Top Gear (series 29)
Series 29 of Top Gear, a British motoring magazine and factual television programme, was broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One during 2020,[1] consisting of five episodes between 4 October and 1 November.[2] The COVID-19 pandemic affected production of the series, with several changes made as a result—studio segments were filmed on an outdoor set with social distancing maintained between presenters, audience members and production staff, the celebrity segment was dropped, and most films were recorded within Britain; a single international film was created, but this was produced in February 2020.[3]
| Top Gear | |
|---|---|
| Series 29 | |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Original release | 4 October – 1 November 2020 |
| Series chronology | |
This series' highlights included the presenters making their own home-made ice cream van, enduring a 24-hour challenge with saloon cars, motoring challenges involving cheap hire cars in Cyprus, and a tribute to racing legend Stirling Moss.
Production
On 10 February 2020, it was announced that a twenty-ninth series of Top Gear had begun filming and would air on BBC One, being the first series of the show to do so. On 16 May 2020, it was announced that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series would not feature international films (with the exception of the Cyprus rental car challenge, which was filmed in February 2020); instead the show would film in and around the UK.
On 9 September 2020, it was announced that the show would feature a new drive in studio, which ensured that audience members were physically distanced during filming.[4]
For this series the Star in a Reasonably Fast Car segment was dropped to maintain social distancing.[5]
Episodes
| No. overall | No. in series | Reviews | Features/challenges | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [6] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 215 | 1 | Ferrari SF90 Stradale | Best Company Saloon for Spending 24 Hours (Volvo S60 • Tesla Model 3 • BMW 3 Series) | 4 October 2020 | 5.40 | |
| The presenters present their new drive in studio with a live audience and several new cars. They kick off the series by seeing which is the Best Company Saloon for Spending 24 Hours in. Flintoff chooses the Volvo S60, Harris selects the new BMW 3 Series leaving McGuinness to settle on the Tesla Model 3 as they compete in a number of tests in and around Bolton. Meanwhile, Harris tests Ferrari's new flagship, the 1000bhp SF90 Stradale in Italy. | ||||||
| 216 | 2 | None | Best Original 200mph Supercar (Jaguar XJ220 • Lamborghini Diablo • Ferrari F40) • Performance Insurance Write Offs (Maserati Quattroporte • Porsche Cayman S • Ford Focus RS) | 11 October 2020 | 5.05 | |
| Harris, Flintoff and McGuinness head to Yorkshire to compare the three original 200mph supercars, Harris chooses the Ferrari F40, Flintoff selects the Jaguar XJ220 and McGuinness uses the Lamborghini Diablo. Later the presenters attempt to purchase several Performance Insurance Write Offs for less than £6,000, McGuinness buys a Porsche Cayman S, Flintoff purchases a Maserati Quattroporte and Harris acquires a Ford Focus RS. | ||||||
| 217 | 3 | Lamborghini Urus • Audi RS 6 | Cheap Hire Cars in Cyprus (Suzuki Jimny • Ford Focus CC • Kia Picanto) | 18 October 2020 | 6.04 | |
| The presenters head to Cyprus for a weekend adventure in cheap rental cars with a budget of €30. McGuinness is granted a Ford Focus CC, Flintoff rents a Suzuki Jimny and Harris is left with a Kia Picanto as they compete in a series of challenges. Meanwhile Harris and McGuinness head to the track to compare two family cars, Harris represents estates with the new Audi RS 6, while McGuinness represents SUVs with the Lamborghini Urus. | ||||||
| 218 | 4 | None | Best new British GT (McLaren GT • Aston Martin DBX • Bentley Flying Spur) • Tribute to Stirling Moss | 25 October 2020 | 5.85 | |
| Harris, Flintoff and McGuinness head to Wales to compare three new British GTs to their German Rivals driven by Heinz-Harald Frentzen. Harris selects the new Bentley Flying Spur which is compared against the Porsche Panamera Turbo S Sport Turismo, Flintoff uses the McLaren GT which takes on the Mercedes-AMG GT R Pro and McGuinness chooses the Aston Martin DBX which goes against the Audi RS Q8. Later, Harris pays tribute to racing legend Stirling Moss who passed away earlier in the year. | ||||||
| 219 | 5 | Honda e • Mini Electric • Vauxhall Corsa-e | Building an Electric All-Terrain Ice cream van | 1 November 2020 | 6.06 | |
| McGuinness introduces Harris and Flintoff to his latest creation: an electric, all-terrain ice cream van for the 21st century called Mr. Nippy. They test its credentials in Blackpool, before competing in a paintball battle against its hot food rivals. Later, Harris reviews the electric Honda e before taking part in a race around the deserted Alton Towers theme park against Flintoff in the Mini Electric and McGuinness in the Vauxhall Corsa-e. | ||||||
References
- "Top Gear Moving to BBC One". Top Gear. 10 February 2020.
- "Top Gear Series 29 Air Date". BBC. 4 October 2020.
- "Top Gear scraps International Films for Series 29". Radio Times. 16 May 2020.
- "Top Gear Returns with a Drive In Movie Twist". Top Gear. 9 September 2020.
- "Top Gear Drops Star in a Reasonably Priced Car Segment". Radio Times. 28 September 2020.
- "Four-screen dashboard". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
External links
- Series 29 at the Internet Movie Database