| Whether it is Clarkson, James May, Richard | | | | However, with the inclusion of celebrity challenges, |
| Hammond, Vicki Butler-Henderson, or any other | | | | outrageous stunts and challenges, and the regular |
| media car reviewer or online amateur, it seems as | | | | destruction of caravans, the focus these days is |
| though everyone has an opinion on what the best | | | | very much on entertainment and personalities rather |
| cars to be driving (or seen to be driving) are. | | | | than cars. |
| Looking back, it seems as though just a couple of | | | | Fifth Gear was originally intended as a replacement |
| decades ago, there were only a few real mainstream | | | | for Top Gear, which went into a period of lull around |
| magazines on the shelves, most notably Motor | | | | the start of the century following Clarkson's |
| magazine which merged with AutoCar, and | | | | departure before being cancelled. But the new |
| Performance Car which then became Car magazine; | | | | programme on Five was launched just as the BBC |
| now it is difficult to escape the mass of car | | | | announced they would bring back a new modified 60 |
| magazines which fill the shelves of the nation's | | | | minute version of Top Gear. Although achieving |
| newsagents. | | | | nowhere near the viewing figures that the Clarkson |
| The current best selling car magazine, Top Gear was | | | | lead show has managed, Fifth Gear is generally less |
| first published in 1993 as a spin off to the Top Gear | | | | outrageous and more of a straightforward |
| TV series, which first came into being in 1977 as a 30 | | | | informative motoring show. |
| minute BBC Midlands TV programme, which reviewed | | | | Now interest in motoring has also gone online, with |
| new car models and covered other car-related issues | | | | Top Gear being the most pirated TV show in the |
| such as road safety, classic cars and motorsport. | | | | world, beating programmes like Lost and Desperate |
| Since this time, the two biggest mainstream UK Car | | | | Housewives. The BBC reported that one video of |
| programmes, Top Gear and Fifth Gear, have become | | | | Clarkson achieved 938,000 downloads on YouTube |
| important parts of media car culture in Britain. | | | | before they asked for it to be removed. Even |
| Over recent years there has been a change in the | | | | interested non-journalists are now able to find videos |
| way that cars have been dealt with by journalists in | | | | and offer advice through car forums, motoring blogs, |
| the media. As time has gone on, and following a | | | | general car sites and the many online owners clubs. |
| major revamp in 2002, Top Gear has moved away | | | | With the future looking rosy for professional |
| from a standard journalistic show and focused on a | | | | motoring journalists both on TV and in print, and as |
| more light hearted and quirky based entertainment | | | | the public appetite becomes increasingly voracious to |
| style of programming. The actual motoring | | | | get involved in the action, and sites provide more |
| information provided on the show has been | | | | interactivity, it is hopefully only a matter of time |
| decreasing, as global ratings have been increasing. | | | | before we get fully immersive interactive super car |
| It still remains one of the most entertaining shows on | | | | test drives with a background commentary by |
| TV and provides essential viewing to both | | | | Clarkson. |
| petrolheads and millions of non car enthusiasts alike. | | | | |