"Basically, if you want a lot of space... buy a field!"
- Jeremy Clarkson
The fortieth series of Original format Top Gear, starring presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Quentin Willson, Tiff Needell, Steve Berry and Vicki Butler-Henderson alongside a plethora of other hosts premiered on the 10th of September, 1998, and formally concluded on the 17th of December, 1998, three months later, before being followed by Blood, Salt and Tears - 100 Years of the Land Speed Record, a special which commemorated the centenary of Gaston de Chasseloup-Laubat's 1898 land speed record of a mere 39 mph (63 km/h), on the 21st of December.
Following the conclusion of the show's 39th series earlier in the year, various elements of the show were extensively redesigned, namely the title sequence, which had otherwise remained unchanged since Series 32 in 1994, and its accompanying theme music. The chevron motif of its predecessor was gone, replaced by sleeker, smoother fonts and various CGI transition effects. This was also the first series to be aired in digital widescreen, although all of the available recordings of this series are in analogue, in which the show was aired in the compromise aspect ratio of 14:9.[1] Series 40, finally updated the opening theme song an elctronic-sound version of Jessica (instrumental) comissioned by Hansen Bass while ''Out of the Blues'' by Elton John as closing theme song was phase out. This serves as both opening and close credits until it's cancellation in Series 45 (Old Top Gear).
It would be the final series for long-time main host Clarkson, who announced his voluntary departure on the 22nd of January the following year. Though Tiff Needell would ascend to the role of lead presenter, the production crew had hoped that James May would emulate the mannerisms and attitude of the now-departed host, leading to Clarkson's scathing criticism of his future colleague.
Having started recording weekly viewing figures in July 1998, Series 40 is the first series where complete viewing figures are publicly available, thanks to BARB. As the final series of the original format with Jeremy Clarkson, viewing figures would regularly surpass 4 million views per episode, with a series average of 3.93 million as interest waned towards the series' conclusion.
Production[]
Series 40 saw an extensive revamp in the show's production, evidently capitalising on the peak of its pre-cancellation fame. The on-screen graphics were replaced entirely, including the aforementioned CGI introduction sequence with a newer, contemporary version of Jessica serving as the show's theme tune.
With the conclusion of Rally Report airing in November, in spite of the BBC continuing coverage of the Rally GB for the next three years, it was decided to axe Tony Mason's long-standing role as motorsports presenter, a decision which was compounded by the BBC's earlier loss of the British Rally Championship in 1997. He would present his final two segments for this series, and then depart Top Gear following 25 consecutive series.
This would also be female presenter Michele Newman's final series; she would go on to work for ITV's rival series Pulling Power.
Trailer[]
Top Gear Trailer - BBC Two 1998
Series 40 Trailer (1998)
- ↑ BBC's 'Point of View' had a report on widescreen broadcasting in early 1998: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJCIMHxQhC8