The Top Gear Story The 100% Unofficial Story of the Most Famous Car Show . . . In the World

The full story of the unstoppable rise of Clarkson, Hammond, May, and The Stigand how they created one of the most famous TV shows of the 21st century Reaching a peak in the 1990's thanks to presenter Jeremy Clarkson, the original series faced the axe in 2001 but Clarkson and producer Andy Wilman successfully pitched a new format to BBC bosses and Top Gearreturned to become the irreverent, funny, and often controversial show we now know and love. The addition of Richard Hammond and James May completed the Top Geardream team and ratings soared as viewers tuned in to see the latest Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, arguments over the Cool Wall, and 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 less than $2500, and a race to the magnetic North Pole in which Clarkson and May became the first people to drive a motor vehicle to the Pole, have cemented Top Gear'sreputation as much more than just a car show. But the show's most shocking moment came in 2006, when Hammond suffered serious head injuries while driving a Vampire turbojet drag racing car at over 300mph. From a humble beginning as a 1970's car show, to achieving world dominationthis is the full story.

Martin Roach is the author of Justin Timberlake and Viva Coldplay!