"Top Gear: Series 22, Episode 8" | |
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Top Gear (2002 TV Series) episode | |
Episode no. | Season 22 Episode 8 |
Directed by |
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Written by |
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Presented by | |
Produced by |
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Original air date | 28 June 2015 |
Running time | 75 minutes |
Episode 8 of Series 22 of Top Gear was broadcast on 28 June 2015. This episode was the last episode to feature Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May as presenters of the show, and the last to have Andy Wilman as the show's executive producer. However, James May would appear in an additional three episodes of Cars of the People whilst under contract by Amazon. This episode would feature two films that were shot for Series 22 prior to Clarkson's dismissal. The original Series 22, Episode 8 was to feature the classic car film and Series 22, Episode 9 was to feature the cheap SUV Film. On December 26, and December 30, 2015 , the BBC released a Top Gear special called From A – Z. This special was a compilation of material from the previous twenty-two series of Top Gear.
Background
Clarkson's suspension and dismissal
In March 2015, the BBC announced that it had suspended Jeremy Clarkson while it would look into an incident that had occurred during filming in Hawes, North Yorkshire,[1] with the remaining episodes of the series withdrawn while they dealt with their investigations.[2] Former Stig, Perry McCarthy, criticised the decision by the broadcaster to pull the episodes from the schedule.[3] Media coverage of the matter soon revealed that Clarkson had physically and verbally abused a producer, Oisin Tymon, after being offered soup and a cold meal platter instead of the steak he wanted, and learning that the chef at the hotel they were staying at had gone home.[4] Despite a petition starting on Change.org on 10 March by blogger Guido Fawkes, aimed at reversing the decision on Clarkson being suspended,[5][6] and being delivered on the afternoon of 20 March to the BBC after receiving one million signatures,[7] which made it the fastest-growing campaign in Change.org's history,[8] the broadcaster officially announced on 25 March that after deliberations on Clarkson's action and behaviour, it had decided to not renew his contract, effectively axing him from the show.[9][10]
On 24 February 2016, Clarkson formally apologised to Tymon, while settling a claim made by the producer for racial discrimination and physical injury sustained in the incident.[11]
Due to Clarkson's dismissal, the series was shortened by two episodes. The planned eighth episode would have featured Gary Lineker as the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, while Henry Cavill would have been the guest in episode nine. Episode nine would have also featured an additional film featuring Clarkson testing a trio of luxury limousines on and off the track. The planned tenth and final episode would have been a special in which the three presenters take an epic road trip across "one of the most remote areas of the planet". The star in the reasonably priced would most likely have been Keanu Reeves.[12]
Production
While Wilman had stated in the January 2015 issue of Top Gear Magazine (issue #265) that Series 22 was to contain 10 episodes in its broadcast, only seven were actually aired; the series abruptly ended after the seventh episode in the wake of Clarkson's suspension, with the BBC opting to pull the last three episodes from its schedule until its investigations on the presenter's assault was completed. Following their decision not to renew Clarkson's contract, the Director General Tony Hall announced that the broadcaster intended to show the three pulled episodes after it had debated on how to do so,[13] although all that was left for use was two filmed vehicle challenges. Furthermore, Hammond and May, along with Wilman, had announced their decisions not to return to the show, leading to a re-think on the matter. After debating how to end the series, the BBC decided to air the two completed films as part of an extended special episode, with Hammond, May and Wilman asked to postpone their departures from the show to help with producing and hosting it; the official website of Top Gear hinted on 8 June 2015 at this having happened by announcing that the filmed segments were to be shown later that year;[14] it was not until a week later, on 15 June, that the BBC officially confirmed that the segments had been allocated to a 75-minute special that was under production. Production of the episode led to studio segments being filmed, though no audience was invited to be at the show's studio at Dunsfold on the day of filming. The final episode of the series was eventually scheduled and aired on 28 June.[15] These two films had already been edited and were set to air normally, but due to Clarkson's dismissal and with Top Gear being put on hiatus, the two films were shelved. These two films would eventually air as a special episode. Jeremy Clarkson had recorded voice overs for this episode and he did not get paid to do it.[16]
Summary
To mark the end of an era, Richard Hammond and James May host a special episode featuring two films that had been completed prior to the dismissal of their absent colleague. Hammond and May are also featured in the studio to provide links between the two films. An elephant is also located in the studio. The elephant (named Jeremy) was placed in the studio to stand in for presenter, Jeremy Clarkson. The reason for the elephant is to serve as a literal Elephant in the room.[17]
Tonight
In this episode, due to Clarkson's dismissal, Richard Hammond would lend his voice for the introductory sequence.
- James falls out of a boat...
- I have a fight with a gear lever...
- And... oh dear, this is a bit embarrassing...
Film 1
In the first film, the pair and Jeremy Clarkson each try to live as classic car enthusiasts with a particular classic car - Hammond picks a MGB GT, Clarkson chooses a Fiat 124 Sport Spider, and May drives a Peugeot 304 S Cabriolet - testing out their choices, before modifying and improving their cars, and competing against each other to see who's choice is the best.[18][19]
Film 2
In the second film, the trio see which is the best second-hand 4x4 SUV on a budget of £250 - Clarkson picks a Vauxhall Frontera Sport RS, May chooses a Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin, and Hammond drives a Jeep Cherokee - facing a series of challenges that concludes with a race in which the loser must conduct an awkward after-dinner speech at their destination.[19]
Note: This episode's studio segments were filmed without a studio audience, and featured an elephant in the room symbolising Clarkson's absence. The closing credits are played out in silence to reflect the nature of the episode.
Reception and ratings
Series 22, Episode 8 originally aired on the 28th of June, 2015, on BBC Two. It was then re-aired on the 4th of July at 9:35 PM, on the 5th of July at 8:00 PM and then aired a fourth and final time on the 19th of July on BBC Three at 9:20 PM. Top Gear would easily claim the #1 spot for its channel, receiving 6.92 million UK viewers and topping the list of BBC2's Top 30 programs for the week comprising the 22nd - 28th June, 2015. It would be the second most watched program for that entire week, falling only behind the episode of BBC1's EastEnders which aired on the Monday, which claimed 7.29 million viewers.[20]
References
- ^ Rayner, Gordon (8 July 2013). "Jeremy Clarkson suspended from Top Gear: as it happened". Telegraph. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
- ^ "Jeremy Clarkson 'punch': Top Gear episodes to be dropped". BBC News. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "Jeremy Clarkson: BBC reaction 'ridiculous', says former Stig". BBC News. 11 March 2015.
- ^ MacQuarrie, Ken. "Investigation findings" (PDF). bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Top Gear: 350,000 sign petition supporting Jeremy Clarkson". BBC News. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Fans petition BBC to reinstate 'Top Gear' host Jeremy Clarkson". The New York Times. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Petition backing Jeremy Clarkson hits one million signatures". The Daily Telegraph. London. 20 March 2015. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
- ^ Dearden, Lizzie (11 March 2015). "Jeremy Clarkson petition 'BBC Bring Back Clarkson' is now officially the fastest-growing Change.org campaign in history". The Independent. London. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "BBC – BBC Director-General's statement regarding Jeremy Clarkson – Media centre". Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "Jeremy Clarkson 'could make Top Gear comeback in Australia'". The Daily Telegraph. London. 29 March 2015.
- ^ Conlan, Tara (24 February 2016). "Jeremy Clarkson apologises to former Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
- ^ "Top Gear 22". Amazon. 19 April 2016.
- ^ "A message from TopGear.com". Top Gear.
- ^ "All-new Top Gear episode airs tonight!". Top Gear. 25 June 2015.
- ^ "Top Gear: Jeremy Clarkson's final episode scheduled". BBC News. 16 June 2015.
- ^ Panait, Mircea. "UPDATE: Jeremy Clarkson Finished Voiceovers for Final Top Gear Episode at BBC Studios in London". AutoEvolution. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ O'Connor, Roisin. "Top Gear last episode: Jeremy Clarkson 'replaced' by an elephant called Jeremy in final show with James May and Richard Hammond". The Independent. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ "Top Gear: Series 22 Episode 8". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ a b "Top Gear: Series 22 Episode 8". TopGearBox. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
- ^ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.