A couple of weeks ago Jeremy Clarkson revealedTop Gear would be filming their 2011 Christmas special in India. And here’s the proof. Above you see Richard Hammond and James May photographed with fans in Mumbai. There’s more pics and discussion via the source link at the end of this article.
Also available after the break is a short video clip of Hammond captured by a member of the public during filming. If you’d like to give yourself a Top Gear surprise for Christmas we suggest you look away now. Otherwise the video and more info can be seen below.
Reports from the UK bring word that Rowan Atkinson has been hospitalised after crashing his McLaren F1. Although it has been described that Atkinson “cheated death” he suffered only a minor shoulder injury.
It’s understood the 56-year-old comedian lost control of the car and it spun three times before crashing into a tree then a street light sign. He was able to free himself from the wreckage and was assisted by a witness until emergency crews arrived.
The Sun is quoting a source as saying, “It’s a miracle that he managed to walk away from the crash. He’s a very lucky man.
“The car was a wreck, really badly damaged. Rowan must be absolutely gutted.”
British tabloid paper Daily Star is reporting that Top Gear host Richard Hammond wants to reshape his TV persona. It’s understood the 41-year-old is not happy to be simply known as “the cute little man who had a crash” and wants the show’s producers to take him in a new direction when Season 18 returns (on 29 January 2012).
Front man Jeremy Clarkson is well known for his forthright and often grumpy views. While James May aka ‘Captain Slow’ embraces his careful and fastidious identity.
Supposedly ‘The Hamster’ is feeling left behind his two colleagues and says it’s not fair. It’s been reported he has taken his complaints to the BBC’s top brass demanding action. So, when the next season of Top Gear airs on BBC2 later this year we can expect to see a more defined role for Hammond.
We think he’s having a bit of a whinge, just quietly and figure there’d be plenty of people willing to take his place on the iconic motoring show. Perhaps he’ll become known as the ‘whiney little man who had a crash’ instead.
Jason Plato, reigning BTCC champ, Fifth Gear luminary and known for his willing opinions on the internet, has taken aim at Jeremy Clarkson after the latter reviewed the McLaren MP4-12C on Top Gear last weekend.
In fact, after watching Clarkson compare the MP4-12C to the Ferrari 458 Italia, Plato felt compelled to tweet the following to his 22,000+ followers: “Tonight’s top gear, prove that JC may be a great wordsmith, however he wouldn’t know a great handling car if it hit him in the face, journos!”
Them there are fighting words, and if you can be arsed you can follow some of the dialogue fired Plato’s way.
Here at AUSmotive, though, we’re not too fussed with the nail files at dusk. We just like the opportunity of seeing two great cars being thrashed around a track. Twice. Which you can do too by watching the Fifth Gear review above and the Top Gear review below.
Let us know which you think is best—McLaren or Ferrari, Fifth Gear or Top Gear—in the comments section after the break.
It’s the review all fans and owners of the BMW 1M have been waiting for. And, expecting the BBC lawyers to shut down this YouTube link any moment now, you’d better make sure you watch it soon.
A quick reminder to all that Top Gear, Season 17, returns to BBC2 this Sunday. If you’d like to see what’s coming up there’s a couple of 30 second promos after the break. Or you can take as long as you like checking out this picture gallery on the Top Gear website. That’s where we nicked the pic of Clarkson in the BMW 1M.
With Season 17 of Top Gear set to premiere on UK screens on 26 June BBC2 are now promoting the new series. Here’s a short 30 second preview and based on that we can’t wait to see the McLaren MP4-12C given the Top Gear treatment. We also wonder if the Monaco gendarmes noticed Bernie’s seatbelt technique.
Earlier this week an interview with James May was published by The Telegraph in the UK. It mostly centred on his TV show Man Lab, but right at the end he made a few comments about Top Gear which we gather created some fuss over in Blighty.
“Well I think it can probably last a lot longer than us, that there will probably become a point when we will have to let other people have a go at reinventing it. It’s always about knowing when to quit with your dignity, which very few people do,” he said.
“A few years ago we thought we might have got to the end, but then we got a bit of a second wind. I’d like to hope that it finishes as big rock bands do, not that I’m comparing us to one. Our musical differences will become so extreme and irreconcilable that it has to come to an end. It hasn’t happened yet—but it would be nice if Top Gear went out with a massive bang.â€
It seemed the following comments made a few people think James was bringing news of Top Gear‘s demise. Above is an interview James recorded with Absolute Radio after the newspaper piece hit the streets in order to put things right. Although, to us, his original comments were pretty clear.
According to Final Gear, Season 17 of Top Gear will premiere on BB2 on Sunday 26 June. The series will run for six episodes, with the season finale expected to air on Sunday 31 July. The BBC2 program guide doesn’t confirm the launch date just yet, but we should know for sure in a week or two.
This news follows earlier word from the Dutch edition of Top Gear magazine that Series 17 would be starting on 12 June.
UPDATE 19 May: It looks like the Dutch Top Gear mag went a bit early by naming a start date for the next season. A wrap on the knuckles for someone, we suspect. So, Top Gear Series 17 will start in June and most likely on a Sunday, too. You have a one in four chance of being right; name your date below!
Jeremy Clarkson and James May were recently spotted at the University of Lincoln chasing some free electricity. Filming a segment for the upcoming Season 17 of Top Gear the lads were caught out while driving across the UK using a Nissan Leaf and a Peuegot iOn.
It’s understood their all-electric cars had run out of battery power and laid idle in Lincoln for several hours while their lusty steeds regained charge. A brief video capturing Jeremy and James in their plight can be seen after the break.
There’s some debate as to the start date for Series 17. Some rumours are suggesting a possible premiere on Sunday 19 June. However, word straight from the source says, “No news of exactly when the new series will be on your screens, but it will be towards the end of this year.”
