So the day of reckoning finally arrived and after weeks of rumour and speculation it was revealed last week that Clarkson has indeed been given his marching orders from Top Gear.
So it's been quite a turbulent week since Clarkson's exit and the controversial host has barely been out of the news. Stories ranging from predicting Jezza's next move, to the sickening news of death threats to BBC boss (and Jeremy's judge, juror and executioner Tony Hall) have been on news feeds across the country.
However, amongst the turbulence, a huge question mark was still hanging around like a bad smell and that was 'Is this the end of Top Gear?' Well the immediate answer to this question was no. That answer came straight from the horse's mouth and went to set straight the show's outlook for 2016. In the statement from TopGear.com they firstly thanked fans for their comments and messages ("even the really shouty bits") and then got down the nitty gritty. They recognised that Jeremy had left them with a big hole to fill but they then went on to reassure sceptical fans that even with this 'big hole', they promise to continue to bring fans all the sharpest and funniest coverage in the world of motoring with the usual exclusives peppered in there too. Sigh of relief....right?
Now with everything being simultaneously answered but somehow unanswered in regards to Top Gear's ultimate fate, it seems fitting to look back at one of the most charismatic (like it or not) car show presenter, the best trio and the most successful motoring show....in the world.
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| source: Latintimes.com |
Lets throw this back to the ripe old year of 2002 and series one of Top Gear. Watching it back now, seeing how bare the studio was, really puts into perspective just how far the show has come. In the first ever episode, Harry Enfield was the first 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' and it's here you can see Clarkson's stamp already being firmly placed on this segment of the show. He scrutinises Enfield's choice of car (Vauxall Cavalier Convertible) by asking him outright "What in God's name possessed you to buy one of those." A taste there of the kind of bluntness that would have audiences world wide simultaneously tuning in and cringing as it would be the same type of care free commentsthat would land him in a lot of hot water in the years to follow.
As he talks further about the notion of the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car', a new segment that would soon attract Hollywood stars and small time celebs alike, you start to realise the gravity of what's happened and just what audience's world wide have potentially lost.
And it wasn't just the 'Star in a reasonably Priced Car' segment that made Top Gear the success it turned out to be, it was the sense of trust we affiliated with the hosts. It has, over the years become more than just a show about cars, more than just a factual 9pm slot filler; it became more of an entertainment show. It was these 3 unlikely 'old chaps', each with their own quirky personalities, that millions grew to love over the show's 22 series run. From Jeremy's ruthless personality to Richard the 'Hamster' Hammond to last but certainly not least, 'Captain Slow' himself, James May. Between them, they turned a pokey motoring show into something of a world wide phenomenon and once you've watched the show, it's not hard to see why.
From the early days of 2002, audiences started to tune in and recognise the unique angle this show had- it was labelled factual, yet had a dynamic trio that weren't afraid to experiment with new car ideas with hilarious results. With growing audiences, came a bigger budget time to take this out of the studio and out into the world. And tour the world they did. From heroically trudging through the forests of Bolivia on cheap, clapped out four by four's to being the first cars to cruise (well I use the term cruise very lightly) through the salt flats known as the Makgadikgadi in Botswana. Wherever these three oddballs landed themselves (and their second hand wheels) one thing was guaranteed- we would be in for a fun, if not sometimes turbulent, ride. However many challenges they faced, or times they broke down by the side of some treacherous road, they (and their cars) miraculously made it to the other side.
As far as my favourite specials go, there are too many to chose from but I'll pick the best one.
The India Special: They start the show stood in front of 10 Downing Street. Now if this didn't seem ominous enough, Clarkson then announces that they will be embarking on a trade mission on behalf of the Nation to India. Uh-oh. However, despite the warning from the PM not to, they decide to ignore the PM, buy some British wheels and "save Britain". Bring on the hilarious challenges! The first challenge was to replicate and reinvent the 'Dabbawala'- India's answer to meals on wheels (with a 99% success rate) So with that in mind, they set off; May in a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, Jeremy in a Jaguar XJS, and Hammond in a Mini Cooper Sport to help deliver the people of India their lunch. However, before they even set off, Jeremy went off with only half his quota of cargo leaving Hammond and May to pick up the pieces. It then goes from bad to worse when Jeremy in his power mission to beat the Dabbawala train and achieve a new record, arrives with only some of his cargo considered edible, Richard takes a turn too fast leaving his cargo strewn across the road and May? Well he's lost somewhere in the countryside after taking what he believed to be a ring road and a short cut. With this, a hilarious banner cock up on a train to Jaipur and a failed trade fair which saw Clarkson make his own fireworks, and Hammond mix up a lot of people's car keys, they sure as hell said something on behalf of the nation. Either way, it made for hilarious viewing.
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| source: thesun.co.uk |
As for the Top Gear makeshift cars, there have been many highlights such as the Toybota which was part of the amphibious cars challenge and appeared to win until it eventually sunk. The Convertible Renault Espace which they took to the Milbrook proving ground to see if it could reach 100mph without anything falling off, then to Woburn Safari Park to well, see how long it took for the monkeys to destroy it. Another elaborate (and hilariously silly) challenge was that of the car-train. Jezza in his sports train vs May and Hammond in an Audi s8 had the challenge of getting from Leicester to just outside of Loughborough. With May and Hammond offering a 1st class, 2nd class and scum class service (with a scum class buffet service to match) and Clarkson trying to impress the editor of Rail Express magazine with his train's magnificence, it goes without saying, the outcome was something of a train wreck. My other favourite car moderation challenges were from more recent series; the first being the HoverVan which took a tumultuous trip down the river Avon, and the second being the car ambulances (one of which was a hearse- bloody brilliant one from May there)
So whether all of that jogged your memory or made you shake your head, all of the above, however silly, contributed to making Top Gear the biggest motoring show on a worldwide scale.
Since Jeremy's departure, his fellow presenters are expected to follow suit with the pair claiming they all came as a package. This news was hardly surprising, because they are right- May, Hammond and Clarkson come as a package (well on Top Gear anyway). It wouldn't be the same show with just one or two of them left over. They have celebrated 22 series' of success as a trio and it seems only fitting they bid farewell as a trio. As for the fans' insecurities? I, as a fan, join them. While Top Gear is still planning out it's 2016 journey, I'm not too sure I'll be joining them. They can reassure all they want but I loved the show May, Clarkson and Hammond bought to the schedule every Sunday evening; I liked how they worked together, I respected their bold choices, I shared their views and I just don't think it'll be the same show without them.
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| source: digityspy.com |
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| source: themirror.co.uk |
And on that bombshell, it's time to end.
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