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Top Gear executive producer insists the show is not 'crying wolf' denying number plate stunt

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By Gillian West, Social media manager

October 12, 2014 | 2 min read

Top Gear's executive producer, Andy Wilman, has stepped in to defend the show following reports that its crew had to leave Argentina following a number plate stunt.

Wilman has come out and said that the H982 FKL number plate used was not deliberately chosen and was "most definitely" not a stunt.

During filming of a Christmas special of the show the stars, including Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, and crew had to leave South America following protests that were reportedly the result of the number plate that appeared to reference the Falklands War.

A blog post by Wilman referred to "a night of violent terror" endured by the team and that he had seen "quite a few comments from viewers" who thought the show had deliberately chosen the registration.

Wilman wrote: "We are, after all, a show known for getting into hot water through our antics, and now we're protesting our innocence over this affair, we're merely seen as crying wolf. The truth is, however, this is most definitely not the sort of stunt we'd pull."

He added that the team had purchased the car with the number plate already intact in the UK and that no one had previously noticed the plates, only realising it could be an issue on the third night of shooting in Argentina.

"Jeremy was scrolling through Twitter and spotted a comment on one of the auto fan sites, next to a photo of the plate. I remember his surprise and concern," Wilman recalled. The show's team then spoke to authorities in Ushuaia and the number plates were removed.

Wilman continued that "there was nothing in the air to suggest trouble was brewing until the Argentinean veterans arrived and kicked off" and that the team had apologised for the plates and any offence caused.

"We explained they were now gone, and that they had not been a deliberate act," he said. "They didn't believe us, told us to leave town or face the consequences, we did that very and drove into a night of violent terror."

The show's cars, including the Porsche in question, were all abandoned at the toadied with the crew escorted to the airport.

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