Top Gear series 10

Top Gear
Series 10
Promotional poster
Starring	Jeremy Clarkson Richard Hammond James May
No. of episodes	10
Release
Original network	BBC Two
Original release	7 October (2007-10-07) – 23 December 2007 (2007-12-23)
Series chronology

Series 10 of Top Gear, a British motoring magazine and factual television programme, was broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two during 2007, consisting of ten episodes that were aired between 7 October and 23 December. This series saw the props used on the programme being changed from car-based seating and a wide-screen monitor in the main set space, to wingback chairs and an old TV screen; although attributed to a fire caused by Top Gear's rival programme, it later was exposed as a publicity stunt, with the props replaced the following series. This series' highlights included the presenters crossing Botswana on a road trip, a race between a car and a fighter jet, fording amphibious cars across the English Channel, and competing in a 24-hour endurance race using home-made bio-diesel.

A series of compilation episodes featuring the best moments of the tenth series, titled "Best of Top Gear", was aired during 2008 between 1-27 January, while a special edition for Sport Relief, titled Top Ground Gear Force, involving a crossover with the former BBC programme Ground Force, was aired on 14 March 2008. The tenth series received criticism for its Botswana special in regards to environmental damage, which the BBC denied.

Episodes

Main article: List of Top Gear (2002 TV series) episodes

No. overall	No. in series	Reviews	Features/challenges	Guest(s)	Original air date	UK viewers (millions)
81	1	Volkswagen Golf GTI W12	Road trip to find the greatest driving road in the world: (Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera • Porsche 911 GT3 RS • Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24)	Dame Helen Mirren	7 October 2007 (2007-10-07)	6.27
82	2	Audi R8 • Porsche 911 Carrera S	Amphibious Cars Challenge II: (Nissan Navara • Volkswagen Transporter • Triumph Herald)	Jools Holland	14 October 2007 (2007-10-14)	5.53
83	3	Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano • Ferrari 275 GTS • Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé	Bugatti Veyron vs Eurofighter Typhoon race • Peel P50 around the BBC office • Lexus LS600 Auto-Parking System	Ronnie Wood • Fiona Bruce • Dermot Murnaghan • John Humphrys	28 October 2007 (2007-10-28)	6.73
84	4	N/A – Botswana Special	Botswana Special: (Lancia Beta • Opel Kadett • Mercedes-Benz 230E)	None	4 November 2007 (2007-11-04)	6.84
85	5	Caparo T1 • Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster • Mercedes-Benz GL500	London race	Simon Cowell	11 November 2007 (2007-11-11)	7.74
86	6	Honda Civic Type R • Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Estate • BMW M5 Touring • Alfa Romeo 159	Motorhome racing • Alfa Romeo 159 vs. tall man across the Humber estuary	Lawrence Dallaglio	18 November 2007 (2007-11-18)	7.24
87	7	Aston Martin DBS	£1,200 British Leyland cheap-car challenge: (Rover SD1 • Triumph Dolomite Sprint • Austin Princess)	Jennifer Saunders	25 November 2007 (2007-11-25)	6.86
88	8	Vauxhall VXR8	Renault R25 Formula One Car • Automobile history investigation • GPS satellite self-controlled BMW 330i	James Blunt • Lewis Hamilton	2 December 2007 (2007-12-02)	8.35
89	9	Daihatsu Materia • Ascari A10 • Fiat 500	Britcar 24 Hour Endurance Race • Race: Fiat 500 vs. BMX riders through Budapest	Keith Allen	9 December 2007 (2007-12-09)	7.38
90	10	Jaguar XF (X250)	German Performance Saloon cars: (Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG • BMW M3 • Audi RS4) • Top Gear Awards 2007	David Tennant	23 December 2007 (2007-12-23)	7.15

Best-of episodes

Total	Number	Title	Feature	Original air date
S10	CE–1	"The Best of Top Gear: 2007 No.1"	Best Moments from Series 10 - Part 1	1 January 2008 (2008-01-01)
S11	CE–2	"The Best of Top Gear: 2007 No.2"	Best Moments from Series 10 - Part 2	6 January 2008 (2008-01-06)
S12	CE–3	"The Best of Top Gear: 2007 No.3"	Best Moments from Series 10 - Part 3	13 January 2008 (2008-01-13)
S13	CE–4	"The Best of Top Gear: 2007 No.4"	Best Moments from Series 10 - Part 4	27 January 2008 (2008-01-27)

Spin-off special

Title	Guest	Original air date
Top Ground Gear Force	Sir Steve Redgrave	14 March 2008 (2008-03-14)

Criticism and incident

Botswana Special: Makgadikgadi Pan Crossing

Following the broadcast of the Botswana Special, the BBC received heavy criticism from the Environmental Investigation Agency and conservationists in regards to a section of the episode, in which the presenters were tasked with driving their used cars across the Makgadikgadi Pan in Botswana. A spokesperson from the agency criticised Top Gear being allowed to film in environmentally sensitive salt pans, with an accusation made by conservationists that they had left "scars across the Makgadikgadi salt pans by driving vehicles across them". In response to the criticism, the BBC denied that they had done this, stating that they had followed the advice of environmental experts and had not filmed anywhere near to any conservation area on the salt pans.

Burnt props stunt

During the premiere episode of the series, the presenters of Top Gear claimed that, between the filming of the ninth and tenth series, rival motoring magazine show Fifth Gear had broken into their premises and burnt down all their props. Prior to the episode being aired, a fire occurred on 12 August 2007 at Hill End Farm, destroying a barn being used as a storage facility for Top Gear props. This was evidently shown to be the case on the episode, as the Cool Wall and all the cars' photos for it had been destroyed, while the car seats the hosts used on the centre stage for the 'News' segments and for interviewing the celebrities during the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' segments on the centre stage of the studio, along with the flat screen monitor, had been replaced with wingback chairs and an old TV. It was later revealed that the incident had been a publicity stunt dreamt up between Clarkson and Vicki Butler-Henderson, who were old friends.