Skip to main content

Still mourning Top Gear? BBC announces it will air remaining three episodes this year

Top Gear
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Top Gear fans, we have good news and bad news.

The bad news is, of course, that Top Gear as we know it is gone. Following a ‘fracas’ with a producer earlier this year, host Jeremy Clarkson was sacked from the program, and his loyal compatriots have thus far declined to sign new contracts.

And the good news? BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw recently told Radio Times that the three remaining Top Gear Series 22 episodes will air in late 2015, though she couldn’t confirm exactly when.

As many of your know, studio portions of the show are filmed relatively close to the episode’s air date, so segments like ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’ and ‘The Cool Wall’ will not be featured. What we will eventually see, then, is footage of previously-filmed car challenges and track events.

The inevitable showdown between the McLaren P1, Porsche 918, and LaFerrari had not been finalized before the hullabaloo went down, so it appears we’ll be waiting a bit longer for that. Instead, challenges involving classic convertibles and second hand SUVs are rumored to be shown.

In other Top Gear news, Richard Hammond recently tweeted that he’s working on a new car-related film.

“Due to demand & continuing boredom, making another film: shorter and car-themed,” he wrote. “Coming soon to er, a computer or handheld device near you.”

In the meantime, ‘Hamster’ has been busy running a YouTube channel titled Richard Hammond is bored. There have only been two entires so far, including a 10-minute video of Hammond working around a farm, having a few pints, and frolicking about the countryside in his Land Rover. The second video is simply a cut-down version of the first, one Hammond describes as “Short, snappy and still satisfyingly boring.”

James May’s channel, JM’s unemployment tube, is similarly packed with idling amusement. Included are a few cooking lessons (mmm, shepherd’s pie), and a couple of hungover recorder solos.

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more
Cybertruck production reportedly halted over pedal issue
Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck. Tesla

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been hit by a production delay caused by an issue with a part of the vehicle, a number of media reports have claimed.

Read more
Don’t let the gimmicks fool you. The Ioniq 5 N is a serious track car
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N drifting.

We’re finally getting to the fun part of automakers’ methodical quest to replicate their lineups with electric cars.

Performance versions of ordinary cars have been a staple of the auto industry for decades. But while we’ve already seen some variants of EVs boasting more power and more impressive stats — think Tesla Model S Plaid or Lucid Air Sapphire — the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the first to truly apply that format to an EV.

Read more