It's hard to do broad comedy without including any stereotypes at all. I don't honestly think TG has ever belittled women, and certainly doesn't do so as much as it belittles it's hosts - they're continually shown to be useless and incompetent at anything more difficult than picking their noses. Plus the SIARPC challenge is entirely gender-neutral, they make no concessions in any way - you get in the car, you go out there and you set a time. This is true if you're a man, woman or indeed a man claiming to be a woman, in Bill Bailey's case. All times are considered equally, with allowances only for racing conditions.

This is without even considering the couple of occasions where Sabine Schmidt has featured showing that a woman, with sufficient talent and training, can wipe the floor with a less well trained man in pretty much any motorsport related challenge.

TG, taken in the round, is more progressive than a large portion of the rest of television because despite being a 'blokey' show, it actually treats the women who appear on it entirely on their individual merit alone. It's only if you believe that Top Gear is somehow entirely based around Jeremy Clarkson's persona that would lead you to take the position the article writer has. I suspect in fact she's actually seen very little of it.

And, as has been said, let's not take lectures in equality from a woman who employs an entirely female workforce and runs a magazine which has a shocking record of objectifying women (and men, for that matter).

I could see how she could argue about the racial jokes, but sexist? I just don't see it.

Also available on BBC HD.

Mark

Already seen two cars I'm not allowed to own.

Oh, well. Will keep on with the Crossfire for a few more years then The secret is wanting what you've already got.

A P45, driven by an idiot, around many of the roads I knew well.

\•/
That's me sorted then.
I've also got an idea of what I'd like if ever I'm in a position to upgrade.
It's all good.

Mark

It was an entertaining start for the new series, with a reasonable balance of awesome cars and juvenile antics. I have to say, I found the first episode of the Wonders of Life far more engrossing.

How fortunate that they run concurrently at the moment.

I'm looking forward to what looks like another epic adventure.

H2O+SO2 gives H2SO4?

???
I think you've got this in the wrong thread??

Sorry, just the extension into Brian Cox and the life thing. Not really relevent to TopGear

From my rusty chemistry, not normally no. It gives H2SO3 which is sulphurous acid, not sulphuric. A rather weaker acid, but still kills trees.

The actual equation is

2*H2O + SO2 => H2SO4 + 2*H



But the rhyme isn't as catchy

Demonstrates the logic of having a physicist - even if a very good communicator - lecturing on biology and chemistry.

By the way, really like the idea of the car with the four flaps putting extra downforce on each wheel when required. Really want that.

Only 80K. Not sure I can quite run to that.