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Week 8 [28.11-04.12] Top Gear vs Grand Tour

„Top Gear” - you must’ve heard those 2 words at least once in your life. Why? In 2013 it was crowned the world's most widely watched factual TV programme and appeared in the Guinness World Record 2013 Edition book. The show's incredible audience covers 212 territories around the world, for example Ghana or Guatemala. Even if you haven’t seen any episode, you must’ve heard about Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond or James May. Particularly Jeremy Clarkson is famous for his specific sense of humour and controversial statements. 

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Here is a collection of his most controversial moments: 

In 2015, he crossed the line one last time. As the BBC’s internal investigation reports, Clarkson got in a serious fight with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon. After that, he was fired from Top Gear. A few weeks later, Richard Hammond and James May also left the TV show. Together with Clarkson, they started to work on a new TV series.

What happened to Top Gear? BBC hired not three, but six presenters: Sabine Schmitz, Chris Harris, Eddie Jordan, Rory Reid, Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc. After first few episodes, a lot of critical comments appeared. There was no chemistry between crew, jokes were numb and new segments weren’t interesting. Last Top Gear season with Clarkson, Hammond and May had average 6,49 millions viewers, while a new season had only 3.89 millions. Trying not to criticise  everything, Rory Reid’s and Chris Evans’s segments, which at the beginning were only meant as an addition, were really good and funny. They were so good, that in the next season they will be one of the core elements of newTop Gear.

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Ok, so what happened to Clarkson, Hammond, May trio? They decided to sign a contract with Amazon to make a new show: Grand Tour (Top Gear -TG, Grand Tour-GT, see what they did there). With a budget around 4,5 million a show, which is more than four times the budget of Top Gear, the trio could make everything they wanted. So, how do they compare to TG? It’s fresh, full of ideas, cinematic in ambition and, most importantly, very funny (many jokes about Top Gear and its new presenters). There was only one episode of Grand Tour, but in my opinion, we have a new king of car TV-shows.


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Do you watch Top Gear or Grand Tour? If yes, what is your opinion about them? Do you know other interesting car TV-shows?

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Comments

Unknown said…
Personally I love Top Gear. I have watched all seasons ten times. I waited for Grand Tour a lot of time. When I watched the first episode I had shivers on the skin. It's an amazing program. Maybe it's good that they are in Amazon because nobody limits them and they have bigger budget. It's a shame that they took their name but everyone will get used to new name. I'm looking forward to new episodes.
Maciej Główka said…
I loved Top Gear, to be honest i didn't watch all seasons, i started probably around fifth or sixth. However, whole new season with new crew was kind of disaster.
I agree, that switching to Amazon will be better for Clarkson,Hammond and May. With enormous budget, I think we will see more mad tasks and beautiful cars!
Unknown said…
To be honest I do not like Top Gear. The main reason is Clarkson and his way of behaving. But I remember one episode when he has presented a segment featuring the Tesla Roadster, including a test drive. The segment showed the car's provided batteries running flat after 88.5 kilometres, with Clarkson claiming that the recharge would take 16 hours. Following this, he claimed that the car then broke down. Tesla Motors spokesperson stated that the cars provided never reached less than 20% charge, none needed to be pushed off the track at any point, the recharge time was 3.5 hours, and the brake failure shown in the segment was actually a blown fuse.
Unknown said…
Some time ago I didn't like Top Gear - probably because when I started watching always there was part with interview with people I don't know, so it wasn't interesting at all. But then - when I watched full episodes I was surprised how interesting and surprising may be program about cars. I think that one of the most important factors of liking it or not are hosts and their interaction.
Unknown said…
Top Gear was my favorite Tv program. I watched all seasons. When the BBC slowed Clarkson, Hammond and May also left BBC and it is beautiful. Only together they will do a great show. New Top Gear watched 3 times. They're trying to be funny on the strength and this is weak.
Unknown said…
You know what, I don't even know Top Gear. :D I mean I know it from the name, but I never watched it. Maybe I will if everybody here asserts that it is so good. I had always something else to do or watch, but definitely I will get to know this one as well.
Unknown said…
Top Gear has been the best TV show about cars I have ever watched, but since the presenters has change I doubt it. The new one is just so artifical, sense of humor isn't in my type. Now Amazon with Clarkson, Hammond and May create new show called The Grand Tour. I watched first two episodes and I have mixed feeling. I enjoy the car content, shots are great and the new track is very exiciting but the plot with dying stars is embarassing. We will see what they show in future episodes.
Maciej Główka said…
Clarkson is well known for his negative opinion about global warming and electric cars ;) It is really interesting news, I've never heard about it, I need to find this episode and watch it. As we see, even such negative review didn't stop Tesla creating really affordable and good electric cars.
Maciej Główka said…
That's true, they sometimes interview people known only in Great Britain and, to be honest, it isn't most entertaining segment at least for me. I agree, that Clarkson, Hammond and May interaction created the big success of Top Gear.
Maciej Główka said…
I strongly recommend Grand Tour to you, it is like Top Gear in its best times ;)
Maciej Główka said…
So if you have never watched Top Gear, you should start with Grand Tour, because new seasons of Top Gear with new crew aren't jaw-dropping. Give it a try, maybe you will like scenery, cars or British humour.
Maciej Główka said…
Yeah, I thought that this segment with "dying" stars will be only on first episode, unfortunately it seems that it will be in whole season..Beside this, I really enjoyed first 3 episodes. You can always fast forward dying stars ;)
Unknown said…
Really similarly, I've never watched Top Gear, only heard the name. Cars and tv shows like this are not my cup of tea, thus I'm not even going to watch it in the future. I've just read ten top comments of Jeremy Clarkson and I can't believe such people could be broadcasted. It's sad what contemporary world has to offer.
Unknown said…
I think that change of name means nothing. May, Clarkson and Hammond are soul of this program and I think Grand Tour will be as great as original TG was.
Unknown said…
Top Gear was one of the best shows I have ever seen. I think it was mostly thanks to leading cast of the show. Cars were big part of it, but there was something elusive about this. Maybe sometimes stupid humor, maybe strong charisma of the team. I don't know, but something kept me chained to monitor. I can't wait to see Grand Tour as I could not do that yet. I have seen new Top Gear but, regretfully it is not as good as predecessor.
Although I don't watch tv, I have seen a few episodes of Top Gear on the Internet. Even after the first few minutes it seemed to me that Clarkson, Hammond and May form a good team. The program itself was very interesting, especially when they tested some really unique cars or take up crazy challenges.
Unknown said…
BBC shot themselves in a foot by firing Clarkson. How can you be so out of touch with reality :) This trio was the Top Gear, not cars or guests shown in it. Replacing presenters was like replacing a Ferrari f12 with an Audi a4 ... with a 2 liter diesel engine. Don't get me wrong, it's still a decent car, but not as awesome as Ferrari.
kondrat said…
I've watched a couple of seasons of Top Gear. Clarkson is my favourite car reviewer, I love his way of being. Unfortunately I haven't seen any episode for last one, or two years. Im going to try Grand Tour :)
Maciej Główka said…
Yeah, I think that 70-80% of Top Gear success was made by Jezza,Hammond and May connection. See Grand Tour, it is like Top Gear in its best times!
Unknown said…
I may not have crazy about cars but I watched Top Gear. I loved the English sense of humor in this program. It was really well done show and they didn't speak only about the advantages and disadvantages of some car but they tested it in a variety of ways (sometimes strange). I haven't heard before about Grand Tour but maybe I have opportunity to see ;)
Maciej Główka said…
If you would like to watch more episodes in the future, I suggest you should switch to the Grand Tour, don't waste time on Top Gear.
Maciej Główka said…
I totally agree with you, your metaphore is 100% accurate!
Maciej Główka said…
I think that last season of Top Gear with CHM trio was one of the best, so you should try and watch it also;) Thankfully they focused on really cool cars like Jaguar F-Type or Ferrari LaFerrari and not the rubbish ones like BMW 3 Compact for example. I hope they will stay this way in Grand Tour.
Maciej Główka said…
Grand Tour has the same sense of British humour as Top Gear, so I think you will like it ;)
Michał Pycek said…
Thank you for this article ! I am a fan of this trio and I have watched most of the episodes of Top Gear, so to me it was really disapointing to find out that it no longer exists and the three most funny, sharp and creative figures in the automotive area, become fired.
This is why I was very glad and pleased to find out one day that there is a new idea coming up thanks to Amazon, of creating a similar programm called Grand Tour. I have actually watched the first episode already and I must admit, they kicked ass :-) They were even more hilarious, eloquent, convincing and a bit more melicious than they used to be. However regarding the automotive subject, there has not been a decrease of its content in the programm, which made me even more happy to see. I can recommend this programm and admit that I think it is their big come back :-)
Piotr Basiński said…
I watched few episodes of Top Gear, I really liked this tv serises. Shows with cars are always interesting. It's good that new series named Grand Tour appear. It will be great to watch show with great car reviewers and with even few times bigger budget than Top Gear.
Unknown said…
I have never watched Top Gear also like Ground tour. I just heard about in when in TV and internet was a prostest about fire Jeremy Clarkson and people said after this move Top gear will lost their audience and noone will watch it.
Kacper Zaremba said…
In my opinion BBC should give up the 'Top Gear' name and create a car show with a new formula. Reactivating it without trio of Clarkson, May and Hammond was like reactivating of Beetle by Volkswagen with 'New Beetle' model. It may have the same name, but who really would like to drive it?
I have seen the first three episodes of 'Grand Tour' and I find it even better than the old Top Gear episodes. Amazon brought a lot of cash to the budget, and with addition of British humour it makes it a really great show.
Unknown said…
Unfortunately, I can't say a lot about those TV shows. I've only heard about Top Gear. I knew that there is a show with such a name, but I didn't even know what us ut about. Also, I've seen the picture of this guy, but the same as with a show, I didn't know who is he.
After this article, I can wish a good luck to the new Top Gear team because people don't like when there are new people in the favourite show. On the other hand, I'm sure that Grand Tour show already has a lot of viewers because of the famous team.
Unknown said…
I’m not a fan of cars at all and sometimes while drinking beer with friends they discuss cars and I have no clue at all what they are talking about. But sometimes those discussions are really interesting to listen.
I remember the episode when those 2 guys where racing and one of them was by plane and another by some fast car, I can’t recall. Another thing I like about Top Gear that the Stick (or what was his name) character had a mask on his face and he was very mysterious to me.
So, I think that Top Gear is a great show created by really skilled showmen. And also I’ll try to watch Ground Tour in a free time.
Maciej Główka said…
Totally agree with you!
Maciej Główka said…
Yeah, I don't know anybody normal who drives New Beetle ;) WIth this amount of cash Grand Tour cannot be bad.
Maciej Główka said…
Not everyone must be a car enthusiast ;) There are also a lot of not car related segments in those programms, so if you like British humour you might give it a try.
Top Gear was fun, good to watch and even that most of it was by the scenario it was great. In addition Top Gear Live was something you could see yourself in your country and meet the happy crew.
As I watched "new Top Gear" I couldn't handle it and turned the TV off. Mostly because of Chris Evans - couldn't stay the guy talking and trying to be funny (as I saw on the Internet I was not the only one with the same opinion).
I've watched the first episode of Grand Tour but I think it was missing something - but I will wait few episodes with my opinion, they had a break for a while and maybe they have to recharge the batteries to the top.
I have really enjoyed Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, and now to be honest I feel awkward watching Top Gear with the new presenters. Truth to be told Top Gear isn’t a Top Gear without them, it’s like watching really really really bad and boring generic version of it. I have to watch Grand Tour because to be honest I’ve forgotten about it.
Moode said…

I didn’t see the Ground Tour yet. I saw a few episodes of Top Gear with the old crew and I really liked it. It was funny and interesting. The show was made in such a way that almost everybody liked it – women and men. And you could learn lot about cars while watching. To me it is a shame that the show is not made with them anymore. I guess that the replacement will make it different now and Top Gear will not be the same. I have to see Ground Tours to make my opinion on this one.
Bartosz Łyżwa said…
I saw every episodes of Top Gear until Clarkson left. He was quintessence of this program and I'm not suprised so much that there are less and less viewers. To be honest I don't like "new" Top Gear without Clarkson, Hammond, May, it's not the same TV program. I haven't seen GT yet but I'll do that of course.
Unknown said…
I've stopped watching TG after the old team had left. Although the Clarkson's sense of humor was specific, but he was a brand more than TG itself. And it was the best car show ever. When chatting with your friends about car and then this moment: "Remember that moment from Top Gear, when they were testing..." :) I am still laughing about the episode, when Jeremy showed the hole in the bottom of the soviet Zaporozhets, which was designed for the winter fishing. But sometimes I was a little bit sad and surprised when they criticized the cars, that I used to like.

Now I would be happy to watch GT, I'm sure it won't disappoint me.

Unknown said…
I don't watch Top Gear nor Grand Tour. Or any other car TV-shows.
I have heard about it and I even know who Jeremy Clarkson is. I even seen his books in Empik and considered buying them because I 've heard they are quite good.

Dajana Kubica said…
I watched a few episodes of Top Gear, but I watched it for the humor in the program, not for cars. Sense of humor of presenters been building this program. I read on the internet that Clarkson was fired because of his rage attack on the set, where there was something missing from his menu. Is it true? However, I would like to see the latest season of Top Gear, because I'm a big fan of Matt LeBlanc, who played in the Friends. I know him well also from the series Episodes, during the 30-minute segment I can not stop crying with laughter. Not interested in cars, so I do not know any interesting programs.
I haven't seen any episode of TG or GT but I have heard about these guys and their specific humour.
Maybe in some free time I will watch some episodes of it just to know why the people talk about it ;)
Unknown said…
Clarkson and his team starting their brand new show outside of "commercial TV" is pretty much the best outcome for everyone. BBC producers absolutely couldn't just handwave away Clarksons antics, so they had to fire him. Their current show, while not as popular as it used to be, is still probably good enough to make some money, and Clarkson is still doing what he loves best.
Wojtek Kania said…
I think BBC make very bad decision and they lost Top Gear. For me and I think for hundreds thousands of people Top Gear was the best program about cars.
I didn't watch neither and to be honest I don't really understand what all the fuss is about. I didn't like Top Gear because it was all about cars and that's just boring for me. For people who like it fine, but I never understood why so many people watch it. This new one seems to be more exciting, but also really cheesy. Like a cheap action movie.
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