Top Gear series 22
 | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (July 2015) |
| Top Gear (series 22) | |
|---|---|
| Series 22 | |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC Two |
| Original release | 27 December 2014 – 28 June 2015 |
| Series chronology | |
The twenty-second series of British motoring programme Top Gear started airing on BBC Two and BBC Two HD on 27 December 2014, with the usual presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig. It was soon mired in controversy following two major incidents: the attack on the presenters in Argentina while filming "The Patagonia Special", and the suspension of Clarkson and subsequent non-renewal of his contract by the BBC in the wake of his assault on a show producer. This series is the last one to feature Clarkson, Hammond and May as presenters, and the final three episodes after the assault were pulled.[1] The films that were recorded for the three episodes were eventually shown in a 75-minute special on 28 June 2015, which was hosted by Hammond and May.[2]
Jeremy Clarkson tweeted on 29 April 2014 that a twenty-second series was in the works and being planned.[3] He then stated on 7 July 2014 that he was going to Morocco to start filming for the show.[4] In October 2014, Top Gear conducted filming in Australia's Northern Territory.[5][6]
On 25 November 2014, the BBC confirmed that the Patagonia Special would be shown in two parts over Christmas 2014.[7] Part 1 aired on 27 December 2014 and Part 2 aired on 28 December 2014.[8]
In the January 2015 issue of Top Gear Magazine (issue 265) executive producer Andy Wilman confirmed the series would contain 10 episodes (as well as the 2-part Christmas special) and begin on 25 January. However, Jeremy Clarkson's suspension from Top Gear by the BBC on 10 March 2015 led to the final three episodes of the series being withdrawn. The Director General subsequently stated that "the BBC would look into how they can put out the remaining episodes in the current series".[9] On 8 June TopGear.com announced that the final episodes would be broadcast sometime in the near future,[10] but only a week later, the BBC announced that all content recorded for the three episodes would be shown in a single, 75-minute special that aired on 28 June 2015, hosted by two of the trio.[2] In November 2015, the BBC announced a Top Gear Christmas special called Top Gear A-Z showing clips from the last 22 series to mark the end of an era, was narrated by comedian John Bishop.[11]
Episodes
| Total | No. | Title | Review | Features/challenges | Guest | Original air date | UK viewers (million)[12] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 167 | – | "Patagonia Special, Part 1" | None | Drive from Bariloche to Ushuaia: (Porsche 928 GT • Lotus Esprit V8 • Ford Mustang Mach 1) | None | 27 December 2014 | 7.21 |
| 168 | – | "Patagonia Special, Part 2" | None | Drive from Bariloche to Ushuaia: (Porsche 928 GT • Lotus Esprit V8 • Ford Mustang Mach 1) | None | 28 December 2014 | 7.38 |
| 169 | 1 | "Series 22, Episode 1" | Lamborghini Huracán • Renault Twizy | Race across the urban landscape of St Petersburg | Ed Sheeran | 25 January 2015 | 6.41 |
| 170 | 2 | "Series 22, Episode 2" | None | Australian Northern Territory road trip in GT cars: (BMW M6 Gran Coupe • Nissan GT-R • Bentley Continental GT V8S) | Kiefer Sutherland | 1 February 2015 | 6.56 |
| 171 | 3 | "Series 22, Episode 3" | None | Homemade ambulance challenge: (Porsche 944 Turbo • Ford Scorpio Cardinal • Chevy G20 V8 Van) | Daniel Ricciardo | 8 February 2015 | 6.14 |
| 172 | 4 | "Series 22, Episode 4" | BMW M3 • BMW i8 • Mercedes-AMG GT S | Hammond pays homage to the Land Rover Defender | Margot Robbie • Will Smith | 15 February 2015 | 6.24 |
| 173 | 5 | "Series 22, Episode 5" | Porsche Cayman GTS • Chevrolet Corvette Stingray • LaFerrari | May and Clarkson look at the weird and wonderful history of Peugeot | Olly Murs | 22 February 2015 | 6.04 |
| 174 | 6 | "Series 22, Episode 6" | Lexus RCF • Lexus LFA | Hammond is dropped into British Columbia, Canada to test a watch with a built-in emergency beacon: (Chevrolet Silverado • Ford F-150 Hennessey VelociRaptor) | Gillian Anderson | 1 March 2015 | 6.15 |
| 175 | 7 | "Series 22, Episode 7" | Jaguar F-Type R • Eagle Low Drag GT • Mazda MX-5 ND | May competes in a world rallycross race alongside Tanner Foust (Top Gear USA host). | Nicholas Hoult • Tanner Foust | 8 March 2015 | 5.84 |
| 176 | 8 | "Series 22, Episode 8" | None | Find a cheap car that still lives up to the title of classic: (Fiat 124 Spider • Peugeot 304 S Cabriolet • MGB GT) • Living the sports utility vehicle lifestyle for less than £250: (Vauxhall Frontera Sport RS • Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin • Jeep Cherokee) | None | 28 June 2015 | 6.92 |
References
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/entertainment-arts-31841621?ocid=socialflow_facebook
- ^ a b http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-33153633
- ^ Clarkson, Jeremy (29 April 2014). "Status". Twitter.
- ^ Clarkson, Jeremy (7 July 2014). "Status". Twitter.
- ^ Top Gear trio spotted driving three luxury performance cars through the Northern Territory Northern Territory News 21 October 2014
- ^ Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson loses stealth race to the NT News Northern Territory News 29 October 2014
- ^ Denham, Jess (25 November 2014). "Christmas TV 2014: BBC announces schedule". The Independent. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
- ^ "Top Gear Patagonia Special: first details". TopGear.com. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
- ^ http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/A-message-from-TopGearcom-2015-03-27
- ^ http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/top-gear-tv-series-22-remaining-episode-trailer-2015-06-08
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06tgz5s
- ^ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.