This is the full story of the unstoppable rise of Clarkson, Hammond,
May, and The Stigand how they have transformed an ordinary program about
cars into one of the most famous and best-loved TV programs of the 21st
century.From humble beginnings as a 1970s motoring show, "Top Gear" has
achieved world domination. This is the incredible inside story of the
program that has become unmissable viewing for millions of petrolheads.
Reaching a peak in the 1990s thanks to presenter Jeremy Clarkson, the
original series then faced the axe in 2001but Clarkson and producer Andy
Wilman successfully pitched a new format to BBC bosses and "Top Gear"
returned to become the irreverent, funny and often controversial show we
now know and love. The addition of co-presenters Richard Hammond and
James May completed the "Top Gear" dream team and ratings soared as
viewers tuned in to see the latest Star in a Reasonably Priced Car,
arguments over the Cool Wall and Power Laps by the mysterious Stig.
Recent series have been defined by their madcap challenges, including
the most shocking moment in 2006, when Hammond suffered serious head
injuries while driving a Vampire turbojet drag racing car at over
300mph. "Top Gear" has long attracted criticism for its dangerous stunts
and the presenters' controversial opinions, but thankfully "the Hamster"
made a full recovery and "Top Gear" has continued to pull in massive
audiences across the world."
