The zeroth episode of the twenty-second series of Top Gear aired on the 18th of January, 2015. It was presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, with The Stig making a brief cameo appearance at the beginning of the episode. Renowned radio host Christian O'Connell served as an interviewer. It was the 175th episode overall, holds the unique distinction of being broadcast live, and was simultaneously streamed on YouTube, where it received approximately 400,000 views in the first 48 hours.
Synopsis[]
A group of fans patiently cue outside as The Stig cuts in front to read a sign. Another camera shot reveals the sign reads "An Evening With Top Gear", before the tame racing driver turns away and walks off.
Following the introductory sequence and a unique title card, we cut to the studio, which is initially empty and holds four chairs and an 8-cylinder engine block. Interviewer Christian O'Connell walks onto the stage, welcoming both the audiences at home and in the studio to the exclusive preview for the twenty-second series of Top Gear, the world's favourite car show.
Throughout the next 60 minutes, the trio of Jeremy, James and Richard answer as many questions from the public as possible, in addition to showing several minutes of sneak previews from the then-upcoming series of Top Gear.
Trivia[]
- This was the only episode in the history of Top Gear to be broadcast live.
- This was the only studio-based episode of Top Gear not to be filmed at Dunsfold, instead taking place at a smaller venue in London.
- This episode was the second of the 2002 format not to be broadcast on BBC Two; instead, it was only available as an option on the BBC's Red Button service. The other was Top Gear: Festival Sydney, which aired on BBC Knowledge in August 2013.
- This episode was produced mainly as the trio's idea of connecting more with their fans and exploiting the popularity the trio had held on the Internet for many years, as an oddly premonitive lead-in to their successive show The Grand Tour.