From humble beginning as a 1970s motoring show Top Gear has achieved world domination. Reaching a peak in the 1990s thanks to presenter Jeremy Clarkson the original series faced the axe in 2001
- but Clarkson & producer Andy Wilman successfully pitched a new format to BBC bosses & Top Gear returned to become the irrevernt funny & often controversial show we now know & love. The addition of Richard Hammond & James May completed the Top Gear dream team & ratings soared as viewers tuned in to see the latest Star in a Reasonably Priced Car arguments ove the Cool Wall & Power Laps by the mysterious Stig. Recent series have been defined by their madcap challenges
- with predictably hilarious results. Hour-long specials such as the 1000-mile journey across the Africa in cars bought for only GBP1500 & a race to the magnetic North Pole in which Clarkson & May became the first people to drive a motor vehicle to the Pole have cemented Top Gears reputation as much more than just a motoring show. But the shows most shocking moment came in 2006 when Hammond suffered serious head injuries while driving a Vampire turbojet drag racing car at over 300mph.