Top Gear


12:20 pm - 1:20 pm, Thursday, July 16 on U&Dave (19)

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About this Broadcast

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Season 11, Episode 4

Jeremy Clarkson tries to prove the Nissan GT-R is faster than the celebrated Bullet Train in a race across Japan with Richard Hammond and James May. Toyota's idea of personal transport for the future is tested out and additional glamour is provided by the Alfa Romeo 8C, which takes to the Top Gear track. Newsreaders Fiona Bruce and Kate Silverton are the Stars in a Reasonably Priced Car


subtitles 16x9 audio-description
Leisure Hobbies Motoring

Cast & Crew

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James May (Presenter)
Richard Hammond (Presenter)
Jeremy Clarkson (Presenter)
Pat Doyle (Series producer)
Brian Klein (Director)
Andy Willman (Executive producer)

More Information

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Did You Know..

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James May (Presenter)
Born: January 16, 1963 in Bristol
Best Known For: Being Captain Slow on Top Gear.
Early-life: James Daniel May was born on January 16, 1963, in Bristol. He has a brother and two sisters. He attended school in Rotherham with Life on Mars star Dean Andrews before heading to Lancaster University to study music. After graduating, May made ends meet in a series of jobs, including working in a hospital. During a stint with an engineering company, he produced a leaflet and liked what it involved, so applied for a job as a magazine sub-editor. He then worked for Autocar, but was fired after inserting a 'secret' message in the text.
Career: May's TV career began in 1998 with the Channel 4 series Driven, which ran for four years. In 1999, he landed a presenting role on BBC's Top Gear before it was axed due to low ratings. He rejoined the revamped version of the show in its second series. Other projects for the BBC have included Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure, James May's 20th Century, James May's Big Ideas, James May's Man Lab, and James May's Toy Stories.
Quote: On his sex-symbol status: 'Perhaps they look at me in the way that I might look at a slightly tacky Jaguar XJS, and think 'that's potentially not bad, maybe I could improve that'.'
Trivia: Away from TV, he has written columns for several publications and penned the books May on Motors and Notes from the Hard Shoulder.
Richard Hammond (Presenter)
Born: December 19, 1969 in Solihull
Best Known For: Co-hosting Top Gear, alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May.
Early-life: Richard Mark Hammond was born in Birmingham on December 19, 1969. His mum Eileen, father Alan and younger brothers Andrew and Nicholas moved to Ripon where his father ran a probate business. After attending Harrogate College of Art and Technology, Richard decided not to pursue a degree and instead took a series of part-time jobs, including working behind the bar of a pub and being a 'chicken chaser' at a local farm.
Career: His broadcasting career began on local radio, before he got his big TV break hosting a number of daytime shows on Men & Motors. In 2002, he landed a slot on BBC's Top Gear, where he was given the nickname Hamster. Other series Richard has presented include Crufts, the British Parking Awards, Should I Worry About…?, The Gunpowder Plot: Exploding the Legend, Time Commanders, and Sky One's Brainac: Science Abuse. He was also a team captain on the quiz show Petrolheads and narrated the BBC series Last Man Standing. In recent years, he has started presenting serious documentaries on such subjects as warfare and engineering, and secured a world exclusive interview with his hero, Evel Knievel. He is the current face of the rather silly but very enjoyable Total Wipeout.
Quote: On his Top Gear colleagues: 'Of course we get on - the show wouldn't work if we didn't get on. The arguments you see on-screen are for real and often carry on off-screen as well.'
Trivia: He has published books on motoring and science.
Jeremy Clarkson (Presenter)
Born: April 11, 1960 in Doncaster
Best Known For: Presenting Top Gear.
Early-life: Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson was born on April 11th, 1960, and claims he could say 'Maserati' before he could say 'mummy'. He was the only son of affluent parents who manufactured Paddington Bear dolls. His passion for cars began as a child, but he admits to losing interest during his teens when he discovered girls and punk rock. Jeremy attended public school for five years, but was expelled shortly before he was due to take his A-levels. His first car was a Ford Cortina.
Career: Jeremy was employed as a trainee journalist on the Rotherham Advertiser, but he quit while reporting on a local agricultural show because he grew tired of the marrow-growers and Pony Club mums. He joined the family firm as a salesman and moved to London, where he found a new career as a motoring writer. In 1987, he met a Top Gear producer at a car launch and was invited on to the show. He quickly became one of its most popular presenters, but left the programme in 1998 to concentrate on other projects. Other series he has fronted include Speed, Meet The Neighbours and his own chat show, Clarkson. However, he missed talking about cars and returned to a revamped Top Gear, which is now one of the world's most-watched shows.
Quote: 'It's amazing how easily people are upset. When I said that a car snapped knicker elastic at 50 paces, I couldn't believe the furore that was created.'
Trivia: He lent his vocals to the first Cars movie, and the Forza 5 video game.
Fiona Bruce (Guest)
Born: April 25, 1964 in Singapore City, Singapore
Best Known For: Presenting news bulletins and Antiques Roadshow.
Early-life: Fiona Elizabeth Bruce was born in Singapore on April 25, 1964. She attended various schools in Europe before settling in London, where she went to Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College in New Cross. During this period, she modelled for Jackie magazine. Following her A levels, she studied French and Italian at Hertford College, Oxford. She sang in a number of rock bands and during a year in Paris, she fronted a group called Chez Nous. After graduating, Bruce worked as a management consultant and in advertising before embarking on a career in journalism.
Career: She began working as a researcher and assistant producer for Panorama in 1989. Three years later, Bruce became a reporter for BBC Breakfast News, before joining BBC South East, where she presented daily news bulletins and regional current affairs programmes. By 1994, Bruce was a reporter for BBC Two's Public Eye and began appearing on the Six O'Clock and Breakfast News. She was chosen to succeed the late Jill Dando on Crimewatch UK in 2000. She is also one of the two main presenters on the BBC's 10 O'Clock News and hosted the prime-time current affairs magazine Real Story. Bruce has also appeared on Call My Bluff, Just the Two of Us, and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? She is the face of the Antiques Roadshow.
Quote: 'I do feel like I have it all, but how long that will last, heaven only knows. TV is a very transient business.'
Trivia: She once had blue hair during her university days.
Kate Silverton (Guest)
Born: August 04, 1970 in Waltham Abbey, Essex
Best Known For: Keeping the nation up-to-date with current events on BBC News programmes.
Early-life: Kate hails from Waltham Abbey, Essex, and was born on August 4, 1970. She is the daughter of hypnotherapist Terry and businesswoman Patricia. Kate worked for a London-based bank before becoming a journalist, training with the BBC on Look North in the North East.
Career: Silverton became a reporter for Tyne Tees Television, later taking positions as a presenter on World Travel for The Travel Channel, The Third Degree for BBC Three and 3D for Sky News. In 2003 she presented The Heaven and Earth Show, leaving a year later for her best-known role as a BBC News presenter, helming shows including BBC News 24, BBC Breakfast and the One O'Clock News. Silverton has also reported for Panorama.
Quote: 'I love my job. I like getting to dip a toe in different worlds. I like meeting so many different people and to feel that you're learning as much as you're providing information. I'm challenged every single day. I just love it.'
Trivia: She suffered embarrassment when she was younger because of her size nine feet.
Pat Doyle (Series producer)
Brian Klein (Director)
Andy Willman (Executive producer)

Before / After

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Top Gear
1:20 pm