BBC's Top Gear, time to pull in or drive on

[kenshabby2000]

Top Gear, BBC2 long runner car show, is it time the boys called it a day.

The latest series had little highlites for me, and I'm beginning to spot the set ups coming a mile away. The Africa nile 2 part show was OK, but to much like the bolivia special.

So should Jezza, hamster and Captian Slow pull over, or is it time for a change of line up, can fresh blood revive the show, take it into a new direction.

Your thoughts please.

[FatesWarning]

Its time imho for them to pull the pin, they have had there day in the sun.

Great show but nothing last for ever.

[dbailey]

Car related entertainment...nope I'me happy...but I need to see more cars next week. Maybe they could do a new car shoot and they have to get the foxy ladies in swimsuits to pose all over the cars.....needs more Led Zep and less Genesis.
This week I leaned one thing, get a Scooby Doo, it sounded great and was the better car all round.

[steamjon]

It still has some mileage left.

Quentin can wait a bit more longer before the BBC reboots it again

[Greenman]

I agree you can spot when things go wrong but tonight's one was one of the best and I burst out laughing when Clarkson's car was sabotaged by Captain Slow(James May) and the log hit the back of Clarkson's car shattering the back windscreen(so much for his genius) and Hammond driving his car down the ramp and into the sand getting stuck. I would however like to see more about the cars, less silly stunts and a return to the old format of driving the cars and explaining about them-of course keep the driving competitions and the Stig mark 3 but they are good at what they do. It's sort of like Last of the Summer Wine with petrol

[rupertramjet]

Hate to say it but I would rather watch Call the Midwife, and TG on Saturday night. It has got a bit away from cars, too much into stunts and the saving grace is without doubt the chemistry between Clarkson May and Hammond.

Watch the US Version, same format exactly, but no chemistry and pure sierra hotel india tango!

[lazyrhino2]

Have loved the show over the years, but it's gotten stale in my opinion.

The show badly needs some fresh ideas & a change of presenters as with these three it's just some middle-aged men messing about & recycling the same old gags.

How many more times do we have to see Clarkson/Hammond/May run into the back of each others cars?

It's been great, but the show needs a re-vamp for me.

Just my opinion chaps.

[coolew]

Don't agree. Top Gear is fun and too many shows aren't. The fun of Top Gear is the chemistry between the presenters. It's why the US and Australian versions don't work. The UK version works because Clarkson, May and Hammond know about cars, and are great presenters, and can bounce jokes off each other. The only special that didn't work for me, was the India special. I think they themselves realised that too.

[40plus]

It's got sufficiently chavvy that a move to C5 can't be far off.

Regards

40+

[buttsie]

The writing is on the wall

Season 19 = about Season 5 for any standard 20 episode a year show - ratings sliding

The BBC have managed to keep the cash cow alive well past its used by date
one look at the number of episodes being made sees they started out with high volume and have in certain years have limited it to what amounts to half a season - 5/6 episodes

Even as far back as 2010 when the BBC sold the rights from a no advert government broadcaster to a commercial advert station in Australia the writing was on the wall that they were trying to cash in.

They've since lost close to 35% of the regular viewers over the past 3 years.
About 300,000 an episode...from 950,000 to 650,000

Mostly down to pesky adverts changing the whole dynamic of the show i'd expect

Knowing TV they'll still be going until the 3 Celeb presenters call it a day