Category: Top Gear

Car versus chopper races are nothing new in automotive television. Indeed, Fifth Gear has just had a go in their latest episode. But spare a thought for Jeremy, James and Richard’s South Korean offshoot, Top Gear Korea, as their Corvette ZR1 v AH1 Cobra helicopter stunt went very wrong.

Kim Jin Pyo was at the wheel of the ZR1 and watched on in horror as the chopper pilot ate some dirt. Thankfully nobody was seriously hurt, which is more than can be said for those of you who have read our cheesy headline.

Watch the clip after the break.

To remind us that the next Series 19 of Top Gear is just over a week away, BBC Two has released this short teaser to YouTube. Nice work Shazza!

Good news for Top Gear fans waiting for Series 19 to air, with word coming through the boys are due back at their Dunsfold hangar filming on Wednesday 23 January. That means we can expect to see the first episode of the next season on UK screens on Sunday 27 January.

For now it looks as though there could only be five episodes in the nineteenth season, but we can hope for more. Don’t forget, the latest Christmas special is due to go to air in February as well (see below).

As previously posted they’ve even been kind enough to give us a preview of Series 19, which we have repeated for you below.

• Christmas special has been filmed, but broadcast to be delayed until February 2013. Clarkson has already hinted: “Well people here we go. Warm clothes and thick boots packed.”
• Another cross-Euro race featuring car v public transport.
• Kris Meeke and James May go rallying in a Bentley Continental GT.
• Jeremy in the Ferrari F12 berlinetta.
• Other cars to be featured include the Toyota 86, new Ford Focus ST, Jaguar F-Type, new Porsche 911, a new Lotus and the new Range Rover.
• As well as the suggestion of including a special McLaren (not the P1, yet) and the Peugeot Onyx concept.

[Source: Finalgear]

Normally pre-broadcast updates concerning the latest season of Top Gear come from anywhere but Top Gear; we even broke the Vietnam story back in 2008. But, as Series 19 draws closer, Top Gear has cut out the middle man and posted an update of what’s been going on and what to expect:

• Christmas special has been filmed, but broadcast to be delayed until February 2013. Clarkson has already hinted: “Well people here we go. Warm clothes and thick boots packed.”
• Another cross-Euro race featuring car v public transport.
• Kris Meeke and James May go rallying in a Bentley Continental GT.
• Jeremy in the Ferrari F12 berlinetta.
• Other cars to be featured include the Toyota 86, new Ford Focus ST, Jaguar F-Type, new Porsche 911, a new Lotus and the new Range Rover.
• As well as the suggestion of including a special McLaren (not the P1, yet) and the Peugeot Onyx concept.

Check out the link below for the full skinny.

[Source: Top Gear]

Richard, Jeremy and James have all signed a new three-year contract with BBC TV to continue as hosts of Top Gear according to The Guardian.

Further, the article claims that Bedder 6 has been bought by BBC Worldwide. Founded in 2006, Bedder 6 controls the commercial rights to Top Gear and is owned by Clarkson and Andy Wilman, Top Gear’s executive producer.

In 2007 the BBC bought a stake in the company, understood to be just over 50%. Now that stake will be upped to 100%, although the terms of the deal remain confidential.

However, shortly after The Guardian published its article last night Jeremy Clarkson took to twitter and said: “I like the Guardian. It’s a good paper. But the story it’s running about Top Gear on line is seriously wrong.”

We’ll take it that he’s referring to the Bedder 6 content and not the reporting of a new three-year deal for the main presenters.

The Telegraph is also reporting on the story and claims Clarkson is set to earn £15 million from the Bedder 6 sale.

We’re not too fussed on what Clarkson, Wilman or anyone else is making from the show, just so long as they keep making it. A Christmas special is due to air later this year before Season 19 hits UK screens in January 2013.

[Source: The Guardian]

Following our post earlier in the week, Jeremy Clarkson has confirmed via twitter that the start date for Season 19 of Top Gear will be next January.

Clarkson established there’ll be no more regular episodes in 2012: “There’s a rumour in internet land that there will be no more Top Gears this year. I’m afraid that apart from an Xmas special, it’s true.”

Before adding: “The good news is that the longer we have to make the films, the better they will be.”

Apparently the delay is due to the latest Simon Cowell sing-a-thon. Clarkson explains: “Top Gear is a medium sized van. Cowell is a juggernaut. When he has finished his singing competition, our new series will start.”

So there you have it, straight from the horses mouth. At least we’ll get the usual Christmas special before year’s end.