Okay, here's my thoughts.

The "new" style TG was a refreshing blast. I didn't like it at first, so avoided the first couple of series. Then I got it.

Now, about six or seven years into the format, it's become a bit samey. It's obviously set up in places, and, if I'm honest, I don't need to see another supercar squealing sideways round the test track in a cloud of smoke booming "POWERRRRRR!". I've enjoyed the shows with the stupid challenges, like crossing the Channel in homebrew aquatic cars, or racing a train across Japan, or trying to find the best driving road in Europe.

The thing is, how can an admittedly successful format be tweaked without breaking it? Perhaps I'd like more real down-to-earth reviews of normal cars to temper the horsepower and torques. Perhaps a little bit more of a nod to real world driving issues. I don't know. I'm not paid to think these things up. I'm sure the production team has been through this again and again.

Let's see how the next series gets on. I'll reserve judgement until then.

More challenges without the 'acting' and pratfalls would suit me, even just more of the stuntman that hasn't got a hope and strapping a rocket to vehicles silliness would suit me

I don't think they've got the budget anymore though for any of that

To be fair, the amount of money they must spend when compared with othe BBC shows is surely quite high?

I'm with Heather, wait till next season. I'm not that bothered though. Although I do love the specials generally. Their crews always get superb pics and I never tire of seeing different parts of the world through the eyes of the boys.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's serious money, but the budget cuts seem to have resulted in the sort of nonsense that plagues Hollywood films - 'Quick, make that line funny!' or 'Have that blow up, the audience will get bored if we don't treat them like morons!'

Firstly, it probably tops up it's budget on the revenue it brings in from international sales and merchandising like Stig bubble baths and DVDs. I can't think of another BBC program at the mo that has anywhere near it's merchandising capability. Secondly, I"m not sure it's budget will be that big compared to some of the 'star vehicle' shows. I'm pretty sure a year of TG costs (or costed, as it now is) less than a year of Jonathan Ross's friday night show, if you include the wages of the host and fees paid to guests. OK, say you have 12 TG shows a year and you pay Hammond, May & Clarkson a million each - that still gives you a budget of a quarter of a million a show to spend before you get to Jonathan Ross's wages, let alone the total budget for his show. Allegedly, they're paying Graham Norton 4.5m a year as well. Just because you can't see the money on the screen doesn't mean it's not being spent. In fact, I'd probably say TG is one of the 'best' shows on the BBC in terms of the fact you can see where the budget goes.
I suspect if you take off the money it makes for the Beeb (i.e. the 'net cost') TG may in fact be one of the cheaper shows on the BBC.


It's fair to say it is consistently one of the best looking - in cinematography terms - shows on the TV at the mo. However I do agree with the suggestion that it does require an injection of fresh ideas. IIRC the race they did this season (train vs old bike vs old car) was about the last one of those I can see them doing to be honest; I can't think of <some other thing> to race against the car that they haven't already done.

Jon

That makes sense Jon. Hadn't thought of it like that. You're right of course. Talent costs. And they do spend a lot on that.

I'm glad that someone else appreciates the way it looks. The behind the camera talent on the show is certainly amongst the best currently on display in the UK IMO.

Tbh IMO Top Gear hasn't had a lot to do with actual motoring for a looooooooooooooong time. Yes the clowning around and the penis-mobiles might work for a while but I want to know about real cars that normal people can afford.

Oh and I can't stand the way they treat James May and their attitude towards knowledge. Jezza and Hamster really are irritating ignorant tossers at times.

Thats right. Im not expecting it to be spontaneous Jon. The issue is that its all become way too obvious and predictable now. Oh, I will also reserve the right to have an opinion on something Im watching too