopping topgear (the only good car show) would be turning of a light in my heart that would never be able to be switched on again. please stay on. this speaks for all of us.

Everyone that agrees with me on saying that topgear should stay on say “I”. “I”

And dont forget millions in the world, who watches TopGear as soon as it hits torrent networks.

from Italy, countdown to THE SHOW! will be the last episode of this series?

cant wait for the south america show it will be amazing. awwww poor hammond scared of creepy crawlys (i am not a big fan of them either but i don’t go to these countarys that are full of them)

i cant wait for the south america show.it will be funny as top gear always is. i love top gear thinks that hammond does right to be scared of creepy crawlys. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww poor u hammond i love top gear long live top gear !!!!

“I”

i love tg spelt contarys wrong it is spelt country or conuties if it is pural !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!

bored cos top is not on

bored cos top gear is not on

this should be well good u know becasue all the other adventres tht they have done are sick

i beat my meat with custard on it

Just read the release for episode 7

Vauxhall Insignia VXR, Lexus LFA and BMW X6…

REAL CARS!! 3 in one show!

The Special and Ep 7 could be a great end to a poor series.

I’ve always said you didn’t loose any viewers and with this special, I’m sure, you will take your revenge.

I’m so tire to read only polemics and I really hope this new car challenge will change the kind of posts in this website.

I wish you a glorious come back Top Gear.

thank you soo much for giving the world a good fun program. Just like to say merry christmas to the Top Gear office and thank you once again

Thanks for the update. Only one remark to everyone who (perhaps) values viewing figures too high. It’s often the case that the best shows aren’t at the top op the list. Viewing figures aren’t a barometer for the quality of the product (or show).

i love top gear abd i have no idea why the viewings are down

Good Luck TG on your new adventures..and season greetings!! I am from the Caribbean and one of TG’s biggest fans !!! keep up the great work..

From the images i’ve seen it certaily looks like the best ‘big one’ yet!!

Brillant, I didn’t realise Rambo was part of the Top Gear Trio in Boliva! James May, sheer class!

4 and a half hours to go . . .

Cannot wait!

How long will it be?
Hour or hour fifteen?

can not wait for it

HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT CHRISTMAS!

This looks fab a real treat to end my christmas

cannot wait 4 this episode, shud be funny as it always is, i luv the big top gear films and hopefully this will be the best yet

its gonna be shite

Cant wait for the show tonite, should be a good’n and if the mole comments bad then damn him. Like any show, eg, F1 if you like it then you watch it no matter what because its what you love even if the track is a bad one its still racing, so if one tg show is not as good as the last who cares because its tg!!!!

Richard is so funny hahaha but he is so cool and jeremmmmmeeeeyyyer can’t stop him in any way.

I HOPE THIS IS A COOL ONE GUYS (IT LOOKS GREAT)

Hi guys and thank you for a great program to watch and enjoy. This is the best program ever. I started driving cars since I was 6 and I love them!!!!!

@Evan and The Monk

We’ve been here for more than a year now, and I think we all enjoy TG on telly and online (and now that Copenhagen is over hopefully we’ll get Foreman back) even if we have different ways of appreciating it. Monk you get special mention from The Producer , I’ve had a plug-in hybrid car with a design (not at all, really) based on a shark; Evan what have you been up to? :-p

Happy New Year everyone!

Cant wait for the special 2nite, hope it exceeds my expectations

As was mentioned earlier
Simple ways to judge if this is any good or not.
1. No deliberate bumping of James’ car.
2. Unexpected reactions rather than scripted moments.
3. A minimum of penis jokes and predictable adolescent humour.

Please remember that many of us on the other side of the pond love TG too. And while I’ll gleefully watch it on BBC America, I much prefer to view it the same day it’s transmitted via the intarwebs. So don’t forget about the silent viewers – those of us who download it.

As YankViewer said – don’t forget about all of us across the Atlantic (us Canadians, as well) who download it as soon as its available!

Just want to say a huge thank you for all these notes. It means a *lot* that you tackle viewers concern head on (even the not so tactful ones). It’s difficult to keep a great show, great and it’s near impossible to keep all the fans happy. But you guys are doing a fantastic job of striving for the best. And it shows. Which is really all us fans can ask for!

Can’t wait to see the Bolivia Special!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, TG!

it looks brilliant cant wait to see it

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOO IM LOVING IT SO FAR YEEEEAAAAHHHHH

brillllllllllllllllllllll llllllliant the best ever!!! at least jezza can do manual labour

i just thought jeremy will fall!!!!!!!!!!!!1 thank God is not!!

it was amazing. the best yet!!!!

Congrats TG on your BEST film yet. It had me on the edge of my seat all the way through and i really felt sorry for them. BRING ON THE DIRECTORS CUT DVD!!!!….soon please?! :/
Thank you for 45 mins of totally fab entertainment. BEST EVER!!!!!

Well done Top Gear – back to your best.

Any official episode 6 blog yet?

**Monk REVIEW**

This show was brilliant, pure genius! I don’t know what I was on about regarding previous episodes, must of been that funny stuff
I started smoking recently which is supposed to help with my moody-ness.
Anyway, im going off the point. I think tonights topgear was brilliant and I retract all previous negative points, its great entertainment
and I think I was being a bit sentimental to change.
I’ve decided to finally GET A LIFE, which means i’ll hopefully stop being a total jeb and give Andy Wilman a break, at last.

Oh and Final Gear is for geeks who like to moan.

At that gentlemen is how you do it…top draw.
I can see a spin off coming the adventures of Clarkson Hammond and May….
If not the best then certainly on a par with the Vietnam trip.

^^^ As above an excellent Top Gear.. one of the best that I’ve ever seen. I don’t think that the fright on Jeremy’s face was staged either on Death Road!!
Held my breath there for him.
Well done Top Gear, you’re back:-)
(no matter what Mr boring The_Monk says!!)

Except the part when the Land Cruiser, it must be said, rather unconvincingly accidentally plummeted down that massive dune, that episode was fantastic. By far the best in the series, and a great return of that brilliant TG magic that i felt was being lost in recent episodes. Very very well done.

That was brilliant. Easily the most challenging event that the three have ever done. Could you make a Google Earth route we could download so we could see the route they went on? Thanks.

The Bolivia Special (in my opinion) was the best TG film to date. I was literally on the edge of the sofa, it was that good. Well done Andy & co and of course Jeremy, Richard and James
Have a prosperous 2010!!

petrolheads porn

that was an amazing adventure. i was grittin my nails as clarkson was runnin sooo near the edge of the cliff drop. gr8 work guys

Another amazing special.
Well done Top Gear!

AMAZING WOOOOOOOOOOOOOW

That Was Absolutely Phenominal, The BEST Special Yet, 1Hr And 15Minutes Of Television Genius

Keep Up The Good Work Top Gear Crew, Can’t Wait For The Last Episode, It Sounds Amazing, And Also Can’t Wait For The New Series

The Top Gear Crew Have A Happy New Year!!!!

Great Film!

I only have a few minor criticisms for the general film but otherwise that was a good ‘un. Great in fact. I won’t retract my criticisms of the past episodes because they were truly awful. Unfortunately I feel as if this episode will be remembered as a great way to end a truly dreadful, utterly deplorable, and unforgivably appalling series. Best to put it all behind you, eh? Move on to Series 15… if you’re still around.

That’s not incitement to create more films like this however – apply them to British roads next series maybe; at the very least a British setting. Or you could just sod off to Australia in a cheap “big V8′ challenge; finish at Bathurst, take sides, have a fight, etc.

It was a truly magnificent film. Lots of amusing (and seemingly spontaneous) moments, great cinematography, it was a show about taking cars to extremes and exploring their possibilites, it was entertaining, it was the boys having fun, it provided genuine moments of tension even though they were completely staged… it was everything that makes Top Gear great. We don’t need more films like this; we need the essence that makes films like this so great.

In the past whenever I watched episodes of Top Gear, they seemed to go so fast. The reason being that it was easy to forget they were on at all, what with featuring such awful films that were neither about cars nor entertaining. This film seemed to go on forever. I looked at my clock and time seemed to stop, and you know what? That’s extraordinary. It was a film that could have gone on for 3 hours, in IMAX, in 20,000,000:1 surround sound, in 3D… it was brilliant, and nobody would have noticed. They would have just sat in their seats left utterly captivated by the brilliance that was on show before their very eyes.

I refuse to change my opinion about how awful this series has been. I cannot wait to see it erased from existence, never given a repeat on Dave; but this film? Save the LFA/SLS film for next series. Don’t play Metal Machine Music after Transformer. Put your foot down with BBC scheduling.

Finish it there.

…

All of above is what I WOULD be writing if it wasn’t for the last 4 minutes featuring Richard’s car falling down the sand-dune in the Atacama. That was the biggest, most staged kick in the teeth I have ever seen. The whole film I spent almost breathless and on the edge of my seat crouched over like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders; captivated, enchanted by your brilliant films… but then I felt the sigh of despair kick in again for that brief moment when I gave up.

70 minutes of film, waiting for an applause, begging for it… only for me to be left shaking my head in disbelief. One of the most anti-climactic things pieces of film-making I have ever seen.

definately the best big film yet!! It’s gonna be tough to top that one but the boys can do it I’m sure!!! xxxx

Propperly good film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeremy at the edge of death road made she shit myself.. but apart from that… AMAZING!!

Fantastic. Easily the best episode from this series, and sits right up there with Botswana and the North Pole specials. Vietnam was nice but it was about mopeds. Perhaps Top Gear should film a whole series of these big films? South of France in clapped out old Citroens? Canada in old Ford and Cadillac 4×4s? Norway in old SAABs and Volvos? So much could be done. Tonight’s episode was great.

Obviously no where near as good but why not read about my own 4×4 adventure here:http://theignitionpo int.co.uk/archives/596

and my 4×4 training day here: here:http://theignitionpo int.co.uk/archives/84

O my god this was absolutely brilliant. I could have easily watched another hour or two. Twas the best episode of 2009. I hope many more of these episodes will come in the future. The boys were back better then ever!!!!!
Happy New year to all!!!

@ The_Monk

You Have Finally Seen Sense, WELL DONE (I Hope You Are Not Being Sarcastic)

The Special Was Brilliant

absolute legendary!! thanks to James Jeremy and Richard for their effort, it is truly amazing on how and what they do !!

It was a fabulous episode. Even though I knew the chaps were ok, when Jeremy was close to the edge of the steep mountain and looking like it was going to give way, I had to watch that bit from behind a cushion. It looked so scary! Shame Richard’s car never quite made it to the end, but it did well and James looked sexy in that bandana, he should wear one more often.

Fabulous episode, as ever. Thank you and keep up the good work. Happy New Year. XX

this was fantastic!

Darion: read it all. That film was the biggest insult to our intelligence ever.

@ The_Monk

YOU HAVENT SEEN SENSE AT ALL, CRITICISING AGAIN YOU BLITHERING IDIOT

Epic episode. Maybe the best ever

@ The_Monk

You Are The Biggest Insult To Our Intelligence

This special was AMAZING. And I’m being honest
It made me laugh, it made me anxious.. it made me tearful, proud.
It was so intense. And James, Richard and Jermey, where themselves. And I love it when they’re themselves.

I want more!! It was so good…. I wish it was longer, it was so brilliant.

It’s my favourite thing, Top Gear have EVER done.
Im going to watch it again tonight.
I love it.

And James May is a sweetheart… with his bandana… and “dont leave me” moment. <3

That was very forgetable

Maybe the worst Special yet?

There were no side challenges (no stig!) and everything was so predictable. All in all, I enjoyed it, but there were parts where I started to think that this episode may have been a rush-job.

Is this the case?

love the show! ma mum who dont watch much telly even loves you guyz
just finished watchin the Bolivian show… god the death road nearly made me jump of ma seat it was 2 scary… keep doin what your doing, its grate. XoXo

#236….. why do you write this shit?
they arent going to change the program for you.. fool.. so stop writing a pointless essay that clutters up an otherwise good website.. and nerd out one of those silly forum things

WOW! That was . . . AMAZING! My favourite TG ever!

Best film yet guys! Well done, Top Gear forever!

Darion: You’re 10. Play with your new Skype phone whilst the adults try to discuss things intelligently.

You’re so zealous in your childish and immature belief to have seen just how much of an insult that last 5 minutes was.

I don’t think any adjectives would do it justice. I’m sitting here trying to think what to put and I don’t know. Gobsmacked. So much respect for those three guys – and the crew too. Breathtaking.

@ The_Monk….Again

Look…Just LOOK At The Other People’s Comments, I Can’t Find A Criticism There, Just You! That Is How Sad You Are

RE: The_Monk

Again, you hit the nail right on the head. I think we have learned from previous blogs that Darion has nothing interesting to say so it’s probably best to ignore him.

Without doubt your best review to date.

I’m 15 Actually You Thick Idiot

I’m Not

Absolutly fantastic Topgear tonite. Without doubt one of the best and i loved every second of it. Well done to everyone who worked so hard creating this amazing special. I know how difficuly it must be creating a big film, and i know you cannot do it very often when you do it is one of the very best topgears, and the way Jezza, May and Hammond were together in this big film was absolutely fantastic. Good job!

Best Episode in a long time, epic!

Great show indeed, just enjoy and stop the pickering.

@ 236

WOW!

I must agree, James looked dashing with his bandana. Hammond’s roughness was sexy and Jeremy was just Jeremy:)

I also was cacking myself with Jezza on the edge like that despite knowing he obviously wasn’t going to fall. What a brilliant episode with James May looking like Snake from MGS3 in the Jungle. Have to admit I didn’t even laugh at the end with Hammond’s car rolling down like that, I felt it spoiled it a bit. None the less an AWESOME 75 mins.

If You Think I Have Nothing Interesting To Say…How Come Your Arguing…If You Think I Have Nothing Interesting To Say…Don’t Listen And Ignore My Comments…This Is Just My Opinion

I was also blown away by Bolivia itself. They’ve made TV gold <3

@ 252:
A rush job?? Are you having a laugh?
When Top Gear don’t do a good episode, they admit it, when they do a good ‘un they’re VERY proud, as the genuine Top Gear fans are too..

Ohh my that was amzing best thing on tv all year, that road looked as scarey as hell. Alot of people say the 3 of them arent friends i think showed they are.
Only it wasn’t long enough i wanted more, the bbc should of let you have 2 hours and made it a longer epic!!! Keep up the good work.

Shame the hype didn’t hold up after the first 5 minutes

Obvious setups in place throughout, Hammond on irritating self-serving form as usual. May summed it up very nicely with a retort to Hammond “…it wasn’t funny after season 3…”

Compared to the other specials this ranks very low in my opinion, I hoped for much better to make up for a rather flat series so far…

^^ The Monk

I haven’t used this website for about 3 weeks now and I felt compelled to come back here and see what you had to say about this episode – sure enough, you gave the opinion of a true fan. Like Harper said at #260 – your best review to date. It was balanced, it was accurate, it was correct in ways others can’t imagine and above all else it was a sigh of despair from the mouth of a man who it clearly at the end of his tether with this show.

Couldn’t agree with Monk more – an absolutely perfect film cut down in the last 5 minutes by apathy – entertainment for the idiots.

WELL DONE TOP GEAR!! Best big film by far. When will it be on BBC iPlayer?

Absolutely bloody brilliant, superb TG at its best. PLEASE bring it out on DVD with extras

On the first day of christmas my true love sent to me a life and a job!

that was amazin! it shud of been longer i was gutted when the flashback started and i knew it was near the end

you need to do more of these big films. to save money do them while your on tour around the world with top gear live.

Keep up the good work!

darion westwood.. i also am 15 and i agree.. this “monk” is a total ****… and needs to be shot at close range. why would you write a full review on every episode when the people who read it forget about what it is focusing on and begin wondering what the nerd who wrote it looks like!!

sorry “the_Monk” your arguments are just pathetic, yes i agree this has been a poor series but that was a fantastic episode. Yes hamonds toyota roll was staged but if you look back at previous specials there have been other staged events and i bet you didnt have a problem there because it was such a minor element of the program. Get over yourself and ur agenda and enjoy this episode for what it was, 3 blokes making an epic road film. this is top gear at its best and you agenda and complaining is very much in the minority after this episode

I really hope they’re going to put in on DVD soon, maybe make an extended version of it? Or many extra’s as you did with the other specials?
Anyway, it was classic TG and it was worth the waiting. Till next year chaps!

@The_Monk Why are you even watching this if you dont like it? It just seems stupid wasting your time commenting on something you hate.

@ Monk

You’re just dying for them to update the website so you can post the first comment, aren’t you?

That film was a bit mediocre. If I’m honest. It might be the Boxing Day hangover still talking but I fail to agree with what Monk said whenever he praised it.

The first 15 minutes felt like an age, the obvious staged elements throughout made the episode go on for an ICE age, the compulsion to push the boundaries of the watershed with the nondescript swearing – all topped off with a mound of histrionics.

I thought it was an awful film.

My brother retracts all his previous comments…HE’S A BLOODY MINION

Absolutely Amazing. The BBC should show more support for Top Gear !!!
Apart from the obvious push by hammond as he walked around the back of his land cruiser , the best episode ever!!!!!!!!

Very good. VERY good. The_monk – ‘must HAVE’ not “must OF’ – learn English gud pls.

Wilman – land it nbow and you will be heroes. Continue but with a new format.

Hammond – bad tash. May – genius. Clarkson – carry on…Stig – where were you?

Most happy.

Out.

@ Izzy Comment 282

Well Said!

@279:
Completely agree. I come on Top Gear to read a review from the writers – not a badly written and grammatically incorrect review from that plank The_Monk.
I think he’s either a Spider Monkey or an 8 year old.

Dont know if producers or bbc execs could read these boards but they should listen to what us the viewers say about top gear it really is 1 of the best programmes we pay for, good clean fun that allows us to laugh along at the cast and their obvious great friendship towards each other, i only hope they keep it going till the team wants it to end rather than trying to kill it off for not being politically correct, superb show chaps and hope the dvd special has extended clips as do believe it could have been 3 hrs long and wish it was. cant say enough about how good it really is!! Look forward to them trying to top that special

@ al comment 280

Very Well Said…You Earn My Respect, Why Would You Comment On Something You Hate

The best ever need to see more 4×4 on top gear ref green laneing in england ????? the old range did so well all the best mudboss

Guys, i just missed it =(

Can i see this online already?
If yes, where?

Excellent – most enjoyable viewing.
Made my toes curl just watching the Range Rover edge along the drop off.
The Toyota rolling at the end was staged – but it would have been extremely dangerous not to say foolish to try and drive down the sand with only front wheel drive!!
Well done to all the TopGear crew.

@ stigs mummy comment 279

Cheers

Why do people feel the urge to copy usernames? Just let The_Monk say what he wants to say. There’s nothing wrong with a good, healthy debate without children intervening to add their infinite knowledge on the world of flashing beeb-beebs with wheels. “OOooooo Hammond with his hair LOLZ CUTE!!111″ – **** off.

I’d much rather come here and read something like what The_Monk’s saying. He’s clearly a dedicated fan. He doesn’t hate the show. For God’s Sake read the first 10 billion paragraphs. Nothing but praise. The last bit of his review was just a response to the last five minutes, which even I felt let down by.

Give it a rest and go to bed kiddies.

well done i think i shat my own pants watching jeramy that was an amazing show

3 things. (scariest)
1)What a scary sight, Clarkson being pulled out of the water on the end of a rope…by a Range Rover Ouch!
2)The worlds highest and most dangerous passing manoeuvre on Death Road. ( i would not be a passenger in Clarkson’s Range Rover at that moment. New trousers please!)
3)The worlds biggest sand dune! Holy BeeeJeeesus! That looked like fun, if you had an unwrecked 4×4 by far. Cannot blame Richard for not going down in a top heavy 2 wheel drive Toyota.

A most enjoyable ‘movie’ chaps and loved the extra 15mins. More more, bravo bravo, encore!

Best show in a long time
so funny

An excellent and epic film tonight. Thoroughly enjoyed it, as I’ve enjoyed the whole of series 14 actually. Looking forward to the last episode of the series next week and all the best for the next series.

The Bolivia Special is quite possibly the best Topgear episode ever. Fantastic!

It really was something spectacularly marvellous and really captured what the programme is all about beneath all the hilarious cocking around; man and machine.

Well done chaps! It’s something to be hugely proud of! (Oh and don’t listen to all those pikeys saying TG’s gone “down hill” – they just don’t know cracking telly when they watch it).

10/10 – spot on!

Fantastic. 10/10

This is TG at its best

@The_Monk Oh sorry forgot to say, if your writing it to give people a review on what YOU think, why do it here? I’m sure there a special websites where people read and actually care about what you write. People aren’t looking here for reviews of the show.

HAHAHAHAH IF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COMMENTED ON THIS WEBSITE SAW THE MONK NOW.. HE WOULD BE KILLED…
i know what his problem is… hes watched too much top gear.. because i get like it too.. i begin thinking top gear is shit.. but its not.. its just ive been watching it too much!.. stop watching the bloody program for a week then watch that episode again and i guarantee that you will love it

Monk makes his first apperance on the website for about 3 days and all of a sudden the blog suddenly becomes more about him and less about the show.

I do agree with him though.

That film was epic. Everything about it was great. It had… well, everything Monk said it had. It was completely perfect right up until they suspended all disbelief and conveniently got Richard out of the car just before it OH NO! ROLLS DOWN THE HILL WITHOUT HIM INSIDE IT!

Come on. Geoff the Electric Car crap all over again.

Great show! Maybe could’ve been a bit longer, the jungle bits were very compressed and mostly montages, somehow I feel there’s a LOT of great material left open. Like that water hole bit James got stuck in was a bit random.

Otherwise great show keep up the good work!

That was superb, thanks guys.

Hi guys

Just wanna say the Bolivia Special was brill.

Nick

Has a very exprienced Off Roader, i enjoyed it,even my litle lad whos 5 yrs old did…The rain forest was bang on , similar to the DARIEN GAP/ Camel Trophy,,which i can relate to…Best TG for some time …Hamster, next time we see ya , ya dead…how could you use a FJ and not a series 1….LOL

Re Dave3 – it’s available on the iPlayer now at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ipla yer/episode/b00pm34y/Top_ Gear_Series_14_Bolivia_Sp ecial/

I thought that as a film, the Bolivia episode was awesome. Brilliant scenery, along with some amusing capers such as the top gear trio trying to be Rambo.

But as a TG episode? Poor. I actually found it quite boring. I’ve never, ever found that with any TG episode. Vietnam was better, polar expedition was better… all of the other specials were better. Is this from running out of ideas, or because the terrain was too tough to cock about?

Great episode. Awsomely scary in parts.

Anyone know what they used as the soundtrack at the end?

See this is what Monk does. He offers his two cents worth, vanishes, and suddenly everybody is left bedazzled because somebody has thrown something contrary and disagreeable into the mix. It’s the right way to go about it. It’ll be a job for him to sift through the rubble of the chaos he’s created to find something worthy to respond to though. So far it’s just nonsensical ramblings – “get a life”, “No, no, I’M the real Monk”, “you idiot”, “get a job”.

Average Sunday night from the chocolate-covered keys of the kiddies new Christmas laptops.

@ Izzy comment 302

I Think You’re Absolutely right, there are special websites for “Top Gear Haters”, but this site is for “Top Gear Lovers” (Not In That Way Though…That Would Be Just Wierd)

@ stigs mummy comment 303

I Think You’ve “Hit The Nail In The Wall” all the monk does on this website is criticise criticise criticise…GIVE IT A BREAK

Epics have always been about fun and entertainment. Always.

Epics are not supposed to be about road-testing Ford Fiestas and Nissan Cubes Epics. Nor are they about any other type of serious consumer advice; they are purely and solely for fun and entertainment!

It doesn’t matter that they didn’t tell us the MPG on a 1980’s range rover, it doesn’t matter that they didn’t tell us about the electric windows on the options list for the Suzuki Vitara.. because this episode was an hour and a bit of pure fun and laughs.

So if all of you Scrooge’s wanted a serious car show with serious facts and figures then you got the wrong idea altogether. For heaven’s sake just enjoy the bloody shows (especially the Epic) and move on.

People like The_Monk really need to stop taking TG so seriously, it’s just a laugh on a sunday evening you don’t need to throw your flamin toys out the pram just because James May didn’t read the options list for the Suzuki to you!! Sort your priorities out for crying out loud; there are more worthy things to worry about and get frustrated over than a show on a sunday evening involving three clowns.

I personally took the Epic for what it was and enjoyed it. What else would’ve provided me with more laughter on TV at the time? Nothing…

OH.MY.GOD. I was speechless.Never have i seen anything quite like that!
It was genuine,unscripted,funny, frightening, fabulous and bloody amazing!!
I was moved by the intensity of it,i never thought Top Gear would get me like that.I felt every scary moment with them.And its plain to see the presenters are great friends so anyone who says they’re not needs their head looking into.
Just one thing…please can we have a DVD of the out takes and parts that didn’t make the edit…..Thanks!!
Andy Wilman you are amazing. Jezza,Richard and James you are brilliant and i love you.xxx

Just watched the Bolivia special and it was epic! Absolutely stunning!

Have to say that I agree to some extend with the comments on this series in general. I liked it very much, but thought that it looked like Top Gear lost a bit too much of it’s spontaneousness. This show proved you can absolutely still do it, not only make the best car show, but just the best there is on tv.

Luckily we can watch most BBC channels here in The Netherlands, so I always watch Top Gear in the original format instead of the version with subtitles that completely miss every joke and appears a month or so later on Dutch television. Now I couldn’t find viewer figures on BBC channels in The Netherlands here. But the version which is shown on Veronica (a Dutch channel) each friday is one of the best watched shows of the channel. It got 360.000 viewers last friday, and that was a “best of” of a few seasons back being shown for the fifth time or so.

@ Darion

To be fair, this website is for people to talk about Top Gear. It can be for them to vent their frustrations or for them to show their praise.

Throughout his entire review, Monk had nothing but praise for it. You, yourself, even looked at his as somebody who’d opened his eyes and seen the light – right up until he had to instruct you how to read. (owned much?)

Then you casually forgot about your new found love for the guy just because of an off-hand, minor critique he made of the last 5 minutes of an otherwise apparently brilliant and captivating episode. Grow up, start talking sense and learn to read in future, YOU blithering idiot.

Improvements: make the shows less routine-like and less obvious. We would like to see more genuine giggle moments as opposed to expecting what’s going to happen and then giving a little smile to acknowledge the staged accident/joke.

http://transmission.blogs .topgear.com/2009/12/24/a -big-fat-christmas-treat/ #comment-36242

just so it doesn’t get lost amogst all the crap

Not every episode will appease every viewer. The episode had a lot of ‘old’ topgear, and the final few minutes featured a bit of ‘new’ topgear with the stunt. Do I care? No. The people on here, or should I say that idiot Monk, seem to want ALL stunts removed completely. Not going to happen.

You got 70 minutes of what you like, then there was 1 scene for the rest of the people. If that scene hadn’t happened, we’d probably have an opposite of Monk on here moaning about there being no stunts. Lose lose situation for the producers really. If you can’t tolerate that 1 scene, time to move on.

Stunning.The whole family were literally on the edge of their seats.
Best telly all Christmas.Thanks guys.xx

monk is a moron

EPIC!!!

@ Martin, Stoke comment 317

Can You Remember The Comment When I Said If You Don’t Think I Have Anything Interesting To Say…Don’t Listen And Ignore My Comments…This Is The Same Situation With You, I’m Just Gunna Go Ahead And Not Listen To You

RE: Simon

I don’t know if you’re aware of what The_Monk has said in the past but stunts are a main part of “his formula” in making TG work. The criticism is to not make them an essential element of the show and make it an entertainment programme rather than a car programme. Also, I think there is a difference between making aquatic cars and pretending as if it’s a shock to see some car roll down a hill. That last 5 minutes really killed the show for me tonight and left a bad taste in my mouth.

It was a great episode.
Just a shame they didn’t have Stig’s Bolivian cousin.

@ Darion

It’s ironic really because most of us have been doing that to you since the beginning, Darion.

Ultimate episode! Must be best ever no denying it!!!

@ leo the lion comment 322

Well Said Lol

To Andy Wilman And The Rest Of The Top Gear Crew: That Was A Fantastic Special, The Best Yet. Arriving In Bolivia With A Blank Piece Of A4 Paper And A Pen, And Coming Up With An Episode Like That, GENIUS! Keep Up The Good Work Lads, Can’t Wait For The Last Episode, And Can’t Wait For The Next Series.

HAVE A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!!

loved the latest episode guys!! hope next series is as good as this one has been!

p.s fifth gear lover monk is a moron

@ Martin, Stoke

No…That’s Just You And The_Monk

@ all the people who keep pretending to be The_Monk: Please stop it, we all know the kind of thing he’ll say so nobody buys it and trying to make it look like he’s not criticising is ultimately futile and not very nice.

@ The_Monk: This here is proof that I don’t learn! I partially agree with some of the things you’ve said, although as usual not the bombastic way you insist on saying it. You can insinuate I’m stupid, and can’t grasp your meaning (see your last patronising reply to me) all you want but when you’re blatantly not listening to what *I’m* saying it just makes you look like… well, like you’re deliberately not listening for dramatic effect which is a bit sad really.

Anyway, ahem, I agree with you about Hammond’s sand dune stunt at the end, it was lame and absolutely staged, and not at all funny, but I do not agree that it ruined the entire film. For me that was a small blip in what was otherwise absolute gold.

@ Andy: I adored the cinematography, the banter, the camaraderie, and the little quips. I thought it was utterly epic, glorious, a real blokey road trip masterpiece and it made me a little breathess – although I didn’t cry this time like I did at the Vietnam film. Plus you gave me almost naked!Jeremy and for that I will love you forever and ever – and yes, I’m actually serious.

Agree with #325
It just “felt” staged. Which is how it shouldn’t be. Like as soon as Hammond headed for the rear of the Toyota you could tell it was going to be pushed. It detracts a little from the rest of the show in that it felt like an adventure right up until that bit. If he had walked around the front of the toyota, we probably wouldn’t be having this argument

whooop you go darion

Best episode of this series but then that isn’t saying much. It won’t top the Bugatti film from years ago though. Lots of great moments from the past are just waiting to be rediscovered.

Didn’t miss The Stig at all from this episode. He was irrelevant, he was totally unnecessary and I’m just thankful you didn’t put him in. An editorial moment of genius.

PS: Monk’s right.

@ leo the lion

Lol

@ Darion

You’re not even making sense now. It’s just a hodge-podge composite of inarticulate words disguised to look as if they make sense but only really make sense to you because in your little mind you’re proving a point, when in reality, you’re not.

Look…If Your Not Interested In My Opinions, Don’t Comment On My Opinions, I Don’t Care If You Don’t Think I Make Sense, The Others Do

@ the_monk, yawn same old same old from you mate, get one if you know what i mean

Excellent special, had the usual mix of stupidity and car based carnage.

Bring on the final episode of this excellent season.

‘DOWN WITH THE_MONK’

alfa+dude = a great big pair of saggy t*ts

@ vanray comment 339

Very Very Lol!

RE: Darion_Westwood

At what point did you not realise that Martin, Stoke put a full-stop to your argument? Just give up. You don’t need to say anything in response. Just accept the fact you lost in what’s amounted to nothing more than some 11 year old sticking a tongue out to somebody because that’s the only defensive mechanism they know and can make.

You speak as if you have opinions and yet I’ve seen none. Now you stick around because you’re trying to save face. Bow out while you have some dignity.

vanray you are the bomb, well said

Vanray…If You Don’t Know What The Last Episode Is About, Go On The BBC Top Gear Website And It Will Tell You

had 14 seasons and still care about amount of viewers… pathetic

Fantastic episode. EVERY episode of Top Gear has highlights but this episode, along with all of the specials you make, was packed full of them.

No doubt Monk will be complaining about Hammond at the end and all I can say is tough. You may not like it, but millions do. In my opinion, either Hammond didn’t want to or it was decided that the car was unsafe to drive down the dune. Yes, they could have just had some boring speech telling us that, or they could do what they did. A very vast majority will have found it funny, you won’t have. You seem to want all staged stunts removed and that simply isn’t going to happen. Top Gear has evolved into a car entertainment show and is absolutely fantastic. It isn’t an entertainment show, it isn’t a car show, it is both. If that single moment genuinely ruined an excellent episode for you, you should stop watching as you are NEVER going to be satisfied by another episode of Top Gear again.

About Mr Wilman’s blog a while ago about Top Gear being nearer the end than the beginning, I would hope that if you follow the two series a year formula, you could end in 2012. You would then be finishing after twenty series and ten years of Top Gear. If this is the case, I would sincerely hope that there is room for a Top Gear christmas special once a year with an epic race or adventure like the specials produce.

I’m Not Arguing. I’m Just Stating A Fact That Top Gear Is The Best Show EVER! And Giving Words Of Encouragement To Andy Wilman And The Rest Of Top Gear

I gave up reading every other commentafter The Monk’s review of tonight’s show. I read the last bit but I didn’t really include it because it ws an otherwise well articulated set of opinions that gave nothing but praise to an episode that deserved it.

Great episode. Monk would agree.

Just a shame it ended the way it did I think.

@All those who complain that the crash in the end of Hammonds Toyota was staged: I think that’s the result of the safety adviser telling the crew that that car was too dangerous too drive down there. And then you’ve got to think of something, you could just say: “And now Richard is not going because it’s too dangerous with his car.” Or you think of a stunt to make it a bit more funny. And that’s what they did: they made it so you know Hammond pushed the car. But I think it’s the right choice for the last 5 mins, would be different if the whole show was like that, but it wasn’t…

One thing made this special just a great as all the others for me: they showed an amazing adventure , giving the feeling that it’s both worth looking at and absolutely a great experience to do.

to monk

i think you have forgot that you have a choice about what you watch
if you dont like it why watch every week
change the channel you idiot

Darion… shut… the… ****… up

Do you not know when to leave? JUST GO!

You haven’t said anything interesting since… well you haven’t said anything interesting. You’re just some snotty little kid angrily typing at somebody who has an opinion but cant respond to it in your own way so you agree with a load of other idiots who also cant respond in any sensible way.

You Have Your Opinions And I Have Mine, Just Leave It At That

@ Corsa and Proud

“You’re just some snotty little kid angrily typing at somebody who has an opinion but cant respond to it in your own way so you agree with a load of other idiots who also cant respond in any sensible way.”

I’m doing pretty much the same with this but you’re absolutely right. Some people just don’t know when it’s their time to leave.

But yes, I bow out gracefully now. I don’t agree with The_Monk for a change but I certain;y don’t have the time to continue arguing on a sunday night with some kid who never even had a point of foundation for an argument to begin with.

Night all

See Ya’ Then

@ Corsa and proud

Woooooaaaaaaahhhhh, wait a minute, you own a Vauxhall Corsa and your proud of it??

Seriously?, I mean I would keep quite about that one, like really.

‘DEATH TO THE_MONK’

@ vanray

LoLoLoLoLoLoLoL!!!!

RE: Darion_Westwood

That’s Corsa and Proud’s point – you don’t have opinions. You’re just sitting there agreeing with people who also don’t have opinions as if that’s proving a point, as if you’re giving credence to people who say “yeah get a life” or something of equal value.

I’m almost tempted to say that you don’t even understand the basic concept of what I’m saying to you now. It doesn’t need a response but no doubt you’ll be responding anyway, even if what you say doesn’t really say anything.

Now let’s stop talking about this and get on with Top Gear.

Was it a rubbish show tonight? No.
Was it the perfect show? No.
Is Monk right again? Yes.

Case closed. Next…

And the award for Most Self Absorbed Poster Of 2009 goes to…

… hold on while I open the envelope…

Yes! It’s The Monk!

Much better than the recent rubbish, but too many false, ‘hilarious’ situations… again. It didn’t need it.

Other than the jungle bits, it was very similar to what the missus and I did on holiday in South America last year in a rental car.

Andy Wilman Has Excelled Himself This Time What A Special, WHAT AN ADVENTURE, A Phenominal, A Genius Episode

Great stuff and as the article says it made it look like possibly the most difficult challenge yet. Must say I was genuinely nervous and got slightly sweaty palms looking at the range rover/land cruiser face off squeezing past each other on the death road. Insane. There’s no way I’d have done that myself and Jeremy deserves a medal. Looked so scary being less than a foot from death. That and other moments like the volcano climb put into perspective what the presenters go through in the name of entertainment. Can’t wait for the next series!

Has anyone told the Darion guy about his bad habit of putting capital letters before every single word he writes?

I Don’t Understand The Point Of It…

RE: Vanray

Corsa and Proud could be a 17 year old who has just passed his/her test, in which case I’d whole-heartedly recommend a Corsa. It’s a good first-time driver’s car. There’s nothing wrong it at all.

Darion, I don’t know why you’re even laughing. You’re just proving Corsa’s point by aimlessly ahreeing with whatever half-harted insult any morons comes out with, which just goes to show the amount of intelligence we’re all playing with. You can’t even drive yet so I don’t understand why somebody insulting a Vauxhall Corsa is so amusing. Oh wait, yes I can. It’s because you’re an utter pillock.

I’ve had my fun with you. I won’t talk at you anymore.

I Know Your Expecting Another Arguing Comment….But No!

All I Want To Say Is, Despite The Comments From You, Have A Happy New Year

Well, I have to agree with others on this – it was stupendously good, right up until the ending with the horribly fake and staged ‘Richard’s car goes runaway’ part. That ruined the whole thing and I will try to ignore it. The beginning in particular, getting the cars off the raft, was absolutely, pants-wettingly funny.

@ Harper

I Kind Of Have An Apoligy To Make…I Retract The LoLoLoLoL Comment….Because, My Mother Has A Corse, I Sort Of Forgot

@ hollywoodj

Its Just A Thing I Do.. I Don’t Do It When I’m Writing

Like “The Wages Of Fear”, but with three middle aged blocks cocking about! Definitely the best of the challenge films, IMO.

The best moment? James in the tent with the machette. That was a man on the edge!

Darion you’re a pleb. Sod off now. Please. People ask The Monk to leave all the time but he doesn’t and I’m glad because he has something interesting to say.

You? You’re just irritating. I mean genuinely irritating. Don’t apologise. Don’t retract what you say. Just sod off/

Where’s Monks review for this week’s show?

I’m A PLEB?!?!?!?

I don’t think this Darion guy, is a pleb, sure, he thinks he has opinions, which actually aren’t. But at least he defending Top Gear, not criticising it

unbelievably awesomely epic. what a way to nearly finish the series off.
seen a lot of comments about the hammond incident near the end, but i thought he had to push it to get it started? or as someone said maybe it was just too dangerous to do, so they destroyed it.
let the complaints roll in from boring people about them chopping up the rainforest and the compliments roll in from sensible people about the epicness of top gear

RE: Nimmo

Here it is in all of its glory from #236:

“I didn’t write that review up at #225 – that was just some bipolar attention seeker who can’t argue any interesting points because he has a smallish penis. Fact.

I did, however, write this (whilst we’re waiting for an official blog):

I only have a few minor criticisms for the general film but otherwise that was a good ‘un. Great in fact. I won’t retract my criticisms of the past episodes because they were truly awful. Unfortunately I feel as if this episode will be remembered as a great way to end a truly dreadful, utterly deplorable, and unforgivably appalling series. Best to put it all behind you, eh? Move on to Series 15… if you’re still around.

That’s not incitement to create more films like this however – apply them to British roads next series maybe; at the very least a British setting. Or you could just sod off to Australia in a cheap “big V8′ challenge; finish at Bathurst, take sides, have a fight, etc.

It was a truly magnificent film. Lots of amusing (and seemingly spontaneous) moments, great cinematography, it was a show about taking cars to extremes and exploring their possibilites, it was entertaining, it was the boys having fun, it provided genuine moments of tension even though they were completely staged… it was everything that makes Top Gear great. We don’t need more films like this; we need the essence that makes films like this so great.

In the past whenever I watched episodes of Top Gear, they seemed to go so fast. The reason being that it was easy to forget they were on at all, what with featuring such awful films that were neither about cars nor entertaining. This film seemed to go on forever. I looked at my clock and time seemed to stop, and you know what? That’s extraordinary. It was a film that could have gone on for 3 hours, in IMAX, in 20,000,000:1 surround sound, in 3D… it was brilliant, and nobody would have noticed. They would have just sat in their seats left utterly captivated by the brilliance that was on show before their very eyes.

I refuse to change my opinion about how awful this series has been. I cannot wait to see it erased from existence, never given a repeat on Dave; but this film? Save the LFA/SLS film for next series. Don’t play Metal Machine Music after Transformer. Put your foot down with BBC scheduling.

Finish it there.

…

All of above is what I WOULD be writing if it wasn’t for the last 4 minutes featuring Richard’s car falling down the sand-dune in the Atacama. That was the biggest, most staged kick in the teeth I have ever seen. The whole film I spent almost breathless and on the edge of my seat crouched over like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders; captivated, enchanted by your brilliant films… but then I felt the sigh of despair kick in again for that brief moment when I gave up.

70 minutes of film, waiting for an applause, begging for it… only for me to be left shaking my head in disbelief. One of the most anti-climactic things pieces of film-making I have ever seen.”

@ Nimmo

The_Monks Very Dull Reveiws are at comment no.236

Great show!

Actually not m favourite challenge you’ve done, but still great.

Except…

When Hammond’s car rolled down the hill.

Apologies if that was genuine, but unfortunately as you’ve done it before (i.e Geoff)-and it was very unfunny then- it don’t believe it was real this time.

It may well have been, but you’ve cried wolf too many times.

Still, very very good show, funny, beautifully shot (and the camera crew should get a mention for filming at that altidude!) and makes we yearn for Top Gear of old.

You don’t need to go to Bolivia to make a great car show, you can do it in the studio if only you’d bloddy well remember how!

Thanks for a top episode though, I’ll definately watch it again and again, whereas if Geoff comes back on I’ll go do some monotonous and repeatative task instead.

Happy New Year TG, may 2010 be the year TG gets back to it’s roots!

When I think back to all the other epics, there were real laugh out loud moments, and some fantastic cinematography and enough surprises to keep your interest.

This one had none of that for me. It was all about predictable break-downs and faked accidents, with none of the practical jokes, amusing encounters with locals or the highlighting of contrasts between cultures that made the other epics so compelling.

It was too staged and scripted without the quality that should bring. The scenarios are obvious and predicable and offer nothing new. If you are going to go to the effort of setting up situations, at least make sure there is a strong pay-off.

It’s clear you are not enjoying making the shows anymore. Time to take a break and re-think the whole format.

Thanks Hallogallo imp

Yeah that’s a good review. Come to think of it the whole “accident” of Hammond’s car going down the hill did seem a little suspect. I don’t think it’s any reason to hate top gear though. It was a great episode overall but that last moment was a bit… I don’t know. IT just seemed ompletely out of place with the rest of the episode. The timing was terrible. Clearly staged.

Have A Happy New Year Everyone.

Top Gear Was Brilliant As Usual, Apart From A Few Parts Of The Series, Especially The Last 2 Or 3 Minutes Of The Bolivia Special When The Land Cruiser Rolling Down The Slope, I Feel That, That Was Slightly Staged To Be Honest, But Other Than A Few Niggly Little Faults, It Was A Rather Brilliant Series Of Top Gear, One Episode Left, Can’t Wait. And Then Its Series 15, Can’t Wait For That Aswell…..Have A Happy New Year Everyone!!!

Good show, and I don’t think it was staged (unless obviously so like the ‘leaving the phone behind’ bit, and I don’t mind that).

However, Hammond’s car rolling away was a let down (unless genuine – but who can tell any more?) and series 14 has in my opinion, been very very weak overall.

Yeah, some people love everything TopGear does, but I think that’s just sad, if Fifth Gear made today’s show I’d love it for the content, but I bet a lot of the people saying ‘It was the best show ever!!’ wouldn’t give it such high praise if it had the Fifth Gear stamp on it.

Good ending to an awful season.

The final episode looks OK, with the Insignia, X6 and LFS (3 cars in one show – it’s like old TG!), but TG used to make every show like that… not any more sadly.

EPIC film, best one yet, by far.
Enough said.

I would just like to say that tonights special in Bolivia was the best and funniest yet, it really was the BEST telly all Christmas, and probably still will be by Xmas 2010. So thanks Top Gear, keep going, i’ve just watch it win best tv show of the noughties, which was also well deserved. Jezza, Richard and James really are a superb trio, i hope you keep coming up with more trips even though you may be running out of world, but we love you, so don’t stop! Happy belated 40th Birthday to Richard by the way! x

The Botswana special still remains the best one for me but this was damn good. It’s possibly the one that had me laughing out loud the most. I would have loved for it to be longer so please do a director’s cut. Two hours just might be long enough but feel free to extend to three hours! I would have loved to have seen more of the effect of the endurance on the guys themselves but I appreciate that this is a car show, not a human show.
And as for James, that man is hot, hot, hot.

1000000% the best big film ever

amazing job guys

keep it up

P.S – Agree with that post above – the special was the best thing on this Christmas : )

So why

why

why

why

why

why

why

why

why

was the rest of the series so damn terrible!

You guys can do brilliant every show – why have you stopped and made it Explosions for Idiots?

I don’t want TG to be boring and it annoys me when TG’s new defenders say that’s what it’ll be if it goes back to being a car show – it won’t! Today’s show proves that!!

i believe the best thing was well everything about the bolivia and chille special, like a previous post on the website i think by andy wilman the three were at their best and it was nice to see their softer side as well not just the hard ‘guys’ apperance they normally have and it didnt seem set up and their were genuinely funny bits like when james fell climbing onto the raft it was the best tg film ever

Top Gear is back. And with what a bang.
Mr. Wilman and the trio have just been part of an epic journey.

My personal favorite of all tg journey,s was the botswana one. There was something mystical abt that episode. It had all the TG elements that we are so used to seeing.

I can still picture those three standing besides that massive yellow moon very clearly.

Yes there are other good ones but the botswana beats all of em by a mile and a half.

And then came the bolivian expeditian.
Lets be honest, season 14 hasn’t been great. And a lot of criticism has been thrown on TG. So much that mr. wilman had to reply personally to his critics via the interweb. He also did warn us to wait as the season wasn’t over.

I am sorry to say this but mr. wilman, i don’t think there was any need to reply to your critics via the interweb.

Coz what was just transmitted on bbc2 wud silence the best of TG critics.
Epic is too shallow a word to describe the journey.

Now since the episode has aired, and there is no review from the Monk, i am safely assuming, he has bit his tongue and eaten all his fingers, and he cant type any longer.

Kudos to each every member of TG for such a wonderful episode. U truly deserve an encore.

If botswana was a benchmark then bolivia has definitely achieved it and improved it.

Thank you for allowing all of us to be a part of this wonderful journey.

Bolivia trip awesome.

Mow explain the rest of series 14 as it was a complete pile of shit.

You wonder why people get angry on the internet? Tonight was proof you can still do it. So why foist mediocre crap on us for 5 episodes first? Work within your capabilities and give us quality rather than 12 hours of wank and an hour or two of awesome.

@Ape F #385

Now that the special has aired… it’s probably a good time to reflect on something that Andy said back in his first blog of the series…

“So here we are, series 14. You’ll have noticed there was no series preview montage for it at the start of tonight’s show. But don’t worry, we haven’t turned to crap; we just haven’t filmed enough stuff yet to make a decent montage – there are still four biggish films to shoot and, basically, we’re up to our necks.

The Christmas Special in South America took way longer than we’d planned – things went to shit out there with weather and illness and vehicle breakdowns – so the knock-on effect is big. On the plus side, we think this Special will be right up there. Let’s face it: Vietnam, funny show, but hardly pushing us to the limit, whereas this one is much more hardcore.”

Personally, in my own boring life with it’s everyday humdrum annoyances, I know that if ONE thing holds me up, or throws a spanner in the works, everything else for that day gets set back slightly, and inevitably it affects my whole week basically.

Reading Andy’s first post and what’s happened here since, Now I wonder if this season was a bit of a case of ‘running just to catch myself?’ Am I 10 minutes late for the meeting I just had, or a week early for the next?

As I have yet to have the pleasure of watching the ep, but reading the general comments – is it possible we should now be cutting the fairly knackered crew a little slack?

When James complained to Hammond that running into the back of his car ’stopped being funny 3 series ago’ summed up this whole special for me – I can’t believe that not only was the staged stuff more prevalent than ever before but it was the same old staged stuff at that, nothing new ie. Jeremy does some impromptu welding but inadvertantly sets fire to somehing behind him without realising!! Hammond’s car starts to roll away as soon as his back is turned!! Etc etc..

After a really dire series I was really keeping my fingers crossed for this special. I can’t help that feel that the arrogance of Mr.Wilman and co to stubbornly rely on churning out carbon copies of all the old ‘money shots’/rehashed ‘jokes’ has detracted from the overall experience. Same sh*t, different location. Glad you lot enjoyed your exotic holiday abroad anyway.

On the plus side, suitably stunning scenary and a few scattered memorable moments but surely a real missed opportunity to do something spectacular.

watched with parents, dullest top gear yet

Very good. enjoyed it from start to finish. I was waiting for ‘Stig’s South American Cousin’ or another challenge, but all in all you more than made up for it with excellent television. 9.9/10!

Great entertaining episode!
I have never seen this forum and am quite shocked by the conflict over this TV show.

I travelled all over South America this year, and literally its funny how often me and my friends and other Brits & Aussies we would meet would rave about how Top Gear NEED to come to do a film here! Literally every week or so we would have the same conversation with a different location.

A few issues with the show.
It missed out on the Salar de Uyuni – the largest salt flats in the world – probably the highlight of most trips to SA and very very close to where you were filming. Granted it would have added a few more days to your trip but it would be worth it!

My biggest criticism is that the show did absolutely nothing to explain the country, culture or history of the places you went to. The most fascinating aspect of most of these films, for me, is the interaction with the locals and unique stories that these places have. i think that some background would have added greatly to the show. for example the WMDR could be illustrated by saying that it was built by prisonsers of war and that you passed the hideout of Klaus Barbie – an infamous Nazi Holocauster who hid in a fortified compound near the WMDR until discovery and extradition.

I guess this is actually due to the poor light conditions but – The Death Road, having been both up and down the most dangerous road in the world a few times I noticed that most of the televised section was of the lower road – which is arguably the least interesting part. the drops are higher, the road in a worse condition and the scenery is more spectacular nearer the top. down to the lighting i guess.

However these are minor criticisms, the SHOW WAS BRILLIANT, keep it up. oh, and whether the bit at the end with Hammond was planned or not – it did appear quite scripted and a bit or a cop-out

but still brilliant show, I might email you some more suggestions, Andy!

Damn! I know this comment will be lost in amounst all the shouting, but I thought the special was aweful – over produced from start to finish

The programme before, Toy Stories, was a triumph of ‘BBC’ production. The same ‘BBC’ness completely ruined the special – they took over completely for Series 13; and it shows. Sad. They’ve killed it.

best special ever …
i dont care what any1 says, tg is and always will be the best tv show ever …

Reply to 389

Yeah, perhaps, but if they were just tired out (which I’m sure they are) we could expect a slightly shonky car show.

What we got was Explosions for Idiots. No amount of tiredness suddenly turns a great, no, the best, car show into Benny Hill. That shift comes from something else – a desire for the applause of the great unwashed

May i just say, when i slipped on the plank, that really hurt my gentlemen’s area.

Lovely belated Christmas present to the viewers – the scenery was stunning, the interactions between presenters seemed more natural and the cars actually did quite well through that hell and back.

I’m more than willing to ignore the Land Cruiser’s death on the dune – some will have loved that and I’m surmising that the insurer’s would have had a conniption if he had tried to drive that rust bucket down the hill.

Well done to the boys, Andy and crew!! This really went a long way in redeeming the series. Looking forward to next week.

@Whyelle “Reading Andy’s first post and what’s happened here since, Now I wonder if this season was a bit of a case of ‘running just to catch myself?’”

You could be onto something there. Didn’t Jezza mention in one of the news segments that they had basically been away from their respective families for about six weeks? And I *think* that was aired BEFORE the MPH shows?

I think it’s totally believable that the show got caught in a shooting schedule that went to pot and left less time than normal to get other stuff in the can. Plus if illness was an influencing factor, depending on what type of illness and the kick on effects of that – that can really screw around with plans too.

I’ll agree this hasn’t been the MOST engaging season ever, but in the final analysis with an ep THIS strong that might have caused other problems – I can find forgiveness, much like a younger sister putting up with her big brother’s shenanigans, cause you know he always kids around and comes good again

Excellent episode

It goes without saying, but the three have fantastic natural chemistry. It isn’t always utilised – instead we get three actors repeating the same jokes that grew old years ago. That has been the downfall of the show in the last few years.

Tonight was Top Gear at its best though. It was more an entertaining documentary than a scripted comedy. Like others have said there were some genuine edge of your seat moments, and you could feel their pain during the high altitude scenes. It’s a side of them we rarely see.

Hammond pushing the car down the dune was cringeworthy and unnecessary, but I’ll forgive that as the rest was so good.

Brilliant Show! Loved every minute of it, will be watching it again on iPlayer tonight.

Has anyone thought that the reason Hammonds car rolled down the hill was because if he had taken it down the big dune to the sea it would have been suicidal – falling apart anyway, rubbish brakes. And so, rather than just them saying “hammonds car is knackered and so we’re gonna leave it at the top of the dune” they provide an alternative,entertaining solution.

Epic episode none the less – back on form. Gotta love the Range Rover as well lol.

Reading most of these comments just goes to show – impress the viewers with some flashy camera-work in stunning surroundings and all is apparently forgiven. What else was there? Did I miss something?

Is it just me?? I thought this ’special’ was incredibly one-dimentional: the guys just driving their cars through spectacular scenary – a few predictable break-downs and a few even more predictable staged stunts..and that was it. No variation at all. This is an observation, not just an excuse to moan – please, anyone, point out to me anything of value which I missed and i’ll refelct on that.

I loved that episode, it was funny and made me happy. What the hell else is a telly show meant to do?.
Anyone who’s on here complaining about it seriously needs to wake up. Look if you don’t like the show sod off! We don’t want you, we don’t like you, GO AWAY! Don’t spend your time ranting about Top Gear to people who actually do enjoy it!
Top Gear boffins, if you read this I seriously think you should disable comments on this sort of thing, certain people are clearly here just to wind up the true fans of the show and -to use ome Clarkson logic- need shot.

Wow ,,,,, that was really something great , I mean extordinary .

loved the show 2night think i will get the dvd when it comes out:)

That episode was brillaint! Yeah it was just them messing around for the most part but so what? It was bloody entertaining!
It always baffles me how people on here who clearly don’t like Top Gear still not only watch it, but then take the time to tell everyone exactly why they don’t like it! Please people, at least the boys admit to being children, you lot just need to grow up, get a life and stop bothering us.

Incredible backdrops. South America is an absolutely stunning place.
And with TG’s brilliant film crew they bought out the breath taking essence of Bolivian and Chilean scenery. It was brilliant to watch.

Though as for the show, hmm… I wouldn’t say it was the best.
I was watching the Arctic challenge on Dave a couple of days ago and I must say I enjoyed that a lot more than I enjoyed this one.

It lacked a bit of local interaction and there wasn’t much of the local culture/taste involved in the show like it was in the Vietnam episode. It felt a little rushed too so I can’t really say if this was better than Botswana.

It was brilliant for its scale of adventure and scenery but it didn’t feel as entertaining as the other big films were…

But I think I need to watch it again…

Anyway, now I can’t wait for the Dakar rally to begin!!!!

Fab episode and guess what all you people saying it had nothing going for it- it was damn slashy! Yeah I’m a perv but I’m a bigger and more supportive fan than any of you who are just here to complain!
TG3 for the win!

@404: YOU found it funny and it made YOU laugh, so good for you..but it didn’t have that effect on me because all the ‘jokes’ and staged stuff had been done a million times before and unfortunately (in this case) I have more than a 3 second memory – so I am entitled to my opinion as much as you are. If everybody automatically accepted what they got without questioning it, this country would be full of morons.

By the way I’m a 16 year old girl. Just thought I’d mention that.

I enjoyed the Bolivia special, but agree that this was not one of the best Top Gear specials. But it was a hell of a lot better than the other programmes on over Christmas.
Jezza, James and Richard were great, but I think that the programmes lacked a story in the way that other specials have. There was no challenge that had not been attempted before, or serious point to be tested. I agree that it would have been nice to see some more culture, as I was not asinspired by this film as the Vietnam special which was amazing in terms of the scenary, the history, the challenges, the gift giving and so forth.
Quite happy watching the boys getting sweaty tho!

@ 404

I really like the episode too, but you can keep your ’sod off’.

What the hell is a ‘true fan’?! I don’t know, and I don’t care either.

The reason why some of us point out the show’s decline (in our eyes) is because we don’t enjoy it half as much as we used to.

It’s like when the team you support has a run of shit games, you don’t abandon them- you stick it our for a while.

The question is will TopGear do a Spurs and bounce back, or will they do a Southampton and plummet?

As a Topgear fan since series 1, I can see that there have been changes, some for the worse, but Mr Wilman, you have done one fantastic job of keeping us all entertained.

Although it may not be for some people, it is impossible to please all, and this show was perfect.

The big trips are my favourite episodes, and you really feel for the presenters (Jeremy’s Death road experiece was very very scary) and can see very clearly the trouble you go to to create just one show.

Topgear is a treat I savour in that last night before school begins again, and although you will probably not read this, I would like to thank you very much for making a slightly depressing time so much brighter.

Love2goC, if you read this, you have perfectly encapsulated my thoughts, well said.

herewegoherewego-
I’m not saying you’re not entitled to an opinion. All I’m saying is it doesn’t look like you like Top Gear and I don’t understand why you watch it if all you’re going to do is come on here and complain about it afterwards.

Oh, and loving everything someone does and not speaking up when they’re off the rails is a huge error.

M&S went from £1billion profit to the brink because everyone just said ‘yes, yes, you’re doing great’ becuase they always had done.

If someone had said ‘er… you do realise all your customers are dying of old age and you’re alienating new ones don’t you’ sooner, then they’d have got back on track a hell of a lot quicker.

Saying ‘TG will always be the best show ever!!’ is just a bloody stupid statement.

I bet people said that about Rover in the ’60s.

I think it was a GREAT episode today (I don’t want that to get lost), but a CRAP series.

@415: Tang, you’re missing the point – I have been a fan of TG since day 1 and i have stuck with it through it’s decline (in my eyes)because i am a fan and am always hoping that it will improve. Because today’s show was a ’special’, I had really high hopes but was consequently dissapointed when comparing to past specials. Believe it or not, alot of people who complain on here are big fans of TG and are just sad when they feel that it’s not doing well.

Though I must admit the show had really good chemistry between the guys. And although a lot of it felt staged, it still had its moments where it felt truly exciting and capturing.

So to sum it up, the only criticisms I have about this show is that:

There were bits that felt a little too staged. Like Jeremy burning Hammond’s car, Hammond’s car rolling off the hill towards the end and a few other things.
And
There wasn’t much local interaction in the show. It felt very detached from the local people and cultures. It was a little too rushed and felt more like the guys having their take at the Dakar rally in banged up off-roaders than an adventure travel film in an amazing continent.

Though on the good side:

The camera work and filming was absolutely breathtaking. So major props to the camera crew there.
And there were moments where there was a very natural chemistry between the guys which is always good to see.

So all in all I’ll be watching this again. A good few times!!

Oo, looking forward to the Bolivia episode.

When looking at ratings, err, “viewing figures,” it helps to remember how many “bits and torrents” get used to move around Top Gear to countries that can’t get fresh episodes easily (i.e., the USA). (This would be much less of an issue if TG avoided licensed music, since this is what delays new episodes showing up here with some sort of license. If they can get Doctor Who out here within 24 hours, there’s zero reason why Top Gear has to take months.)

Overall I’d have to say that seasons, err, series 13 and 14 have been a mixed bag – some truly great bits, some truly cringeworthy. It’s a big deal to admit that the needle on the Creative Petrol gauge might be closer to “E” than “F.” It really is a challenge to keep any tv show fresh over the years, and it indeed doesn’t always work. The fact that TG is on a noncommercial network is probably its saving grace: a commercial network would’ve cancelled it years ago. (If anyone misses the concept of a TG USA – NBC would’ve bled it to death. Look at the Jay Leno show, for example – their “green car challenge” is a total joke.)

More thoughts on the Bolivia special when I get a chance to watch it.

fantastic episode. loved every second of it.

and yes, I also think the Toyota was rolled because it would have been way too dangerous to drive it down that hill (only front wheel drive and very short wheelbase)

PLEASE release an uncut DVD of this episode, or at least one with a few extras… surely there were a lot of good scenes which were left out

herewegoherewego i completely agree with you. We are huge fans but we’re just sad that its not as good as it used 2 be. but this special was something truly SPECIAL!

Oh and like csimi I will agree an uncut DVD is what this episode needs to bring out its brilliance.

As i said before it felt too rushed and I’m sure the guys put into it a lot more than what we got on the telly in about 75mins. So maybe a 90mins (or even longer 2hrs?!) uncut version of this episode should be what it takes to make it truly epic.

It really has everything it needs to be an epic film. Great locations, great film crew, the three funniest and most brilliant guys on TV.
It just needs more to be put in and less left out to bring out its sheer brilliance. I absolutely agree its there but its hidden away in cut tapes that didn’t make it to the final cut.

So TG, please, please… pleaaaaaaaaasssssseee!!!! Release a longer uncut DVD of this film. Pleaseeee!!!! I need to see more of this film cuz the TV episode doesn’t do it justice!!

I think that this was the best ever top gear film and that we should have 2 hours of top gear a week

I loved it, it was breathtaking, i know, obviously jeremy survived but seeing him trying to get past the other car on the road of death, made my heart beat a lot faster. A truly great addition to the big adventures the boys have done so far, i hope they do more!!.

We did the salt plains and travelled through Bolivia on our travels through South America. We must have just missed you guys….gutted!! Can’t wait to see the show when we get home from Brazil next week!!

I spoke to Jeremy at his book signing at the beginning of the month and he was really excited about this film. I have to say he was completely right to be. It is one of the best ones yet. Its good to see the TG3 chemistry at work again.

Well done Wilman and well done guys. Brilliant end to a series.

An instantaneous classic for sure. Great in every single aspect. As ussual wonderful job guys!! Congratulations!!

Absolutely fantastic episode. These TG specials are always a joy to watch and this week’s was no exception. Great mix of emotions, struggles and humor all in one. Jeremy really did earn his paycheck on that cliff. You guys really never seem to disappoint.

Oh, I can not believe they’ve come to Bolivia i would like to see this program about my country, I hope you have enjoyed, and next trip consider spending some time in Tarija, if you’ve heard about this city of course, I gladly receive them, should stay for carnival!
Merry Christmas and happy new year!!!

I’m not all-forgiving, and agree with many that the stunts of Hammond’s Land Cruiser going on fire, the rolling down the hill, weren’t exactly unpredictable…

However, there were more moments to recommend this Special than not… the camaraderie was wonderful, the humour, the cars, the overall feeling of ‘triumph over adversity’ that these Specials are famous for… I loved it!

Thank you Andy, thank you crew, and (without whom these things wouldn’t be possible), Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond… Keep on doing what you enjoy, and the audience enjoy, for one good reason… your enjoyment shows through on screen!… Happy 2010!

God! Fans are blind! Has it come to this? I think half of the good reviews on here come from the production team, the other half had better go rent IDIOCRACY or something. This is likely to turn into a real backlash.

The thing that gets me is that the show used to be the best of everything – factual entertainment, high drama, sit-com, action, adventure; Top Gear has exhaused them all leaving one: Pantomime.

Basically, I just watched health and safety smothered BBC theatre.

The guys are a parody of themselves; acting like cartoon cut-outs, spoken in the third person – the ‘BBC’. They’ve gagged Clarkson and tied him to a revolving door dressed up as the show HE CREATED. They used to laugh at the hostile takeover; taunting the BBC with their untouchability as independents. They don’t quip now – the ex-presenters clinging like brand names to the cover art, while the BBC ‘brand’ stabs the life and the soul away.

I REALLY wanted to love it. I really wanted to forgive it eveything. Sorry folks. It’s not Andys fault.

Oh hell, and I wanted to love this special … Andy, we know they aren’t best of mates really, we know that they’d rather be in the Cotswolds/a small castle with a landie/ in a ‘plane with a cat.

Top Gear, how embarrassing for a TV presenter who really wants to get on and spend quality time on “This Morning”’s couch – and no I’m not blaming Richard – it just isn’t what’s done.

F::: them. Not that I usually type colons but this is engineering as you know.

Cheers

Best TG ever ? YES !
Better than Vietnam, better than anything !

Just watched it and loved it.

I am just wondering what kind of car the production crew was driving.

I have just scrolled right through the inevitable moaning from the TG detractors because I’d just get angry.

The Bolivia special was stunning. Andy and the boys, I salute you. This was a classic. I have already watched it twice. It was full of amazing scenery, genuine blokish friendship and cameraderie (James’ “don’t leave me” was really touching)

I am sad that Hammond’s car had to be pushed off the dune at the end, but anyone could see that it was a nasty accident waiting to happen, and there was no way he would have made it to the bottom without being badly hurt. If a little bit of ’staging’ stopped another accident, then they did the right thing, no question.

The distress on the faces of the three when they relaised they could not complete the volcano crossing was heartbreaking.

Magic. Magic. Magic.

Mr Wilman,

This is the future of Top Gear.

As you acknowledge yourself TG is probably nearer the end of its life than its beginning, but there’s definitely some life in the Specials yet – ease up on the series to maybe one a year (or dare I say even that?) which is a bit more ‘car-based’ (why not review the Ford Mondeo? etc) and do two or three stunning episodes a year as Christmas Specials etc as per Only Fools and Horses post-1989. Maybe even transfer them onto BBC One for maximum reward.

Feel this will provide a safe (and to use the dreaded phrase, more sustainable) future for TG for a good long while to come.

Any thoughts?

i love you top gear so so so so so so so much

lam from syria i see your show evrey week and re c evrey show i wish from my god speak wiht jeremy my aim acdc911@hotmail.com

I just don’t understand why, even when Andy has already admitted in his blog that he, and the presenters, have ‘issues’ about the present series, and are intending to address them, that so many of the posters who have the arrogance to think you’re more qualified to suggest improvements than the staff who have worked so hard (and by their own admission, not always successfully)… my biggest puzzlement is why they should do something they may not enjoy, in order to please the minority who want the programme to return to the days of ‘how the (insert name of a reasonably priced car) works over the potholes of Milton Keynes’…

IMHO that’s just as false as the programmes they are accusing the crew of these days…?

Jeremy Clarkson ilove you so so much you are my angel والله والله بربي اني بحب والله قسماا بس احضر البرناامج بناام مبسوط والله

المشكلة ماا عم اعرف كيف بدي جJeremy Clarksonيب اميلك

Jeremy Clarkson you are the man

Sorry, I realise through editing, there’s at least one grammatical error in the above… but I apologise for none of my opinions…

MONK – i don’t really want your reviews because i dont care about them; i also get the impression that many others feel this way. make your own site in which you can nitpick at the boys for every single thing they do ‘wrong’. leave us alone, we just want to enjoy the best programme on the box!

AWESOME show tonight TG.

Brilliant episode. Thanks guys, and Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you all.

That was an utterly amazing special – so funny, so adventurous, with so many unique shots – an incredible stir only TG can make. I have to say, James looked like Rambo the whole time…lol!!! It was actually quite cute… to see that macho side of him he doesn’t show as often.
No one can say now that the mates get overpaid or earn their salary easily now!!! That seemed like an ultimate effort and not everybody can do it, no matter how fit or determined they may be!
The show could have definitely been longer. And you’re concerned about content and new ideas… this special could be 3 episodes – it’s so great and it goes straight to “Classic TG as-it-always-has-to-be” section!!!!!!!
Congrats!!!
p.s. I suffered the whole time along with the chaps, that’s how realistic and grabbing it was!!! Keep on!!!

Absolutely Awesome Episode!! EPIC!!! Make that into a DVD with tonight’s cut and a 3 hour directors cut to choose from and i’ll give you 20 quid for it. Deal?

Best television I’ve seen for years.

Brilliant episode. Maybe not quite as good as the Botswana film but a very close second. Also personally I think this series has been great and I can’t help but think a lot of people are just complaining for the sake of it.

And Andy, you’re forgetting all your diehard fans in foreign countries who have to trawl through the internet to find, admittedly illegal showings because the BBC doesnt broadcast it in Hong Kong for example. But anyway, while you re hunting me down from a helicopter gunship, may i take this time before the BBC cut me in half what a great show the Bolivian special was. Im sure the experience was so much harder than it looked and you have really pulled together to defy the critics. Totally worth waking up early for. Well done lads

Is this about MONK or TOP GEAR?!
That’s what you get when a producer comments a user review!!

THE EPISODE WAS THE BEST THING I WATCHED ON TV SINCE THE DAY I WAS BORN, congrats.

And I guess TG doesn’t need to end ever because that two series a year formula is perfect.

Thank you so much for the fun Top Gear

One word “AMAZING” quiet simply the best show on telly WELL DONE BOYSS !!

Love you jezza xx

One word “AMAZING” quiet simply the best show on telly WELL DONE BOYSS !!

Absolutely f****** epic! Please give those men awards, the bloody deserve one after going through all that.

Just remembered why I don’t normally visit forums like this.

Monk, seriously, get over yourself.

Great episode.

i must say it again wow epic show, o ya my willie is 2mm long, but it works just fine.

@434: I think its a Toyota Landcruiser. You can sorta glimpse it when Jeremy goes to wake up James in his tent and he gets out with a machete.
There’s a Lancruiser parked next to James’s tent which I presume is what the camera crew were driving.

And I’ve just watched it again and I’ve gotta say it is actually brilliant!!
This film probably has the best chemistry between the guys than any other film they’ve done before. You can see how much they’ve enjoyed the whole adventure and I can see why everyone at TG has been so excited about this one.

It might not be the best film TG made but its probably the one they’ve enjoyed making the most.

And although there are some parts which are clear set ups, you can still enjoy every bit of it cuz despite of it all you can clearly see the guys enjoying every bit of it and just having a good time rather than cocking about or trying to overdo things.

Which is why I’ll take my previous words back and say this is among the best TG films ever made!!
It has its flaws, still feel the editing is a bit rushed, but its always fun to see the guys having a great time through some of the most scenic landscaped in the world!!

And so I say again, TG, pleaaaaaaaaasssseee release a longer uncut version of this flim!
Pleaseeee!!! Cuz it’ld be really worth it seeing all the great bits that unfortunately couldn’t make it onto the telly due to time limitations. Pleaaaseee!!! If you release it I’ll be among the first ones to buy it!!!

Monk it’s not the final episode of the series, first of all, and if they did go to Australia and do a V8 challenge it’d be an enjoyable show. Idk what you want, the new Prius driven through Lester? Seriously, you’re one bitter person.

Secondly, the episode was great. Sadly for me they didnt visit my home country of Argentina which probably means they never will now, this is as close as they got.
The humor was good, there was tension which is not that common in TG, but welcome, but mainly this episode achieved what makes me come back every week (and re-watch old episodes in between): It made me wish I was there with the lads and have an epic driving adventure.

I’m off to rewatch this. And I hope TG will be here for many years to come.

Oh and before anyone says, I did download the torrent to watch the film again cuz 1. I had missed a bit of the start on the telly, 2. I had to watch it again cuz I felt I didn’t pay much attention watching it the first time, and I do enjoy watching TG clips over and over again and 3. I don’t live in the UK so I can’t access the BBC iplayer.
So sorry about being a wee bit illegal…

But make a longer uncut DVD of this film and I’ll but it. Promise!!!

Yeah I agree that the end where hammonds land cruiser rolled down the dune spoiled it, but there is a good explanation for that. Think about it, hammonds land cruiser did not have much breaks so It could not stop. So the only way he could really stop would be to gear down for the hill and use engine breaking. This would also be problematic because only his front driveline was connected. I know from driving on the dunes that you NEVER break with your front wheels apon descent because it would cause you to spin and then flip. So the only way hammond could stop would be to “gear down” which would cause his front wheels to break which would cause him to spin and flip. So they really had to have his land cruiser somehow “go away” at the end because there was no way It could’ve gone down the dune without rolling and then killing him…

I loved this episode. Of all your challenges, this one is my new favorite. The other being on a slightly smaller level with the trip to Oslo. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, and couldn’t believe how amazing the cinematography was, just beautiful. Also, as far as everything being staged, I don’t believe a lot of it was staged, but I do believe in editing, and it made for one hell of a show.

Perfect.

The best show i’ve seen for a LONG time, if not ever.
keep it up

best episode since ages. more of these please BBC

In my opinion TG jumped the proverbial shark several series ago, and has been on the Simpsonian “long plateau” for the last few years. BUT…

By and large, it does what it does very well indeed. Tonight’s episode was enthralling, and an excellent example of TG at its best. Yes, there were obvious staged moments. It’s an entertainment show, for Bob’s sake…

The current series started brilliantly, and has IMO declined week by week from there… until tonight. That’s still 2 brilliant episodes out of 6, three enjoyable (if nothing special) episodes and one load of complete garbage. That’s not too bad after 14 series. And who knows, no. 7 might be astonishingly good. I wait with baited breath.

And yes, I see TG as an entertainment show. Nothing more, nothing less.

what an amazing episode!

I love this episode. And why is the_Monk so important?? There over 60 times some ones uses his name in a comment. He has a right to his opinion and no one will ever be fully happy. The thing is that we know their characters so well that nothing is a surprise. We all know Hammond is going to rear end May, Jezzy thinks his car is the best and they have a great time out of silly situations. Its like watching family, we all know what they are going to do and still we watch. Why….cause it is sometimes funny and we don’t want to miss that.

#434 the production vehicles are actually Toyota Sequoias. same vehicle that jeremy had to drive around on death road. they’re actually completley different than the land cruisers.

This was a top notch episode. one of my favorites. but in my opinion any episode of top gear is better than anything else on tv

The BEST…and I REALLY DO MEAN THE BEST TOP GEAR EPISODE EVERRRRR…..JEZZZZAAAAA YOU’RE SOOOO SOOOOOOO LUCKKKKYYYY TO BE ALIVE…..INCHESSSS JUST INCHESSS AWAY FROM THAT….GOD THAT WAS FRIGHTENING AND FUN :p

This was a wonderful companion to the Botswana special. In one, Hammond had the composed and successful underdog, while Jeremy had the problem child. Now, Jeremy had the successful underdog, and Hammond was in over his head. James, on the other hand, managed to buy two practical and low maintenance vehicles that were both quite boring.

This was just stunning, congratulations Top Gear!
About the whiners on Hammond’s Land Cruiser in the end, it was obvious the car was unsafe to go down the cliff and so, they found a funny way of showing it ahah! Thus, that bloody miserable car got what it deserve, I just hate Toyota’s!
Epic episode, worth waiting and worth some less exciting episodes along this series. Thank you guys!

Fantastic!!

Andy, that was absolutely *amazing*. It scared the sh*t out of me and I was sorry when it was all over too soon, but that was absolutely stunning.

Well done, and when you guys have a break after this season, you really deserve it. Thank you.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Can’t wait for that special. Well done Andy and the Crew from Top Gear you are brilliant. Keep on going making Top Gear forever. Well done for being in the Gutsiness World records for the most watched tv show you deserve it for all these years of hard work.

Epic Epic Epic Epic …. Top Gear as we know it ….. Proper proper proper Epic …. man i was Blown away … Makes me wanna grab some mates and Go on an Crazy Adventure. Once Again just F***ing EPIC !!!!!!!!!!!

Mineworksfine you are an idiot!

This episode was epic.

This was the Top Gear I fell in love with, the Top Gear you all (cast/crew) are more than capable of making week to week, the Top Gear I’ve sadly not seen for most of this season/series.

I hope the TG crew will take a moment and have a think before they begin work on Series 15…and please don’t do that until you’ve all had a sabattical. You all have more than earned it!

(Think about this: If you don’t do a summer series, BBC won’t have to try to slot you all in amidst the 2010 World Cup (should BBC Two be airing coverage of it). That’d be even worse than all the shuffling around with the show during this series! )

cant wait for it.
happy new year and merry xmas

This was excellent!! It not only was funny, but also frightening at times… Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to the TG team!

While The_Monk’s reviews are fantastically entertaining to read, I think he is actually Clarkson going by his analogies and verbage. It’d be really odd if he didn’t post on this board, considering how much he admires the iPhone…..

it was BONKERS!!!!!

and i mean that in a good way!!!

best episod ever!!

This was without a doubt the best special in TG history. Classic TG, loved it!

Ansolutely brilliant and funny. Just what you want from the Top Gear trio.

Alfa dude (#335): I should have piked up on the lack of Stig, actually. I guess the fact I missed his absence out of my review completely is a testament to the editorial decisions made by the BBC. We didn’t need him so he wasn’t put in. That’s how it should be.

Whyelle (#389): I don’t think we should be cutting them any slack. Constructive criticism only serves to make the programme better so I think if people keep the pressure on them and monitor Top Gear’s progress, things will run much smoother for all of us.

GRINGO_Bolivia (#393): I started reading your comment but the fact you said the word ‘literally’ as many times as you did stopped me from going any further with it. I’m sure you had something interesting to say but it was hidden amongst a load of unnecessary buzzwords.

Mpicco (#457): You’re an idiot.

Everybody else: It’s great to see that a lot of you have the intelligence to be able to put forth your opinions. Opinions only serve to create a healthy debate, and when a multitude of different users make a lot of interesting points, it’s indicative of the nature of Top Gear and reminds us that their is still some intelligence left in the audience after all.

Brilliant show. Will go there one day. Can you post a gps track of the route so e can look at it on Google Earth. I’ve already found the volcano – I think.

Cameron

*There

By the way, for those who weren’t here to see it first time around, here’s my review again. Hopefully it an cause as much healthy debate as it did last night:

I only have a few minor criticisms for the general film but otherwise that was a good ‘un. Great in fact. I won’t retract my criticisms of the past episodes because they were truly awful. Unfortunately I feel as if this episode will be remembered as a great way to end a truly dreadful, utterly deplorable, and unforgivably appalling series. Best to put it all behind you, eh? Move on to Series 15… if you’re still around.

That’s not incitement to create more films like this however – apply them to British roads next series maybe; at the very least a British setting. Or you could just sod off to Australia in a cheap “big V8′ challenge; finish at Bathurst, take sides, have a fight, etc.

It was a truly magnificent film. Lots of amusing (and seemingly spontaneous) moments, great cinematography, it was a show about taking cars to extremes and exploring their possibilities, it was entertaining, it was the boys having fun, it provided genuine moments of tension even though they were completely staged… it was everything that makes Top Gear great. We don’t need more films like this; we need the essence that makes films like this so great.

In the past whenever I watched episodes of Top Gear, they seemed to go so fast. The reason being that it was easy to forget they were on at all, what with featuring such awful films that were neither about cars nor entertaining. This film seemed to go on forever. I looked at my clock and time seemed to stop, and you know what? That’s extraordinary. It was a film that could have gone on for 3 hours, in IMAX, in 20,000,000:1 surround sound, in 3D… it was brilliant, and nobody would have noticed. They would have just sat in their seats left utterly captivated by the brilliance that was on show before their very eyes.

I refuse to change my opinion about how awful this series has been. I cannot wait to see it erased from existence, never given a repeat on Dave; but this film? Save the LFA/SLS film for next series. Don’t play Metal Machine Music after Transformer. Put your foot down with BBC scheduling.

Finish it there.
…

All of above is what I WOULD be writing if it wasn’t for the last 4 minutes featuring Richard’s car falling down the sand-dune in the Atacama. That was the biggest, most staged kick in the teeth I have ever seen. The whole film I spent almost breathless and on the edge of my seat crouched over like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders; captivated, enchanted by your brilliant films… but then I felt the sigh of despair kick in again for that brief moment when I gave up.

70 minutes of film, waiting for an applause, begging for it… only for me to be left shaking my head in disbelief. One of the most anti-climactic things pieces of film-making I have ever seen.

no doubt it was the best top gear special ever….although i don’t agree with clarkson saying that they were the highest motorist in the world. the highest motorable road is in india (Khardung La pass 17582.02ft). but anyways, it was really daring for them to go and do that! i would like to see a himalayan special sometime.

@ The Monk:

Could you please stop with all those stupid reviews, just enjoy this remarkable program. Could you think of something original after so many episodes? Just deep respect for these 3 boys

The monk

You are an IDIOT !!

enough said

Mr. Wilman, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it once again. TG has brought us a new breed of tv-programme, that only by accident started off as a carshow. Especially James has effortlessly taken some of the TG magic along to his toy stories and it still works like a dream. I suspect he borrowed some TG-staff for that.
So it’s not truly about cars anymore, is it? Quite a lot of today’s TG-viewers have no particular love of cars whatsoever.
On ratings: why would you make a distinction between maidenviews and repeatviews? Someone saw your show and wanted to see it again. I don’t see why that shouldn’t count: a view is a view, no matter who does the viewing.
On that subject. I know there are all sorts of limitations, but… it’s truly annoying that outside the UK nobody can use the Beeb’s i-player, not without some illegal trickery. Us silly foreigners would sometimes like see a show more than once too.

@489&490: mind your heart there. Some things are not worth getting worked up about. Just scroll along.

Cutting it fine eh? and right up to the deadline! …Just as I used to do when I worked for the Beeb – especially at Christmas. Nice to know nothing’s really changed in the intervening 20 years!

good TG episode- yes it was.

best TG special- no it wasn’t. (that honor goes to the Vietnam special)

best part- James almost murdering Jeremy with his machete.

worst part- Richard’s Land Cruiser roll over at the end.

all in all, it was a eh series. you can’t bat 1.000 every time, but you can only hope that they will come back better and stronger in the next series.

I would just like to say I thought last nights show was the best by far. I knew it would be. Richard’s phobia of creepy crawlies I understand as I am the same. I think the guys did a brilliant job as always. I would like to wish all at Top Gear a Happy New Year and hope they have a fantastic tour. Top Gear is still the best and always will be. Long may you reign. Keep up the great work. Top Gear rocks!

I love coming here to read the monk’s reviews. It makes the trip over here far more enjoyable than it would if people did nothing but say “TOP GEAR IZ DA BOMB!!!” or talk about how cute Richard Hammond is. I’d also rather read what he says more than I would The_Mole too – should put the guy on your payroll and give him a blog on here to report on the world of motoring, Top Gear.

Best TG Film ever? Yes. That’s all there is to it. Beats the Polar one IMO, although Vietnam comes close as well. Perhaps it’s the amount of wine consumed whilst watching it (I bought a bottle especially – I am that sad! ) but wow. Well done to all involved. F’king brilliant.

Happy New Year to you TG People – can’t wait to see (some of) you in Sydney for TG Live.

Congratulations TG on bet show of the decade!! well deserved title, and JC no all of your viewers are male.

It was a wicked episode! I liked how the boys were left on their own a little bit more, at least for the camera anyway.

Truely truely great show. Best TG ever I think. But isn’t the film a bit too short? there seems like a lot of good stuff went missing in between. Could have been a 2 hr program. However, the Toyota rolling off like that is really quite a low for the film. Did Hammond really just don’t wanna do the downhill that much? I can imagine it’s quite dangerous for him to go down that hill with a car that has no roof, no doors, no brakes, no cutch and ah.. no 4WD… I guess you guys need a way to kill off that car so he doesn’t need to kill himself again eh?
Well anyway, still a great film. Hope you guys can come up with a director’s cut or sth like that to show more of the trip man. Keep up the good work guys!

To The_Monk:

Seriously, you keep giving saying adults, inteligence etc etc, yet you keep arguing with a bunch of 15 year olds, thats just show other ppl about you EQ and IQ.
Don’t get me wrong, I have read most of your reviews for this series and I disagree with a lot the points you have made, but that doesn’t mean I would stab at you like those 15 yr olds. I respects your comments, just like Andy respects yours. Only opinions like yours will keep the world moving. And if you think you are right, there is no reason at all why you need to react to those people who just want to give you some shit.
Please, act like a grown up if you are one.

The Bolivia film was enjoyable enough, but not as good as Botswana in my opinion. Still, a very pleasant way to spend an hour or so – good telly.

It seems that Top Gear is running out of steam somewhat. This is hardly surprising, given the novelty of the past few series. Perhaps the show needs to be ‘rested’ for a year, to allow the creative juices of the writers and producers to recharge. Or perhaps restrict yourselves to six (outstanding) shows a year.

One word : Epic!

Epic episode. One of the best ever, I think.

No way! OK, Bolivia wasn’t as good as Botswana or the race to the pole but don’t limit TG to six shows a year! As is I already think your series’ are too short! Where are the old series’ with ten shows?

Well done boys. Well done and a pat on the back to Andy Wilman for making the show what it is. Bolivia is definitely right up there with Bostwana. To me, you are my favourite programme of the decade, and as the old adage goes, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ You really pushed yourselves to the limit and you all knew when it was getting too much, and you got there…eventually! Don’t listen to any stupid negative comments, because I’m giving you a positive one! Well done for making a brilliant film! m.a.c xx

That was fantastic! I’m not sure if it was better than the Polar Trip or the Botswana Trip or the American trip. But it was as good as!
And praise, doesn’t get much better than that!

raceface602: I’m finding it hard to decypher your points amongst all of the puzzling words but I’ll attempt to address them nevertheless.

To be honest, I don’t really respond to the idiots which is why I didn’t really address anything they said after I posted comment #236. I don’t tend to stick around after I’ve posted my reviews because the only people who are around other than me are the idiots whose only response is typically something like “get a life” or “don’t watch it if you don’t like it”, or something else completely banal.

If I were to address their comments, what we’d be left with is a pointless argument like the one that erupted between #327 and #371 where one person loses their sense of purpose and dignity and doesn’t realise it, and the other 10 people are left pointing it out, and as far as I’m concerned that’s not very productive.

On here, I try my best to talk logically and converse with people in an intelligent and sensible manner. People may or may not agree with my opinions on Top Gear but the only people I bide my time for are those who actually have something to say in response, otherwise I just ignore it.

Humanity never progressed by listening to the inane words or suggestions of idiots. Same on this blog. I won’t name names because partly they don’t warrant any importance but mostly because they’re so insignificant that I can’t even remember who they are anyway.

@The_Monk: Please just go away. We don’t want you to post a comment here, so please stop. You just cause us to feel hatred and annoyance against you.
Just go away.

@The_Monk Top gear is only meant to be a bit of fun on a sunday night. If you want proper car reviews watch fifth gear or some other car show.

Last night’s show was truely fantastic and it was great to see the ‘boys’ as three mates again. You really do have to applaud the limits the TG team goes to with its big films. Was it the best big film? Tough one as I think the cars were pushed right to their limits, as were James, Richard and Jeremy, but the Botswana and North Pole films will go down in history. Even so, it was magnificent television. My one gripe though was Richard’s car rolling down the sand dune at the end. The point of these big films is that we wait with baited breath to see if their cars can survive everything that’s thrown at them. We all wanted all three cars to make it, not for one of them to be sacrificed in such a blatant way. There was no need for that. Still, TG is pretty much the only thing I really watch, so it’s nice to see my licence money going to a worthy cause!

I see a lot of you have said how short the series are these days, and I totally agree! I don’t know why the series are so short but it needs rectifying. The beeb wont get responses like this on any of their other programs. TG has amassed a huge cult following and it is totally unfair that we have to wait for sporadic series with just 6/7 episodes. But when it’s on the box, I swear my life improves drastically! I genuinely look forward to it all week and as soon as an episode is finished, i could watch it all over again. We need more new TG on tv. Sort it!

Check out my blog

http://wheelnutter.blogsp ot.com/

Absolutely loved it!!! Best TG film so far!!! Keep it up!

The best ever…

FinalGear: I’m not going to go away just beause you dislike reading my opinions. Just ignore them. They aren’t overwhelmingly oppressive enough to have disabled the use of your scrollbar.

Izzy: That’s not what I want at all. Have a read:

http://transmission.blogs .topgear.com/2009/12/20/s eries-14-where-were-at/#c omment-35859

BTW, everyone is entitled to their opinions and the world would be such a dull place if we all agreed. Debate is good and stimulates progress, if done in a mature manner. The TG team welcome responses, both positive and negative because they want to do the best they can. If one of us has doesn’t like what they have seen, then they should feel able to express themselves without the fear of a backlash.

My own view is that TG is a bit of fun most of the time, and all the better for it. But just occasionally they need to draw a line and lose the staged bits, like Richard’s car rolling away last night.

Another comment, another opinion one may like while the other might not.

Just utter brilliance. Perfect…Actually, just nearly perfect if you get what I mean.

And if I say anymore, everyone’s just gonna strangle me because their opinion is different to mine.

Just wanna add after reading some of the comments above me, and yes, everyone is entitled to opinions. It’s just some people don’t digest them that well compared to others.

And again, that episode was epic.

And another thing after reading the comments above, yes everyone is entilted to their opinion, it’s just that some don’t digest them that well compared to others.

And again, another epic episode.

Oops, double post. My bad.

Head to head with the Vietnam Special that’s for sure.

I remember when I used to fight with my boyfriend because I couldn’t stand another car show; but I must admit that now I enjoy them as much as him.

I will love to see the backstage of yesterdays show as I believe there must be magic moments that we miss.

Thanks!

Just watched this now thank to BBC iPlayer.

Thoughts on this one, best one ever and that takes some beating considering we had the Polar Challenge.

Loved everything about it, (except the shots of the Snake and the Spiders, am so with you there Richard, can’t be doing with creepy, slithery, crawly, and that’s just the insects).

Felt that the comerarderie was back to how it was a few years ago.

Had my heart in my mouth several times, especially feeling for James and his Vertigo situation, again, I do empathise.

Understood what Jeremy went through whilst climing to the top of the Volcano.

All in all a fantabulistic episode, one in my opinion should be up for a BAFTA at the least.

Congratulations Andy, another truely spectacular episode, bringing the series to a close for the time being.

Only question is.

When is Top Gear back on air?

Hello Top Gear! I’d like to start off by congratulating and thanking you for the Bolivian Special. The film should be put in a museum because it’s so unique. EPIC film, Hope you would do something like that again. I certainly hope you would continue doing what you chaps love to do. Millions of people around the world watching your masterpiece each week can’t be wrong. Long Live Top Gear.

PS: How much did each car actually cost? I just realized that this wasn’t mention in the film.

Siberia

I feel sorry for the Toyota

Great episode indeed. Much better than the Vietnam one.
So what if the bit at the end with the Land Cruiser was staged. Secretly we all wanted it the roll downhill and crash.

I wonder if any of the guys brought their cars back home.

Extraordinary episode. Team if you don’t wanna to get “apunado” (expression that means when you don’t or you can breathe due to altitude) you should have bought coca leaves and chewed it during the trip. Also on carburettor cars put an onion on the air intake.Woulld be great to have a panamericana road special episode from ushuaia to the north of south america.

this was fantastic! if i was doing this challenge i would have got a range rover too, loved it, very entertaining and hilarious, only bad bit was that we didn’t get to see Richards land cruiser go down the hill. best show ever!

@The_Monk I know you don’t like that it’s a bit of fun, but thats what it is. You can’t change it with your reviews. Top gear is a fun car show. If you don’t like that watch another show.

The show last night saved the series. Within 90 seconds I knew it was going to be a classic… it saved the series! Happy New Year everyone. Have a good one!

i am so not buying a toyota land cruiser. im getting a range rover.

the Range rover over heated a few times, But, it saved Jezza’s life, got the toyota off the barge, & was the best.
the land cruiser however did nothing but break & explode.

Absoloutely flawless. I loved every second of it; by far the best film you’ve done.
Well done. From Andy, to the crew and of course Richard, Jeremy and James. And to top it off you’re the best show of the decade.

it’s an amazing movie BUT come on… Richard’s car falling off the cliff – this was not necessary.. the rest of the movie was splendid, but this “spontaneous” act was just rubbish..

Best Top Gear ever.
Best thing on TV in a very long time.
75 minutes of genius.
The boys being themselves, without playing up to their ‘characters’.
More of the same in the next series please.

this was a very good episode, is there 1 more or is that it for the series?
what happend at the Very very begining? before they were on the boat arguing over a butterfly & a crocodile that was a log?
& what happend at the very very end?

@ the_Monk: that is what we’ve suspected for a while, i thought youd be a fith gear fan.

topgear rules!

ignore the last bit of my comment, it was a referance to a comment of the monks which has dissipeard…

RE: Izzy & J4KE H4M

You’re really not understanding anything The_Monk’s said… at all, actually. Nothing he has said has alluded to the idea of a car programme without entertainment. Nothing. My only advice to you both would be to carefully read over what he’s said so that you don’t make yourselves look any more idiotic than you already do.

It’s easier to simply brush off the insightful and carefully constructed opinions of one guy by blatantly ignoring everything he’s said than it is to address his points in an intelligent manner.

best show of this series … possibly even better than Botswana

thought the bolivia special was brilliant can not wait till the next series of top gear
keep it up guys

That was not only the best TG special, but maybe the best Top Gear episode ever. Great job guys and keep the good work. If you have chance, could you bring the Top Gear to Bulgaria please.

Proper Top Gear – encore! Encore!

LOVED IT!
Highlight of each episode!
But this time…it was more epic than ever!

excellant, brilliant, hillarious e.t.c

Excellent show.
And don’t listen to these idiots who say that Top Gear is rubbish now it doesn’t test cars ‘properly’. The reason I, and probably the vast majority of your viewers is FOR the 3 middle aged men larking about.

Kepp it up Top Gear, and a Happy New Year.

last night’s TG was bloody fantastic!!!!! MORE PLEASE!!!!

LOVED IT! Amazing! One of the best TopGear episodes EVER!!!!!!

Darion_Westwood:

Can you give it a break? I don’t like The_Monk’s self righteous dribblings either, but you’re doing far worse for the cause by talking like a 12 year old who thinks he is being clever. Get a grip.

As for the episode: I did rather enjoy it. Maybe not as eventful as Botswana/North Pole, but anyone who has spent time in this sort of environment would know that it is not really the time or place to cock around too much.

End bit was staged, as was Hammond’s soft top catching fire, quite possibly. I don’t see what the problem with that is though, personally. It’s designed to be a silly visual laugh and I don’t think that TG team are trying to pretend it is anything other than that. It’s just one part of Top Gear’s humour, and those fussing about it really should find something better to complain about. There are enough humour NAZIs in this world as it is, without having to complain about a show that has an established silly streak.

Good effort to the TG team and I look forward to the last episode. If I wasn’t looking forward to it, I wouldn’t watch it. Top Gear Top Tip for you there, whiners.

Richard bumps his car into James’ car!! LOL!! ..and and Richard’s car rolls away when he’s not looking because he left the handbrake off by accident!! ROTFLMAO!!

Jezza sets fire to Richard’s car by accident!! LOLOLOLOL!! Jezza uses too much POWER and gets his car stuck..more than once!! OMG!! L.O.L!!

James’ small light car tries to winch Jezza’s big heavy car back up a steep gradient..BUT..James’ car gets pulled down-hill towards Jezza’s car!!! OMG!!! LOLOLOL!!! ROTFLMAO!!!

I’m going to watch this special again and again until my tears of laughter turn into tears of sadness!!!

This is the best special I’ve ever seen!!guys you’re amazing!!I spent two wonderful hours watching this episode!!
TOP GEAR FOR LIFE!!!!!!

Harper:
You are the one that doesnt get it, this cock does this ALL THE TIME.
He is the first person in the world to be the donor for a sense of humor transplant, and he shoves his views down peoples throats in long insipid, hypocritical rants that have the fans of the program up in arms.
You really dont have to read carefully what this idiot has to say, because you can sum it all up in five words MONK DOESNT LIKE TOP GEAR.
Trouble is the pathetic fool doesnt have the brain power to change channel.

Meanwhile, all I can say is that if the show doesnt win an award then there is no justice.
Oh hang on, I have just remembered Jenson and the sportsman of the year….

Now watch the pedantic berk moan about the apostrophe in doesnt.

I really enjoyed this episode, but I did feel it was a little rushed. It felt like there was loads of great moment skimed over. Maybe too much time was spent on the boy’s trying to get the cars off the raft, maybe the whole thing was rather too epic for one episode.

And for the people who will whine about blatant TV lie that was Hammond’s car rolling down a dune, it was quite clearly not deamed safe to drive down with him in it. They ditched it in that way because it’s more entertaining than a health and safety briefing.

In response to the viewing figures, I do believe most weeks Top Gear was against House, a programme that would be terribly wrong of me to stream from one of those naughty sites. There’s just been too much competition on an actual Sunday night, hence many people using the iplayer option.

I haven’t enjoyed a special that much since Botswana. OK, so there were some running gags in there, but by stripping away some of the familiar elements – no foreign Stig, no ‘punishment’ vehicle, no protracted ‘comedy’ interaction with locals – it seemed somehow more straightforward, and that let the guys shine. I loved James’s line about Hammond crashing into him not being funny. And I had no problem with rolling Hammond’s car at the end of the episode, because I’d rather they did that than just walked away (that’s not the Top Gear way of doing things) or worse, they’d actually attempted to get the car down the dune. It was just an out, and it didn’t detract at all for me. OK, the beginning was a bit telegraphed, but hey, it’s television – you have to start with something. Once the adventure ‘proper’ started, it blew me away. There were even moments when I was shouting at the screen (mainly because I’m quite acrophobic and the Death Road scared the living crap out of me even though, obviously, the guys all came back from Bolivia intact). I loved the simplicity of the idea and the chemistry between the guys did get to come to the fore again.

Top Gear is first and foremost entertainment. This season has been patchy at times, but I can’t complain about this episode. And fantastic work from the entire production team, who would have been suffering the effects of heat, altitude and all the other unpleasantness while having to get on with the job of making the show. Kudos all round.

Thank you. Thank you.

And a happy New Year!

Oh, and on a personal note, when the cars first appeared, I nearly laughed my arse off because it took me back to a Christmas many years ago, back in the 80s, when my little sister got Sindy’s car. It was a red Range Rover. The idea of Jeremy driving Sindy’s car amused me greatly

Last night’s special was simply excellent – beautifully shot, brilliantly timed and overwhelmingly exciting right through. And, to be totally shallow for a moment, James looked bloody sexy!

I’m so sorry that The Monk and others thought the ending with the sand dunes down to the ocean was ‘faked’ and ‘contrived’, but I thought the point was to reach the coast? They did do this, via the sand dunes. As amazing as the Top Gear presenters and crew are, I don’t think they’re able to alter the 300 million year old tectonic geography of western Chile to make the Nazca plate stop subducting under the South American plate thus halting the orogenic uplift and removing the sheer drop into the ocean in an instant… Wilman has many godlike qualities, but he’s not THAT good…!

WHAAAAAT! it was so totally awesome! =D loved it so much! too bad that the Toyota crashed at the end

I WANT TO SEE SOME OUTTAKES!!!

being an “i love you but you don’t love me ” internet rat, i didn’t see nothing right now. But i have to do something i forgotten to do earlier,
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY TOP GEAR!
Ehr, new year, i mean new year

Yeah it was great, but I would love to see you guys in the Gumball 3000 Rally in 2010… that would be the best episode ever!

Just realised there was no Stig (probably left out for the DVD extras?)…

Good! Much better without him for something like this : )

Again, epic show, awful ending (I’d rather they just Hammond’s car was too broken)

So basically the opposite of the series, which was awful all the way through but has had an epic ending thanks to this show.

Andy Wilman: Please let us know; should we give up on TG as a car show and start thinking of it as Noels House Party? Then I can retune my brain and enjoy TG for what it has become.

In the meantime we live by hope and write moan-y comments at the loss of our fave show.

kraski
“Yeah it was great, but I would love to see you guys in the Gumball 3000 Rally in 2010… that would be the best episode ever!”

Agreed, would be a damn good idea!

Hammond/Clarkson running into the back of James is seriously not funny anymore, just embarrassing and cringworthy.

TG back to its very best. Congratulations guys.

TG has become Last of the Summer Wine – 3 old codgers getting into scrapes and larking around in wheeled devices with hilarious consequences.

Not that this isn’t grand Sunday evening entertainment, mind.

I was quite disappointed with the series so far, but my god, the Bolivia special was amazing. I’ve seen every episode of Topgear and this is definitely my all time favourite. It was amazing, hope to see more like it in the future.

well i personally like that one a lot,a great thanks to mr wilman and his team of madmen! its very appreciated that you reply to A LOT of TG fans’ concerns and thank you for empathising for all the little monks out there who HAVE BEEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHAT A CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS! its very possible to love something and yet be hard with/towards it.
ie, a mother smacking her child does not necessarily mean she doesn’t love him.

@the_monk; there are other people who agree with all/some/most/bits of your critics therefore there aren’t just idiots to reply to you. i must also add that someone who disagrees with you is not an idiot but a different opinion,those who despise you and write crap in your name may be idiots or young or whatever…
so on a friendly basis i ask,even if a criticism is just and correct,do you criticise everything? i appreciate you monk but its sort of true you always/often criticise,nobody and nothing is perfect and people only see you criticise which gets under their skin m8,not that you care but im afraid that come a day where you’ll bombarded with abuse at every comment you’ll make…harmony is the key in my view,not solely getting up people’s nostrils…

once again guys i like that special except hammond letting his land-cruiser flail down the slope…..

Very good – but ruined by that staged item of Hammonds car rolling down the dune. Sometimes the TG staff must think we are so stupid not to notice.

I think time will eventually come that Top Gear will end up like Star Trek . . . a bi-annual two-hour special like Bolivia & Vietnam rather than a weekly two-season show . . . the car is slowly but surely becoming running out of tune with the present times . . .

I reckon by Richard’s truck being pushed down the slope was a very wise decision.
We saw that it was a rather un-worthy vehicle and I wasn’t to sure if it would make it down the dune, so by ’sending it on it’s way’ was the best thing for it. We all saw how Jeremy & James’ cars struggled, so Richard’s was in for no chance.

Lol this epic was not the best or the second best as many are saying..

1-African epic
2-Vietnam epic
3-Bolivian epic

The_Monk post 236

It’s possible that even in a special like this, the best ever made and absolutely brilliant, you have something negative to say?
You are irritating, really.

This special is fantastic, is genuine, is funny, is scary, it deserves a special prize for scenario, photography, actors and crew.
A very good job.

I was right, wellcome back TopGear!

fantastic. another great top gear special. i have to take my hat off to them. they are very brave and adventurous and putting themselves at risk.

well done top gear. keep them coming. i enjoy watching these challenges and cant wait until they come out on dvd

Great episode Andy, brought back memories of some of the Alpine roads i’ve been on, you just cannot stage anything like that, too dangerous,as you are on public roads, and terrifying, trust me, as for the ’staged’dunes, well if any of you have been to the Sahara, then you will know some of these dunes are bigger than mountains (as in Bolivia)we have in England, so I think Richard made the right decision and if it was’staged’ then possibly because of the decision made, not for any other reason,Well done to the Team.

Ment to add, great piece of driving boys on the death road,without lights, no way would I have attempted this.

as you said above, they couldnt have Hammond having another accident, and the Land Cruiser was too weak to go on, even in real life

awsome show. i don’t think the ending was staged. you must remember the land cruisers brakes were all but gone. so parked on the edge of an impossibly steep dune, it stood no chance when it couldn’t even stop on level ground.
i want a fight with the monk. i never really put comments on blogs, i just read them. this is probably my 2nd post ever in my life (the_monk .. i have a life to live). but i am to top gear what trekkies are to star trek though not as dull and lifeless – as is the_monk

great pieces of tele, just awesome

In a word: goodish.

But not nearly enough to redeem this godawful series. It did show that the ‘natural’ chemistry is still there, so there’s no reason why more of it can’t be incorporated into the studio shows.. Very good that we didn’t see the Stig. Thanks. And, as with the Botswana episode etc, the cars were clearly the stars. Thanks again. Didn’t mind the odd bit of slapstick (Hammo’s car rolling down the dune, etc, because it was in context and, more importantly, in MODERATION – which isn’t at all how it’s been in recent shows…) Thought James was great, Clarkson good, and Hammo at least semi-bearable (though, did you have to let him publicize his crappy Total Bumwipe show? Not funny.) Bit weird though that they didn’t seem to interact at all with any of the locals. And just out of interest, when Jeremy was inching around the big white Toyota on Death Road, was that Toyota one of the ones your crew were using? Just looked like it. In fact, was Jeremy even in the car at all (for the wide-angle distance shots), or was somebody else driving? Thanks anyway for decent evening’s spectacle – great scenery – and on behalf of myself and, I’m sure, all licence fee payers, hope you all enjoyed the holiday. Where’re you off to next year?…

What is going on? Why is everybody picking on Monk? Did you even read his comment? It was mostly praise, there was almost no criticism at all! And all you lot go complaining that Monk is irritating. The man says what he thinks and does it in a mature manner. His opinions are based on true facts unlike most of the other commentators’.
Now about the episode. I don’t think it was that good though. I was hoping to see more of life in Bolivia and Chile, I hoped that they’d show us some of the local culture and people. They did that very well in Vietnamese special, but not in this one. But I still liked the episode, it was a great adventure and I’m hoping they’ll make moreepic adventures in the future.

The Monk is not always right, and I have to admit that sometimes his reviews get on my nerves, However he has been 100% spot on in relation to this series of Top Gear.. Its has not been a vintage series. However, the special was a bit more back to the old form, the last five minutes were to be expected. It would appear the Hammonds Car was very very broken so for a laugh they set up the whole” I must get out of the car and discuss something pointless, while parked on the brow of a massive hill and as the viewers will know, my brakes do not work and as I get out the car will roll down the hill and hilarity will ensue”. I do hate to break this to you folks but “Top Gear” is the same as any TV show. It has a script . Look, Top Gear is a TV show, it is light entrainment on a Sunday Night. The writers do their best and it does not always work. I still like Top Gear and look forward to the next series. Its 3 middle ages blokes pretending they are 10 again larking about, By the way if “The Monks” annoyed about Top Gear, for the love of God do not show him any of Clarksons truly awful new DVD..

Fantastic episode Great pictures, loved the death road bit, more of the same in the next one please!

I Just Heard That Top Gear Has Been Voted The Nation’s Favourite TV Show Of The Decade…I’m Not Suprised. VERY WELL DONE ANDY WILMAN!

Keep Up The Fantastic Work!

i love topear it is the best program ever i love it and episode was brilliant keep it up Topgear team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just watched this on Iplayer. My heart was in my mouth when Jeremy had to go no the outside of the pass to get around that Toyota. I was almost as relieved as Jeremy was when he got past safely.

This was an awesome challenge. Top Gear knows how to keep an audience, and I don’t understand how people say it’s not a car show anymore. If anything, it’s more of a car show because it doesn’t play out like a copy of Whichcar? magazine. I’ve watched Top Gear for most of my young adult life and it’s better now than it ever was.

Keep it up, guys!

i have nothing against the monk but do you just sit at home al day refreshing this page so that you can comment on everyon elses comments

Man, some people really need to lighten up…

Anyway, it’s been said before, mainly bt The_Monk and Ape F…Epic film, but didn’t need that silly bit at the end, as the actual end of the film by the ocean was quite a good ending to the film. If it wasn’t stunted (although even I’ll admit it looked very staged…and hasn’t something similar been done like that before???), then obviously our view on it needs to be retracted. Agree with the Stig part, my favourite specials are Vietnam and Botswana in that order, mainly as Botswana didn’t need ‘African Stig’.

I agree this series hasn’t been the best, but it is still better than most rubbish on tv at the moment. Maybe it needs re-vamping, maybe the set-up of the programme needs changing…But as long as it stays on our screens, that’s the main thing.

That special was absolutely astonishing. It really captured the true spirit of Top Gear. Dont think it can get any better than this one. I loved Africa and Vietnam (America was good too) but I think this one trumps the lot.

Fantastic!!

great episode but top gear needs to make a game for XBOX AND PS3 WHO THINKS THIS WOULD BE A GOOD ID ERE

TOP GEAR NEEDS TO MAKE A GAME FOR XBOX PS2 PSP PC PLEASE MAKE A GAME FOR 2010

GREAT! I though that they would jump from the barge in cars

Any chance of having a full length DVD release of this? I LOVED this episode, back to how it “used to be” (goes all wistfull).

But it seemed very rushed, obviously because there was a lot to cram in, but Im sure there must have been enough film to do 3 or 4 hours, so any chance that the eventual DVD release is extended?

what an episode, 100 times better than last weeks episode.

did anyone see the greatest tv show of the decade or whatever it was called on c4 straight after this? Top Gear was 1st!!!!!!!! (big brother wasnt n there!!!!yes!!!!!)

go top gear

It was ok all things considered but the Vietnam special was so much better simply because you got a real taste of Vietnam and it felt so much more natural, whereas in this special it was 80% focused on just the guys getting hot and out of breath with the occasional breakdown or staged event thrown in for good measure. The other 20% was just the obligatory shots of impressive scenary – very nice but it all had a feel of just ’scraping the surface’ of this interesting country. It felt very rushed in comparison to Vietnam and some other specials.

Without doubt the best TG special
I loved it
Thank you all the TG crew
Keep it on!

A great special ruined by Hammond’s jeep ‘catching fire’ (near the start) and then falling off the dune at the end. Hopefully when the guy’s take a break after series 14 they will rethink about where the programme is heading.

wow that was so good i dont think dave is worthy of being able to show it

if they cancel top gear then the bbcs got propere issues

SHIT I REALLY WANTED RICARDS LAND ROVER/CRUSIER 2 FINISH I WAS GUTTED. BURT STIL WAT AWAY TO GO DOWN PROBALY THE STEEPEST HILL IN THE WORLD WE WER IN HISTERICS. THEY DIDNT MUCK ROUND ENOUGH NOT. SOZ HAVENT NOTICED CAPS LOCK UNTIL now

The best top gear special ever! How does clarkson do all of these challanes in extreme heat in a pair of denim jeans ha ha! He is a legend

Clarkson with Jeans in South American wilderness, good ol’ Clarkson.

I must say this we indeed the best top gear yet! I do wonder what the support cars are in this film.

Great show guys, almost brilliant!
After a couple of the show that seemed like a sex with supermodel ( very high expectations , real action slightly average….:) ), this one has saved the season singlehandidly.

Perhaps you should do this kind a show twice, maybe three times in a season.

Few suggestions on possible location:
- driving south to North of Chile
- tour of Mongolia
- Gibraltar to Banjoul (same rout as Plimuth-Dakar rally)
- explore Eastern Serbia offroad
- 1000km of Aussi outback: race between tw Tope Gear teams!

You sound like a cock from Final Gear making suggestions for future shows.

Cock.

Top Gear this year fab, Last nights show easily the best yet and thats not to say i havent loved all the Specials, Fantastic everyone as per usual the stunning camera work, sound and music as well as the boys, Fantastic

Absolutely amazing. Blew my mind.

I went to hospital last year with oxy sats of 90% and was kept in for a week. I can’t bear to think what 87% feels like…

Flying cars next week please!!

Sorry guys, that felt very forced, might have made a good 40 min segment, but didn’t merit it’s own show.

Better than the rest of the series, yes. But to coin a phrase, that’s like saying oh good, I have syphilis, the best of the venereal diseases. (remember that series?)

Shark well and truly jumped, time to settle into your robes and slippers.

the gumball 3000 idea sounds good!

Typical TG special – exciting, lots of suspense, but (to my personal tastes) not quite as enjoyable as ‘normal’ TG. Also, Death Road has been notorious for decades – we all saw how JC came within inches of certain death and, to be honest, I was surprised that the BBC allowed him to take such a risk as driving on that road. Certainly, anyone who lost a relative to that road would find their life assurance policies null and void – I was left with the bitter aftertaste of the impression that JC was being wilfully stupid. I think the time has come for TG to look very hard at how it could improve because it’s feeling tired and worn-out now. I think that, at the very least, Clarkson needs to be replaced, if not all of the three. Their overblown, caricatured mannerisms, the banter, etc., have become far too predictable: it’s lost its joy. I hate to say this, but unless there are big changes, I don’t think I’ll be watching TG any more.

Have to agree with what people are saying about the end of the film and Richards dune crash, apart from when I discussed it with others and it actually makes perfect sense.

It was completely buggered, much more so than the others. Down to fwd, suspension pretty much falling off, the diff barely working and pretty much zero transmission left. No way would he have driven it down that in the state it was in, and I’m sorry but the crew damn right knew this and it just wouldn’t have been safe.

So they did the only thing they could do, got rid of it in a semi-comical fashion. Therefore, I can forgive them for that.

Brilliant film and a good episode, especially on the BBC HD channel. Absolutely stunning vista’s!

Can’t believe people are still saying this wasn’t a brilliant show. I absolutely loved it and although this is something like the 600th message here and nobody sides from the next commentator will read it, I’d still like to thank you all. Best of luck for the future and please don’t stop in the next few years. TG really is something to look forward to after a tough week!

Simply breathtaking.

Eeveryone involved in the making of this film: A BIG THANK you for your efforts!

best eva

Absolutely loved every moment – thank you so much Andy and the lads for a true epic.

Don’t you ever disappear from our TV screens, because TG is the best!

Does it matter if the Land Cruiser roll was staged?

Be honest. If you were Hammond, would you want to drive a geriatric Land Cruiser with only 2 wheel drive down a dune like that? JC & the Captain struggled enough with their vehicles, and I think him having risked death in the dragster would be enough for one lifetime.

Bear in mind that this was a man who had suffered serious head injuries in that crash, and had just, unwisely, in my opinion, risked Cerebral Oedema by driving up a volcano. Would anyone here want to take that risk?

Never looked forward to an episode as much as this one and it really delivered!!!! Absolutely brilliant film, had me n my girlfriend gripped all the way through!!

keep up the good work

THIS SHOW IS LIKE THE “GOOD OLD” OLD ONES, YES and the big letters i used to write this down were for a good reason.
Thank you, TOP GEAR for makeing me happy, thank you very much !!!

Merry Christmas several days late, and Happy New Year several days early. Given BBC’s propensity for making us wait for ages before we see these shows, I am hoping to have seen it by, oh August…of 2011. But it sounds wonderful. Just finally saw the Polar special and honestly, that was scary. But it was great. Andy, bless your heart, if you have ANY pull at all with BBC America, please ask them to show the whole show they way they did when you went to Vietnam, and not just bits and pieces like the Pole. Although bits and pieces of TG are still most excellent.

@589 (Inanutshell)

And I quote…

“It was ok all things considered but the Vietnam special was so much better simply because you got a real taste of Vietnam and it felt so much more natural, whereas in this special it was 80% focused on just the guys getting hot and out of breath with the occasional breakdown or staged event thrown in for good measure. The other 20% was just the obligatory shots of impressive scenary – very nice but it all had a feel of just ’scraping the surface’ of this interesting country. It felt very rushed in comparison to Vietnam and some other specials.”

I do agree with your point to a degree, however, if you know your South American geography, you will know that Bolivia is one, if not the highest country in the contient (possibly in the world. La Paz is definitely the highest captial). Chile is also fairly high above sea level. Therefore the bit where they were feeling sick was altitude sickness. They did give snippets of info (the desert, the coca leaves to deal with altitude sickness), but maybe not enough as before. Perhaps they assumed people would know this? I think Vietnam was more of a shock to them, they never expected the country to be so amazing, whereas this pretty much played to possible preconceptions people have of South American countries.

There have been mentions for the full cut of this film to be released…Think it would be the same for all the challenges in America, Africa, Vietnam, etc, a lot more would be shown and it would make (perhaps) more sense. But, I’d say more so for this episode.

Steve Austin 7

I thought I’d put that point in my previous post, but I didn’t. You, sir, are bang on right there.

http://transmission.blogs .topgear.com/2009/12/24/a -big-fat-christmas-treat/ #comment-36242

Everything and I mean everything in this comment is spot on, and looking through the posts he’s made on other blogs it would seem as if he’s been right about everything so far this series. People on this website should take note of The_Monk’s words.

Absolutely brilliant.

All I can say is, ten thumbs up. This in my opinion was rightfully the highlight of this series. Absolutely fantastic. Just as good as any of the other specials. Well done Top Gear!!!

Great way to end a shit series. Hated the last 5 minutes like a lot of people but I think it was overall a great episode. One the best.

Absolutely brilliant film,
keep up the good work because you are simply THE BEST …Eeveryone involved in the making of this film: A BIG THANK!

TOP GEAR NEVER DIE!

Beautiful piece of filmaking; it was almost a movie in itself (that good, honest!). Better than Vietnam, better than any specials you have ever made. This has made my series 14. And Monk, please get off this website, stop writing these stupid reviews which solely consist of criticisms and pessimism which NO ONE reads and (gotta say this) GET A LIFE! NOT EVERYTHING ON TOP GEAR IS S**TE. You’re not a television critic so stop thinking that you are!

Best film yet!!! You guys are brilliant !!! I was so scared for you on ‘Death Road’ but it was enjoyable!!! Please more stuff like this! … P.S Even my mum liked it and she HATES i mean Hates Top Gear!

Reply to no.609, Steve Austin 7:

“Does it matter if the Land Cruiser roll was staged?”

…

Yes (to me) it does! TopGear isn’t Eastenders!

I don’t see why *anything* has to be added to the journey to make the story ‘better’.

You don’t watch Micheal Palin and think ‘this is dull, if only someone were to fall over and be set on fire’.

Basically what TG have thought, is that their wonderful, amazing, beautiful journey across South America wasn’t captivating enough on it’s own – i.e. that the audience are idiots and can’t sit through an hour of TV without seeing a crash or explosion.

Kind of agree with Ape F (#621)…

to drive down the dune with no brakes would have been suicidal for hammond he would have lost control most likely flipped and rolled on the way down the land cruisers center of gravity looked to be far too high to be safe in that situation due to the modifications. they must have had to get rid of it somehow and that was the best way to do it. staged yes but safer

Honestly, I don’t really see a warrant for negative criticism of last night’s episode. The last 5 minutes aside, it was one of the best episodes Top Gear has ever produced. It was (seriously) the 2nd time this series that it was a programme about cars and if this is a sign of a return to form then I honestly cannot wait for series 15. With the exception of Hammond’s land cruiser, it was a return to form of a programme that balanced the two worlds of cars and entertainment on the same tightrope of television.

However, as much as I want to get rid of this series and erase it from my memory, I feel it should be etched in stone as a warning of how NOT to make a series of Top Gear. It’s indicative of the quality of Top Gear when I could give a list of problems and only pick a handful of great moments.

Nobody says, “get rid of the entertainment” – we don’t it to be Fifth Gear; that’s where the two differ – but don’t get rid of the cars. Don’t make a show for people like Darion_Westwood or Leo the Lion. Don’t try to appeal to an asinine demographic of flint-bashing, knuckle-dragging imbeciles. Make a show for us; the dedicated few who watch and cry when you fall, and give you the support you quite rightly need when you make a concerted effort to get back on your feet with episodes like last night’s.

We wait with baited breath to see road tests, the balance between cars and entertainment, Stig pushed to the background and left to do the power laps, more James may, car-related news, cheap/used car challenges, and actual celebrities who either have interesting stories to tell or have a passion for cars. That’s what you have to achieve in 2010.

Take a break and come back this time next year. You’ll feel so much more relaxed.

Top Gear Staff.

If BBC cancels this show you can always come and sell it to RTP.

If you count on the millions more that don’t get to see this program through BBC, but see the program on “alternative” means, you ara holding an audience of millions of viewers internationaly.

So… Don’t even consider canceling this. We’re all having way too much fun.

Incredible! Never cease to amaze me. Thank you once again top gear: D !!!!

Come off it, the last five minutes weren’t the only staged part of the show. Do you honestly think it was Clarkson in the Range Rover edging around the Toyota on the ‘road of death’? Of course not.The producers would NEVER risk something like that. Not that it matters; it’s entertainment.

Top Gear will only make a show that appeals to most of the population in order to get the highest number of viewers (as the douche bag said, ‘knuckle-dragging imbeciles’).

Thanks for yet another quality special, however, as I was disrupted numerous occasions on through my 11 month old daughter, I’m now recording again on BBCHD tonight to watch it again in peace and quiet

Keep it coming, and keep it fresh guys… by the way, nice to see you all at the Tall Trees Hotel in Middlesborough the other week

Cheers
Mark AKA Pugheaven

That was clas!!:D it was classic top gear..i luved it!! this is what we should have in our episodes!!

well what can i say …. this film was utterly UTTERLY fantastic!

i have been looking forward to this all christmas and i have to say it really delivered!

I loved how, even though richard jeremy and james always leave each other on these road trips … they really looked out for each other and showed how they really do care for each other …. i mean they are really close mates and you an see that in this film

the film in itself was fantastic …. i laughed at the funny stuff … like at richard and the bugs in the dark …. i bit my fingernails watching death road and was in awe at the fantastic scenery and sheer drops all over the place

well done to the whole top gear team … keep up the fantastic work …. i love it

please release a top gear dvd of this with loads of extras please cos as somebody said above … there is so much missing …. it was 10 minutes to go til the end and i was thinking it would be hard to finish it off ….. i am looking forward to it

finally can i just say HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYBODY AT TOP GEAR AND ALL THEIR FAMILIES!

The fine balance of entertainment and cars is the prime TG show (i.e. this show and the last of series 13 with that epic Aston film). Take note TG: you nailed it this time!

PS. tHough i think i’m right in saying Hammond’s LandCruiser accident was staged..no?

So, Ape F & xxxAJagFanxxx, you’d willingly have someone risk his life, just for your “entertainment”?

As I said in my last post, I think the dragster accident was probably enough for Richard, his family, the producers, the BBC, their lawyers, insurers, and the dreaded health and safety men.

I watched the show, loved it, and when the Toyota rolled away, laughed at a great piece of slapstick. I’d sooner do that than see Hammonds’ funeral on the news.

Amen Monk!

bolivia special was good. but it was more a roa trip. There werent any challenges. Clarkson’s moment near the cliff was the best clip of the show. I think people should be allowed to express their opinions on the show and Wilman needs to be less defensive. If your so confident wilman dont take what people to heart. Obviously your interested in what people think! Just a final thought however. TG was voted the best show of the decade by channel 4! get in there! Many congrats to the top gear team!

@Steve Austin 7
I’m not suggesting anything like that; that’s why I agreed with Ape F in saying that Top Gear assumes that the majority of people who watch their show can’t sit down for an hour without something going ‘bang’. If anything, I’m saying it shouldn’t have happened at all; it wrecked the end of the film. I am merely saying that the fine balance of RESPONSIBLE entertainment and cars is prime. Sorry for any offence caused x.

can I just add, I do agree that the show is feeling a little too staged lads… leave the staging at home, and get back to natural reactions that made the earlier shows so great.

Cheers
Mark

Steve Austin 7: Here’s a question though…

What would have been better; them pretending as if it was an accident or them simply pushing the car on purpose?

Nobody likes crap acting, or contrived set-pieces. At the end of the day, Top Gear is quite known for it’s cocking about – what would have made it more “entertaining”? James taking Richard’s handbrake off on purpose and letting his car plummet down the dune to its doom. Vengeance is mine, etc.

That would have been so much better to see than Richard casually getting out of his car, pretending as if nothing is going to happen, the car conveniently rolling away and the camera focusing on Richard’s face as his beloved Land Cruiser (with echoes of “OLIVER!” still reverberating around the Atacama) rolls down the dune and dies, and then pretending as if it wasn’t meant to happen. At least it would have looked a tad more spontaneous.

“At the end of the day, Top Gear is quite known for it’s cocking about – what would have made it more “entertaining”? James taking Richard’s handbrake off on purpose and letting his car plummet down the dune to its doom. Vengeance is mine, etc.”

Actually… that WOULD have been better. I’d have loved to have seen that.

Primero quiero felicitarlos por su excelente programa el que lamentablemente no se ve en Chile, mi país.
Segundo, espero que en sus momentos en Sudamerica hayan sido de lo mejor estoy seguro que el paisaje y el terreno debió haber sido expectacular.
Me declaro un Fanatico de Top Gear y si vuelven a Chile algún día para poder conversar e invitarlos a una rica cerveza casera

Atte.

Leonardo
Chile

you guys are the best…..hope you will do more expeditions like this in the near future….

cant believe i missed it i promise 2 watch it sometime on BBC site it sounds good

I think it was brilliant
The comedy factr was really high and the viagre bit was halliriously funny.
KEEP THE SHOW ROCKING ‘N’ ROLLIN

Brilliant show, well done guys. This one will be watched a number of times over the coming days and weeks by me, when i need a little cheering up.

My God, the Bolivia trip was the most terrifying yet fantastic episodes yet! During the Death Road segmenent of the film, I was on the edge of my seat, swearing at the tv, because it was one of the most frightening things I have ever seen. It was a brillaint film, really very good. I’m watching it on Iplayer as I type.
Utterly brilliant, you’ve done it again, well done boys!

The best Top Gear show ever!!

Keep up the good work!

Greetings from Holland!

Best episode ever. well, yet.

Sorry but I’ve seen better films made by TG. Certainly not one of their best!

@ Monk:

Since when were the presenters actors?

to anyone who has written critically about this episode of top gear (especially The Monk):

at the end of the day its an entertainment. stop complaining about staged events and take the show (and yourselves) less seriously. if you don’t like it don’t watch it – let the viewing figures speak for themselves.

I think most people who have offered critisism fail to appreciate the scale of the journey they took on. Speaking from experience that part of South America is every bit as epic as portrayed in the film.

I do agree that the start of the episode went on to long, and although i don’t think hammonds jeep rolling at the end was staged, it was entirely predictable.

Nonetheless it was brilliant, inspirational and compelling entertainment!

That was a great show and the best special I´ve seen. You program is not broadcast in Bolivia, but I got to see it. You would be amazed at the kind of roads we have here you could do an entire season here. You should also try to get the show broadcast in South America. We are car enthusiast, but without a decente car show. I hope you come again and make people know you are coming.
Greetings from Bolivia and congratulations again

@ xxxAJagFanxxx no.618 I could not agree more, it was a brilliant peice of automotive telivison
if it was longer it would have been a film

actaully, top gear film, thats an idea …

“Make a show for us; the dedicated few who watch….”

Monk….i dont agree with you.If they make it like you said they probably lose their audience.Yes,they would make some happy but the vast majority will leave.It’s a show,it’s a business.

“Don’t try to appeal to an asinine demographic of flint-bashing, knuckle-dragging imbeciles”

Milions watch the show every week…their not all imbeciles.
They must find a balance between the dedicated few,and the large masses.
Yes i do agree with you when you say:”more James may, car-related news, cheap/used car challenges”….I think they know to bring back the glamour!
It is still the best show ever and with minor modifications will remain like this many years. Sorry for my english!

Just watched the show – it was awesome . I have not laughed so much in ages. Well done lads!

What a show that was last night, defently the best special, and deserves to win best show of the last decade, as this is my favourite show, Sunday’s are not really meant to be looking forward to as, work is the next day, but Sunday nights are easily the best night of the week. My sis heard a lil rumour in the sun (which always makes up rubbish) that topgear might be getting axed because its loosing its petrol head viewers, i love cars, but if they want to moan go and watch fifth gear, but there is noting like Topgear, truley amazing show, but don’t see how there is rumours of axing it when a couple days later it got voted the best show of the last decade. Is this rumour true or can anyone from the show give me the truth and put my mind to rest, as without topgear me and many others would be lost without it.

Does anyone know what was the background music playing in the sequence where they approach the Chilean border..its been driving me mad all day!

Cheers

Chris

the best

@Chris
Someone on Final Gear has said it’s Doves – Kingdom of Rust. Final Gear are excellent for this. Just take a note of what time during the show the song was played and skip over to Final Gear and it’s usually listed.

@Chris post no 656 – it’s Doves with Kingdom of Rust

The best bit of the show for me – the bit that really did touch me – was when James was imploring Richard and Jezza not to bump him on the Death Road. I flashed back to Jeremy in the 24 Britcar race saying about not making witty comebacks when James was trying to concentrate then screwing it up a bit later.

I knew there was no doubt that Hamster would be taking the request very very seriously – poor Hammond isn’t a great fan of heights himself – and that respect for someone elses fear was very evident there.

Who else here would love to implore the likes of Andy and Iain May to release a book of the epic adventures? When Palin did Around the World or Pole to Pole – the travel diaries were awesomely brilliant and offered insight and behind the scenes for some of the other aspects of the trip. I would sell any offspring (if I had them) for a couple of Top Gear books like that!

Reply to 633 (Steve Austin 7):

No – I’d rather not see it roll down the hill at all. There’s not two options, one where Hammond dies and the other where his Land Cruiser does.

my point is if it couldn’t make it down the hill cos it was too broke – say so!

Why does everything have to be a story?!

It’s an adventure. That IS the story.

Re the whole Land Cruiser down the dune issue

Oh honestly WHO CARES? If you are going to get this worked up about it two of you lot get together one to represent the yes they should and one no the shouldn’t, buy two clapped out Cruisers and do the frelling trip yourselves! Then when you get to the top of the slope you can decide whether you want to do it or not!

As I have just read on another forum…

“Those who can – do, those who can’t – teach, those who REALLY can’t – BLOG!”

I obviously care. Muppet

Mahna-mahna… doo do, dee, doo doo

Well then, like I said – do something about it other than whine like the little two stroke motor you are coming across as!

Bolivian special – brilliant. Bickering, James falling, Richard screaming at the bugs and Clarkson being a d**k. Still the only show that makes me pay money to the BBC….
One gripe, no Stig.
Keep it up, show of the decade, brilliant, just brilliant.

great show guys! i loved it! i cant say that i blame hammond for not going down the face of that dune in the cruiser because i dont think i would of wanted to! not really sure why clarkson would want to wear jeans in a jungle but to each his own. i honestly thought that james was going kill jeremy for that tap on the bumper. that was awesome! keep it up fellas!
and remember YOU CANT PLEASE EVERYONE ALL THE TIME.

the not fat american

Loved the show. I thought the Vietnam one was more eye-openingly (is that a word?) amazing, but Bolivia was great. A colleague of mine have a botfly larva embedded in his ankle, which ate its way out to just above his ankle. Disgusting. Thought Hammond’s car was pretty great after the mods… shame it ‘accidentally’ rolled off down the dune. I would have liked to have seen it in a head-to-head stock car race with Oliver.

Made my Christmas. Terrific show and fingers crossed for you all next year. Sunday evening is not Sunday without TG. Apologies also to James for my crass attempt at conversation at Maranello’s a few weeks ago.

Most spectacular show ever made… Thanks for making this the best christmas… I don’t care what other people say. You guys rock!

“If they make it like you said they probably lose their audience.”

Supersonic (#653): No, they’ll just lose the fickle few who couldn’t care less about Top Gear original point to begin with. And the question always remains, if the audience is so fickle that they could leave at even the slightest hint of Top Gear’s original point, why should Top Gear try and appeal to them anyway?

I am unhappy about the potential environmantal damage. Can the producers confirm that they cleared up after themselves ? i.e not leaving abandoned cars in the desert

may I just say:

James May + Bandana = *faint* !!!

OMG – How sexy was he in this episode

Ciao
Lily

For me the Bolivia Special was the best thing I’ve seen in a long while. Especially after the was they have been showing in the last series. But… I do agree with some of you that the last bit with Hammonds car rolling down the dune was a bit to obvious. You could see it coming from miles away that he wouldn’t be able to drive that car of the top of the dune. But how would you have solved it?
I think that they just chose the easy way out with a bit of slapstick. Could they just leave Hammond there and say: well, you can’t do it, it’s too dangerous? Would that be satisfiying for the ‘clever’ viewers among us? They just solved the problem in an entertaining way, because it is entertainment! And I don’t think you should feel insulted when you see it is staged, because you know why. And for the others who don’t see it is staged, it is just funny…

Secondly, I don’t have any problem with people reviewing this show, but please keep in mind what you are reviewing. Top Gear isn’t art or some film made by David Lynch or Roman Polanski. It is just a very good and innovative car show. I do agree that this year the quality is low, but one of the main reasons is because the standard is very high.

Anyway, the Bolivia Special saved my Top Gear year and lets hope for the best next year!

ps: sorry if I wrote any mistakes, English is not my native language

rewatchihng the ep today, it does make perfect sense for them to trash the Cruiser in that way. Setting aside the slapstick ramifications of HOW it happened – the long and the short was, they were simply demonstrating what would happen if a car like that ‘dug in’ as they had only just mentioned.

Obviously the car wasn’t going to make it, and they couldn’t demonstrate the effect with a driver in it, so yes – it might have been ‘childish’ and ‘planned’, but it still got its point across didn’t it?

I would just like to say thank you very much for making such a fantastic programme. The Bolivia specical was the best episode ever- I will definately be buying it on iTunes! i think that everyone who said that top gear is finished is wrong- the last episode certainly was proof against their theory! Everyone is obviously so dedicated to their jobs and I really appreciate their efforts. Thanks!

Wow….can’t wait to see this special! Sounds like most people loved it as usual…except the “nick-picker” Monk-ster! I still can’t tell which one is the real one from the fake…lolol!

Hi all. Great ep really)

Всем смотреть, эпизод эпичен. Лучший в сезоне. ))

This episode is my favorite of Top Gear. It is indeed epic!!!
Just a little complain when they pass the 15,000 ft mark and Jeremy says “we are higher than the highest peak in Europe, and we are still driving” that’s not true. Mount Elbrus is 18,510 ft high, and even if you consider Mont Blanc, it’s still 15,781 ft.

Nobody has replied to my question

‘My sis heard a lil rumour in the sun (which always makes up rubbish) that topgear might be getting axed because its loosing its petrol head viewers’ is this rumour true, can someone please say so i can put my mind to rest

@bubbleman It has got less viewers than it did a few years ago but they’re not axing it yet. They may in a few years though, but not anytime soon. hope this helped

Am I the only one who thinks someone here wants his 15 minutes of fame, just like Mr Needham?

http://en.wikipedia.org/w iki/Ojos_del_Salado

check out he bit about a couple of ‘Germans breaking the world altitiude record for a car’ on it.

Surely the boys can beat it?

Cameron

I tell you what I didn’t understand in Sunday’s show – the whole thing with Jeremy losing his mobile phone. As it happened I was just waiting for the moment where Jeremy says he left it on the boat, James suggests they drive on or Richard reveals he’s got it. But it didn’t happen – it was just one man looking for his mobile while his two friends wait for him.

It just seemed like an odd moment to keep when you’ve got a specially-extended episode.

FABULOUS,AWESOME,AMAZING.
Genuinely touching,scary,wonderful, i have never seen TG like this before. I really felt for them during the frightening moments and i love the presenter’s friendship; no “pretending to hate each other” this time,just genuine,loyal and touching friendship. I loved it.Well done all!!

@Izzy, thank you for the reply, yea it has helped thank you

Staged or Not; It doesn’t matter. It’s all great motoring fun!

- Losing petrol head viewers ? That’s rubbish.. I don’t buy it.. – TopGear always replenish the love of motoring in me and like me, in zillion others..

(Y)

really enjoyed it, the Toyota was older than the other two put together, so it was a shame to wreck it, I wonder how many times the Range Rover got dragged out by the support crew Toyota Land Cruisers lol
great fun
Thanks Top gear.

John R, the whole point of the bit where he left his mobile phone on a stump by the river was to highlight the fact that, even after we see them basking in the glory of what they had achieved, they hadn’t actually got very far at all – it takes Jeremy about 20 seconds to walk back to the river, and we can still hear him when he yells “I’ve got it”.

I thought it was funny

Thanks to Vicky and Beckstar for helping me out with the music. Pointing me in the direction of finalgear was great, I will never be wondering again!

Just one other point to make. James made a big deal about his fear of heights, yet he is a keen flyer and earlier this year did a programme about going to the edge of space in a U2 spy plane. I know its not quite the same thing, but to me it didn’t really ring true.

Thanks ‘GAZVAN’, makes sense now. There was me waiting for some massive scripted stunt… I’ve obviously been reading too many of The_Monk’s posts!

Great.

Yes, Hammond’s signature “accident” was silly and contrived, but the guys acknowledged that, so I didn’t feel insulted. And in some ways it was appropriate to accept defeat with a lame, tired joke. It must have been very disappointing to make it that far and not finish. Anyway, they needed a pause before plunging headfirst down the dune. Perhaps more “Oh bugger, I hadn’t planned on dying today” would have worked better; then again, that might have been equally contrived. It seems the boys have grown a set of stones since the early series. In particular, I was very impressed when May went over the top in the Suzuki. There’s plenty of web video where idiots roll their high CG vehicles over, and over, and over.

Given the quality of the roadtrip/buddy pic/car challenge aspects, I think there was room for 10 minutes of scenic filler and side-stories — some Michael Palin type amateur anthropology. But maybe that’s because I just saw “The Devil’s Miner”. More Bolivia, please.

Was Hammond’s FJ full-time or part-time 4wd? I’d guess part-time, which makes me wonder why he was driving in 4wd on the highway. Did anyone notice?

i loved the episode but i dont think it was there best one witch for me was vietnamor botswanna

@Chris333

Rang true to me. Staring down a cliff and riding in a plane are completely different things. It’s amazing how strong the “stay away from the edge” reflex is. (I’ve bungie jumped.) So that’s the difference — the edge.

Anybody here over the age of 10?

Clarkson is getting too old for doing stupid stuff like that. He is now 50, and James isn’t far behind either.

James IS getting really tired of Clarkson and his cretinous behaviour, and it was edited quite severely where he lost his rag and threatened him.(Jeremy’s typical short attention span & not paying attention to the road AGAIN)

The stupid Volcano pass stunt was way to contrived and there was deffo a medical team with oxygen on standby if it all went tits up. The H&S bods at the Beeb would have insisted that, and just admitting that hamsters Landcruiser was dead, instead of slackening off the wheelnuts on the front wheel & Hammond clearly pushing it (he goes out of shot if you watch carefully)would have been better, not shoving the camera at a stupid angle and making it look like they were going down a steep bank….Knock it off with crap like that, we arent idiots!!!

Its time for Jezzer to go..James & Richard can host the show without him, as both are far funnier than Jezzer is.

Jezzer could go on to host serious documentary type progs, as he has more than proved his worth doing several for the beeb. His Brunell show was the best he has ever done.

The show has become Last Of The Summer Wine with cars as a sideline. What next? Hammond going down a hill in a bathtub on wheels eh?

Axe Star In The bag of junk, as all it is normally is some pain in the arse trying to flog summat, who has zero interest in cars…We DONT CARE about them and their egos. It also slows the pace of the show down to an almost stop. Its also free advertising for GM, who will have let them have the cars for nowt!

Only just got around to watching it, little thing called work got in the way. Anyway, extremely good program, natural drama and natural humor from the boys, was actually afraid during the ascent of the death road. Combined with you all off coining it in with Top Gear live the trouble and effort involved in this episode goes some way to explaining why in the rest of the series the boys have looked somewhat tired and disinterested.

Minor niggle though, killing the Toyota looked staged. It was fairly obvious it was dead and never gonna get down the dune so why not just be men about it and admit it. You should have strapped Hammond in with James and concentrated on his terrified face as he had no control. Instead you treated us to a moment of that has taken a little of the gloss off. It was shaping up to outstrip the Botswana episode as the best special when that happened. As a result though I’ll have to place it 2nd overall. Almost perfect, such a shame a small piece stopped it from being 100 percent. Just remember that everyone likes intelligent, humorous TV, only idiots like idiotic TV.

Hope the final episode is a good one, are you going to do Top Gear cars of the year awards? In fact, here’s an idea, why don’t you do a show devoted to your cars of the year, test them out and tell us why they’re so good. All the car magazines do this, why shouldn’t you and in the process add your own Top gear spin to it to spice it up?

Just remains to say, thank you for your efforts, even though this series hasn’t been the best I’ve still enjoyed watching much of it. Take care and have a good New Year.

#485 – The Monk “I don’t think we should be cutting them any slack. Constructive criticism only serves to make the programme better so I think if people keep the pressure on them and monitor Top Gear’s progress, things will run much smoother for all of us.”

There are many people who think that way and want to get the change they so desperately want.

But can I implore EVERYONE to please remember these words the next time YOU have personally been put through the wringer and feel like death warmed over – then someone criticises you (fairly or unfairly) for something you have done.

Think back to that time when you were a child and you were so proud of something you had done and someone, anyone laughed or scoffed at it… that lurching feeling in the pit of your stomach – how did that feel? Good?

These threads are fast becoming the internet equivalent of a Dickensian character who is beating the living snot out of another character because “it’s for their own good”.

Though i doubt they would do it, because I suspect the Guys and Gals at TG have cast iron Kahoona’s, I wouldn’t condemn them if they just said “stuff the lot of you” and took their bat and ball and went home!

shut up

http://www.guardian.co.uk  /media/organgrinder/2009  /dec/22/top-gear

That’s not looking good… but fair play that TG has admitted it’s failings, and lets hop[e the next series kicks some butt and is fresh, even if we have to wait 12 motnhs for it… I agree the last couple of series have seem rushed… shame… I don’t want this series to finish, but I don’t want it turning silly and it’s borderline…

Have a break guys… come back in the summer next year, new cars, slightly new format and be natural and have a laugh, we love you all too much for us to fall of the TG wagon!

cheers
Mark

i love watching top gear i even watch repeats and can you tell me how is the stig please

@PugHeaven: The Guardian is always bitching about something TG has done – so even the remotest, flimsy, skeric of information that SUGGESTS they are losing is going to have them in a feeding frenzy

MMm, sorry but I don’t think this particular episode was worth the money spent on it, great that the boys got a holiday in South America, and I’m not jealous of that….. honest! I know it’s difficult to come up with new ideas, and filming it must have been a bugger, but it did come across as being the most contrived episode so far, sorry but that’s how I saw it, funny though it may have been at times, the various exploits were quite obviously staged, and shattered the illusion that the boys really were trying to pit their wits against nature.

One of the best i think, you should make more like this.

tbh, most of the people in here are just boring old farts, and i think that all the accidents make the show. And i think if they make the show more serious than they will lose alot of there veiwers.

i think this episode was amazing!

The whole idea of it all, and the views and the way it was all handled was spectacular.

One of those millions who watched this incredible speacial via iPlayer was me! And i loved it,

Also, the camera crew for TopGear are truly one of a kind. I am a keen Photographer and TopGear always surprises me.

Looking forward to the next series. Can’t wait. Biting my nails already!

Hope your Christmas’ went well and a very Happy 2010!

Lindsay Madgwick.

The Brazil special was a good show but if you look closely you can see a hand is holding Hammond’s truck at the back until he gets out at the end and once he walks past the hand disappears and the truck slides off the cliff. I don’t mind though

I’d say the funniest ever was Florida for me, as it seemed to be the most natural and was just genuinely amusing, had me and my lad in tears in places…

The Polar one was just exceptional, not that it was funny, but as a program it was just fantastic to watch, so much I’ve kept it in my SkyHD from the BBC.

The Vietnam last year was funny as hell, scripted a little BUT was still funny and seemed natural.

This years, although was good… it seems forced a little.

I love TG, I really do, it’s the best show of the decade for me, as it’s had me in tears… I’ve read all Clarksons books and to me the team are all fantastic and work together….

HOWEVER… I really want them if need be, take 12 months off… get back to basics… lets a .oad of new cars appear, let people come up with new ideas etc etc… lets keep the formula as is… BUT lets have a break, let them all recharge there batteries… as I think, Clarkson, Hamster and May need a bit of a break… they’re looking shagged tbh… think about it… all the different programs etc they all do now, think it’s taking it’s toll on them all and they’re not getting any younger.

PLEASEEE don’t think of knocking TG on the head, it’s too entertaining… lets just have a break… and come back next Autum with 8 knockout shows with an awesome XMAS special.

Youve’ all still got it in ya lads… lets get back to what you did best, moan, bicker, test cars and generally piss each other off… but do it off the cuff and leave the script writers at home.

Mark

Off topic, sorry, but can anyone tell me what the music is that was near the end of the Bolivia Special? The uplifting orchestral synth music which played when the guys were talking about how great the cars were (at about 1:08.30 on iPlayer), when Jezza and James reach the bottom of the slope (1:14.00 on iPlayer) and during the end credits? It’s awesome music and I need to own it! Any ideas who it’s by?

to all the topgear team yous do realy know how to put something spectacular together.. all the shows is wonderfull but the bolivia special was second to none.. fair play to yous all and a very happy new year

Brilliant special – a lot of superb moments and some stunning scenery. Thank you, chaps!

LOVE IT!! It was art.

p.s. But where was the Stig??

Can somebody explain to me why, in the final ride down the steep slope, James May is wearing his seat belt in some shots but is not wearing it in other shots?

Happy 2010 from the farside

it was brill
happy new year top gear

Bolivian Brilliance

Although the first 10 mins after the 4×4’s left the raft was very homo-erotic and I would of love to seen more , after all you were there for two weeks 75 mins is not enough

Happy New Year TG xoxo

This south America show is fantastic!!! This is the beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeest Top Gear show ever!

To Jeremy, James and Richard,

Happy New Year!

From Nebraska

@ Post 715:

This confirms all my suspicions! ;p

how did they get away with chopping down trees in the amazon rain forest??!!

I watched the Bolivia special on both Sunday and Monday and I’d still rather watch it again now than anything else that’s been on the box this Christmas.

Fantastic – it really was a christmas treat!

#720

The few branches etc they or anyone cut down would not make a diference as there are Acres of it cut down every hour for illegal logging.Its that we have to stop.

LOVE THE SHOW!! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!

I have just indulged myself in a rewatch of the special on my friends new 50″ plasma… I enjoyed it before… Now I feel tingly all over. A drive in the wilds of the West seem appropriate right about now!

Again… Thanks guys for making our lives better by making your lives a little difficult

abso loved it. scariest part was when jezza met the car at the wterfall, i’d imagine some serious clenchin went on

top gear is the best show, it should never end…

I Wonder what they wil do in the next Season…

I reckon the Mongol Rally is a definite must myself – excellent show, Sunday evenings just aren’t the same without it 8^-)

this show really was a treat, best episode of the year for me so thanks for finishing on such a high.

and i’d buy that TG: shit pin-ups calendar in a flash – lots of the delectable captain slow please.

Great special! It was epic, breathtaking, and really nicely put together. I was still on the edge of my seat watching it for the third time!

It’s a shame that so many of the comments on here descend into petty squabbling.

As for the last 5 minutes… I’d rather watch Hammond push his car down that dune on purpose than watch it roll down with him in it. It was clearly not safe to try. Why complain about something like that being staged? I’m sure everyone who is smart enough to realise that it was staged is smart enough to know why.

Again, amazing special, can’t wait till it comes out on DVD!

I LOVE a thriller, and this is THEE best thriller I have ever seen! CONGRATULATIONS! I cant wait for the time when my Mum can see it too. (she is 86yo and loves midsummer murders etc)she will be thrilled to see this thriller! I just HAVE to have a copy of this amazing film to give to my brother in law in S. Africa who is car/motorcycle crazy. When and how can I get a copy of this?? You certainly get the “Derainged Dudes” trophy! Thank you!! from Ursula Trentham

Words are coming out and none of them are making sense.

This was epic (obviously from the lads perspective) but from the viewers perspective too and I’m so glad someone broke the law and enabled me to watch it!

I hope you all get a really nice long break to revitalise your creative juices for many more series – you make the week that so much better!

Brilliant special, I reckon it should have been twice the length with more detail. Seemed a shame to just say “we stayed in a village with hotels” without showing more.
Looking forward to the next series!

Nice idea but spoilt by shit production. Too many errors in the editing suite made it looked all staged. We know it is all staged but at least do a professional job so it looks a tiny bit real.
We saw the crew push Hammonds car…James broke down along the road in front and then cut inside the car and you can see the crew outside filming and he pretends it’s just happened….driving down the hill James has his seatbelt on then its off..he is in front then behind…any other programme was that badly made it would be slammed by the critics.
There are more errors…too many for here…could probably write a book on it.

You forgot to add the number of people who download it through bit torrent…

Loved it so much I just bought my own 4×4.
Can we have an Easter Special too please.
Then Something around August would be good.

The story is very interesting, looking forward to a new beginning.

Top! ~ ~ ~

dame! that must of hurt james hahaha

TAT BOLIVIA SHOW WUZ LEGANDARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  !!

Does anyone know the background music that plays when morning arrives in the town of La Paz just before Richard and James argue with Jeremy at the restaurant?

Me & my wife watched this episode over Christmas and thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment the guys brought our screen best Christmas programme and certainly worth the tv licence. Keep up the wonderful and ever so entertaining programme and remember you are the best and informative and most entertaining show has to offer on the BBC. Captain Slow we love you!

lets go top gear, your fans in the US of A are waiting! looks to be a good one!

HAHA thats was so funny when james fell!Im so like Richard Hammond i hate creepy crawlies too

Hi Andy,
Do you think you’ll be using any more tracks from the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack next season?
I know it’s lovely and dramatic music, but kind of getting a bit stale now.
You know the one, “Lux Aeterna”, aka “Requiem for a Tower”, aka “Requiem for a Dream”.

Thanks,

Benni

Guy
You have got to see this. Obama playing on XBox. Funniest video ever. http://bit.ly/bllhx1

This series about Bolivia simply super

To put this discussion into context, the BBC’s official statistics department have generously provided the definitive viewing figures for Top Gear in the UK…

Programme: Top Gear (Series 14)
Channel: BBC2
Episodes: 7
Start Date: 15-Nov-2009
End Date: 03-Jan-2010

Episode 1: 6.41 million
Episode 2: 6.19 million
Episode 3: 6.10 million
Episode 4: 6.09 million
Episode 5: 6.35 million
Episode 6: 7.07 million (“Bolivia special”)
Episode 7: 6.05 million
Average viewers: 6.32 million (Series 14, BBC2)

Programme: Top Gear (Series 14)
Channel: BBC HD
Episodes: 7
Start Date: 15-Nov-2009
End Date: 03-Jan-2010

Episode 1: 0.283 million
Episode 2: 0.285 million
Episode 3: 0.412 million
Episode 4: 0.196 million
Episode 5: 0.550 million
Episode 6: 0.378 million (“Bolivia special”)
Episode 7: 0.472 million
Average viewers: 0.368 million (Series 14, BBC HD)

Average total viewers: 6.688 million (Series 14, BBC2 + BBC HD)

Programme: Top Gear (Series 13)
Channel: BBC2
Episodes: 7
Start Date: 21-Jun-2009
End Date: 02-Aug-2009

Episode 1: 7.86 million
Episode 2: 7.00 million
Episode 3: 6.38 million
Episode 4: 6.80 million
Episode 5: 7.38 million
Episode 6: 7.69 million
Episode 7: 7.11 million
Average viewers: 7.17 million (Series 13)

Programme: Top Gear (Series 12)
Channel: BBC2
Episodes: 8
Start Date: 02-Nov-2008
End Date: 28-Dec-2008

Episode 1: 7.74 million
Episode 2: 7.57 million
Episode 3: 6.98 million
Episode 4: 7.15 million
Episode 5: 7.51 million
Episode 6: 7.33 million
Episode 7: 7.54 million
Episode 8: 6.70 million
Average viewers: 7.32 million (Series 12)

Programme: Top Gear (Series 11)
Channel: BBC2
Episodes: 6
Start Date: 22-Jun-2008
End Date: 27-Jul-2008

Episode 1: 6.72 million
Episode 2: 5.21 million
Episode 3: 5.78 million
Episode 4: 5.70 million
Episode 5: 6.65 million
Episode 6: 5.59 million
Average viewers: 5.94 million (Series 11)

Programme: Top Gear (Series 10)
Channel: BBC2
Episodes: 10
Start Date: 07-Oct-2007
End Date: 23-Dec-2007

Episode 1: 6.27 million
Episode 2: 5.53 million
Episode 3: 6.73 million
Episode 4: 6.84 million
Episode 5: 7.74 million
Episode 6: 7.24 million
Episode 7: 6.86 million
Episode 8: 8.35 million
Episode 9: 7.38 million
Episode 10: 7.15 million
Average viewers: 7.01 million (Series 10)

Programme: Top Gear (Series 9)
Channel: BBC2
Episodes: 6
Start Date: 28-Jan-2007
End Date: 04-Mar-2007

Episode 1: 8.13 million
Episode 2: 7.20 million
Episode 3: 6.18 million
Episode 4: 7.51 million
Episode 5: 7.58 million
Episode 6: 8.12 million
Average viewers: 7.45 million (Series 9)

Five-Season Average: 6.98 million (Series 9–13)

“Overall, the latest series of Top Gear (Series 14) received an average of 6.32 million viewers on BBC2, plus an average of 0.368 million viewers on BBC HD, for a total average UK audience of 6.688 million viewers. This represents a reduction of –292,000 viewers, compared to the 6.98 million average from the previous five seasons of Top Gear. The average total viewing figures for Season 14 equate to a reduction in Top Gear viewers of –4.18% compared to the previous five-season average.”

“The peak viewing for Top Gear (Series 14) was achieved by Episode 6, The Bolivia Special, with a combined total UK audience of 7.448 million viewers. This peak viewing figure for Series 14 was 0.902 million below the 8.35 million peak viewing for Top Gear over the previous five-seasons – as achieved for Series 10, Episode 8.”

…many thanks to the helpful team at the BBC statistics department!

Hi all car entusiasts!
We are some students who currently are doing a study of car enthusiast’s perceptions of Scandinavian Design. It only takes 2 minutes to answer and we would really appreciate if you could answer. Thanks!
http://www.surveymonkey.c om/s/scandinavia