Top Gear series 18
| Top Gear | |
|---|---|
| Season 18 | |
 Promotional poster | |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC Two |
| Original release | 28 December 2011 – 11 March 2012 |
| Series chronology | |
The eighteenth series of Top Gear was aired during 2012 on BBC Two and BBC HD and consisted of 7 episodes, beginning on 29 January and concluding on 11 March.[1] The series was preceded by a full-length, special edition episode that was aired on 28 December 2011 and entitled the "India Special", while later on 29 October 2012, Richard Hammond hosted a special-edition episode that coincided with the Bond film series' 50th Anniversary, entitled "50 Years of Bond Cars". In addition, the BBC Children in Need 2012 special featured its own version of the show's segment, "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car", between three of the BBC's newsreaders.[2]
Episodes
| Total | No. | Title | Reviews | Features/Challenges | Guest | Original air date | UK viewers (million)[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 139 | SP | "India Special" | N/A | India Special | None | 28 December 2011 | 6.61[nb 1] |
| 140 | 1 | Series 18, Episode 1 | None | "Supercars Across Italy": (Lamborghini Aventador • McLaren MP4-12C • Noble M600) | will.i.am | 29 January 2012 | 6.21[nb 2] |
| 141 | 2 | Series 18, Episode 2 | Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster | Clarkson and May examine China's car industry in Beijing Hammond learns about NASCAR racing in Texas [4] | Matt LeBlanc • Jimmie Johnson • Jeff Gordon • Juan Pablo Montoya • Kyle Petty | 5 February 2012 | 6.25[nb 3] |
| 142 | 3 | Series 18, Episode 3 | Vauxhall Corsa VXR Nurburgring • Fiat Panda | Creating the climactic car chase for The Sweeney (Jaguar XFR • Ford Focus) [5][6] | Ryan Reynolds • Ray Winstone • Plan B • Nick Love | 12 February 2012 | 6.16[nb 4] |
| 143 | 4 | Series 18, Episode 4 | Ferrari FF • Bentley Continental V8 • Fisker Karma | Build and test off-road mobility scooters in the countryside | Michael Fassbender • Brian Johnson | 19 February 2012 | 5.28[nb 5] |
| 144 | 5 | Series 18, Episode 5 | Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale • Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series | Retrospective on Swedish car maker Saab • Rally-spec Škoda vs jet-powered flying man. | Matt Smith • Yves Rossy • Toni Gardemeister | 26 February 2012 | 6.12[nb 6] |
| 145 | 6 | Series 18, Episode 6 | "Aero-engined" Bentley, Brutus | Test of three stripped track cars: (KTM X-Bow • Caterham R500 • Morgan Three Wheeler) | Alex James | 4 March 2012 | 5.81[nb 7] |
| 146 | 7 | Series 18, Episode 7 | BMW M5 | Rallycross cheaper than playing golf? (BMW 328i • Toyota MR2 • Citroen Saxo) • May's childhood dream car: Ferrari 250 GT California. | Slash • Kimi Räikkönen • Chris Evans | 11 March 2012 | 6.15[nb 8] |
Special Episode
| Title | Guest | Original air date | UK viewers (million)[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| "50 Years of Bond Cars" | Guy Hamilton, Sir Roger Moore, Ola Rapace, Michael G. Wilson, Ben Collins, Daniel Craig | 29 October 2012 | 5.48[nb 9] |
Spin-Off Special
| Title | Feature | Guest | Original air date | UK viewers (million)[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Children In Need 2012 Special[2]" | Children in Need 2012 does 'Star In a Reasonably Priced Car' | Bill Turnbull • Sophie Raworth • Fiona Bruce | 16 November 2012 | 8.22 |
Notes
The viewing figures shown in the Episode Table above, are a combination of the figures from the BBC Two broadcast and the BBC HD broadcast.
- ^ 5.76 million on BBC Two, 849,000 on BBC HD.
- ^ 5.18 million on BBC Two, 1.03 million on BBC HD.
- ^ 5.29 million on BBC Two, 963,000 on BBC HD.
- ^ 5.13 million on BBC Two, 1.03 million on BBC HD.
- ^ 4.30 million on BBC Two, 982,000 on BBC HD.
- ^ 5.25 million on BBC Two, 872,000 on BBC HD.
- ^ 4.83 million on BBC Two, 978,000 on BBC HD.
- ^ 5.13 million on BBC Two, 1.02 million on BBC HD.
- ^ 4.71 million on BBC Two, 768,000 on BBC HD.
References
- ^ Top Gear Series 18 Episode 1 - YouTube
- ^ a b Wilman, Andy (November 2012). "BBC Children in Need 2012 – the stars of Appeal Night revealed". TBBC Media Centre. No. 236. BBC, BBC Magazines.
{{cite news}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ a b c "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.
- ^ Red Carpet - Events - BBC Top Gear Richard Hammond
- ^ Lewis, Simon (18 August 2012). "'I nearly pulled out. I didn't want to be a Batman and Robin sidekick': Plan B joins Ray Winstone in the big-screen remake of The Sweeney". Daily Mail.
- ^ "The Sweeney (2012)". Kent Film office.
External links
Warning: Display title "<i>Top Gear series 18</i>" overrides earlier display title "<i>Top Gear</i> series 18" (help).