Brand of the Day: Top Gear
Welcome to Brand of the Day, where we pick the brand making headlines and explain what you need to know about why it's in the news.
Last night the world finally learned that Chris Evans will take up the Top Gear mantle as presenter of an all-new line up for the show which will begin production in the next few weeks.
Top Gear has come a long way since it was launched as a national BBC show in 1978 fronted by Angela Rippon. In the following years numerous presenters have come and gone, names like Noel Edmonds, Steve Berry and Julia Bradbury have all hosted, but the most significant change for the series came when Jeremy Clarkson joined in 1988.
With a 2002 relaunch, the show’s style evolved to include more comedy, quirkiness and controversy – all of which propelled it onto a global platform with 214 countries tuning in.
The future of Top Gear was, until last night, uncertain after Clarkson was fired from the show for punching one of its producers.
Here’s more behind the franchise.
In 2013 the Guinness World Records named the show as the most widely watched factual TV programme in the world. The show has 350 million viewers each week and, as one of the BBC’s biggest shows, generates an estimated £50m a year overseas.
Chris Evans vehemently denied that he would take over the lead role in Top Gear in March and even as recently as last week on TFI Friday when discussing it with none other than Jeremy Clarkson.
The show has a history of controversy including one incident last year where Clarkson and co had to flee Argentina after sparking a diplomatic incident. One of the cars used in the filming had a number plate which locals interpreted as referring to the Falklands War. The cars and crew were pelted with stones and had to be escorted to the airport by police.
There are regional iterations of Top Gear for the US and South Korea. Last year the BBC launched a Chinese version which mirrors the style of the show and is hosted by a double Olympic gold driving champion, the presenter of Chinese Idol and a pop star turned actor.
Before it became a national show, Top Gear was originally launched in 1977 as a BBC Midlands regional programme reviewing cars and discussing road safety.