AlexGRFan97: Created page for Series 37 of original Top Gear.

2022-11-19T15:43:50Z

Created page for Series 37 of original Top Gear.

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{{Infobox Series
| name = Series 37 (1977 format)
| front_image = TG_1977_S37_Main.jpg
| image_size = 320px
| caption = Jeremy and Tiff square off for the [[Top Gear Magazine/UK/March 1997|March 1997]] issue of ''TG''
| epcount = 20
| airdates = 02/01/1997 - 15/05/1997
| network = BBC Two
| res = 576i
| aspect = 4:3 Standard
| prec = [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 36|Series 36 (1996)]]
| superc = [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 38|Series 38 (1997)]]
}}

{{TG Series|version=1977|number=thirty-seventh|date=2nd January|year=1997|date2=15th May|year2=1997|eps=20|host=Jeremy Clarkson|pronoun=he|otherhosts=[[Tiff Needell]], [[Steve Berry]], [[Quentin Willson]] and various other hosts|studio=Pebble Mill Studios|studioinfo=Edgbaston, [[Birmingham]]|channel=BBC Two|mins=30|format=magazine|num=|highlights=fact this was the longest series of ''Top Gear'' up to that point, Italian automaker [[Ferrari]] celebrating their 50th birthday, Berry taking part in a "Wall of Death" fair attraction in the penultimate episode, and Clarkson finding a [[Vauxhall Vectra]] that he actually [[MSD Vectra|liked]]}}

==Production==
Production for Series 37 commenced unusually early, with filming beginning in late 1996 as opposed to early on in the subsequent year, as had been the norm at this point. In fact, Series 37 started so early that it premiered just two weeks after the Series 36 special [[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Series 36/London to Brighton: The Centenary Run|centred around the London to Brighton Centenary]] aired, effectively meaning the end of Series 36 rolled into the beginning of the subsequent series. It then continued for 20 episodes, with lead host Clarkson starring in all but one. Steve Berry was once more Clarkson's main foil during the series, primarily presenting segments around motorcycles, whilst Quentin Willson continued to focus on the car market. Tony Mason, with his career now starting to wind down, would begin reviewing cars on top of his pre-existing duties as motorsports correspondent and presenter for segments involving heavy vehicles.

This would be the final series for ''Top Gear'' veteran Chris Goffey, who departed from the BBC at its conclusion and moved to rival network Granada's ''[[Motor Week (UK)|Motor Week]]'', which he would present until his retirement from automotive journalism altogether in 2002. He had worked for the programme since 1981, and was the longest serving host. He appeared in just two of Series 37's 20 episodes. [[Vicki Butler-Henderson]], who had previously appeared on the show on a trial basis for 1994's [[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Series 32|Series 32]] would be his long-term replacement.

[[Noel Edmonds]] also made another appearance, this time around to promote his new role as part of American sports car company [[Panoz]]'s attempt to win the illustrious 24 Hours of Le Mans race. His endeavours would be filmed and chronicled as part of the two-part television special<ref>[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f2c5f99297e04e2398519b6ab1b61792 BBC Genome - ''Noel's Le Mans Dream''. (12th June, 1997)]</ref> ''[[Noel's Le Mans Dream]]'', which aired on [[BBC/BBC One|BBC One]] a month after ''Top Gear'' commenced its Summer break.

==Hosts==
*'''[[Jeremy Clarkson]]''' - main host (19 episodes)
*[[Steve Berry]] - motorcycling correspondent (17 episodes)
*[[Quentin Willson]] - used car expert (14 episodes)
*[[Tiff Needell]] - secondary host (10 episodes)
*[[Tony Mason]] - secondary host (9 episodes)

===Also featuring===
*[[Jon Bentley]] - tertiary host (7 episodes)
*[[Michele Newman]] - tertiary host (6 episodes)
*[[Andy Wilman]] - tertiary host (4 episodes)
*[[Chris Goffey]] - guest host (2 episodes)
*[[Noel Edmonds]] - special guest (1 episode)

==Trivia==
*At 20 episodes and 9 hours long unabridged, this was the longest ''Top Gear'' series ever until [[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Series 45|Series 45]] aired in 2001.
*Between the weeks ending on the 5th September, 1996, and the 15th May, 1997, ''Top Gear'' was on the airwaves for 35 out of those 37 weeks.

==References==
<references/>

Top Gear (1977 TV series)/Series 37 - Revision history

AlexGRFan97: Created page for Series 37 of original Top Gear.