Top Gear (1977 TV series)/Series 26

Series 26 (1977 format)
Jeremy Clarkson became the show's new lead host.
Episodes	14
Originally aired	19/09/1991 - 19/12/1991
Original network	BBC Two
Resolution	576i
Aspect ratio	4:3 Standard
Preceded by	Series 25 (1991)
Superceded by	Series 27 (1992)

The twenty-sixth series of Top Gear premiered in the United Kingdom on the 19th September, 1991, and concluded on the 19th December, 1991, after a run of 14 episodes. The series' main host was Jeremy Clarkson, and he was accompanied by Chris Goffey, Tony Mason, Quentin Willson and various other hosts as co-presenters. The series was produced at Pebble Mill Studios in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and aired on BBC Two in a 30-minute magazine format.

Highlights from this series include the change in lead hosts from William Woollard to Clarkson, the first change in lead host since Series 6 in 1981, the longest run of Top Gear up to that point, staying on air right through to Christmas, and the increased inclusion of supercars from exotic marques such as Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Production

With Clarkson now in charge, the programme's tone began to shift from a more serious look into the world of cars as it had been under Woollard, to a more relaxed, entertaining one. Still working as a writer for Performance Car, production for the show overlapped with the production for the magazine's October 1991 issue, resulting in a photoshoot and video shoot at the same time, with the same journalist and cars, for two different brands of automotive journalism media, as part of Clarkson's fastly-growing influence at the time. The programme would also introduce Quentin Willson as the show's debuting new and used car expert, a role which he'd firmly hold for the ensuing decade.

With Woollard's departure and Sue Baker also having stepped down the series prior from her limited role as host for motor shows, Chris Goffey now became Clarkson's main broadcasting partner, even becoming lead host for one episode during which Clarkson was away. Series 26 was also the first series for Janet Trewin, a female host that primarily looked at issues facing woman drivers as well as safety issues within the automotive industry as a whole. And although she wouldn't debut on television until Series 29, this series would also mark the first appearance of Michele Newman for voiceover segments, which Steve Lee likewise helped to provide.

Unlike other Autumn/Winter series of Top Gear, which would usually end somewhere around October - November to allow unbroken coverage of the year's RAC Rally, Series 26 incorporated the rally into its schedule before finishing after the rally had concluded. For one final year, William Woollard resumed his hosting duties for Rally Report, during an event which saw Juha Kankkunen and his Lancia Delta reign supreme, securing his World Championship.

Episodes

#	Total	Episode Page	Location/Event(s)	Original airdate (UK)
1	227	Series 26, Episode 1	1991 Frankfurt Motor Show	19th September, 1991
		Vehicles	Volkswagen Golf Mk3 • Honda Pilot
		Films and features	One Careful Owner: Buying a second-hand car; Quentin Willson interviews Nick Lewis and Mike Hewitt
2	228	Series 26, Episode 2	1991 Pirelli Classic Marathon	26th September, 1991
		Vehicles	Mazda MX-3
		Guests and features	Problems with new cars; Chris Goffey interviews David Gent. • Auto Update: With Sue Beardsmore
3	229	Series 26, Episode 3	Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing	3rd October, 1991
		Vehicles	Toyota Camry V6
		Guests and features	Jeremy Clarkson reports on new methods of pollution-free transport
4	230	Series 26, Episode 4	Castle Combe Race Circuit	10th October, 1991
		Vehicles	Retrospectives on: Lamborghini (Miura • Countach • Diablo) & Austin A90 Atlantic
		Guests and features	Chris Goffey reports on airbags in crash safety • Quentin Willson reports on second-hand Range Rovers
5	231	Series 26, Episode 5	Motorfair '91 (see also: Motorfair '91)	17th October, 1991
		Vehicles	Vauxhall Astra Mk3 • Ford Escort RS2000 • Gold Cirrus
		Guests and features	Chris Goffey reports on the new Ford Zeta engine • Jeremy Clarkson reports on automotive security measures around the world • Tony Mason interviews David Coulthard
6	232	Series 26, Episode 6	Jersey	24th October, 1991
		Vehicles	Peugeot 106
		Guests and features	Quentin Willson reports on second-hand BMW 5-Series • Autogeddon read by Jeremy Irons • Bouley Bay Hillclimb
7	233	Series 26, Episode 7	1991 BMF International Motorcycle Show, Birmingham	31st October, 1991
		Vehicles	Ginetta G33 • Motorcycles: Triumph (Trident, Daytona) • Malaguti • Norton F1 Sport • Suzuki GSX-R750 • Kawasaki Zephyr • Yamaha Diversion • Honda NR750
		Guests and features	Retrospective on BMW Motorcycles • Stolen Car Squad and motorcycle security • Janet Trewin reports on the risks faced by woman drivers
8	234	Series 26, Episode 8	CMA Vehicle Auction Centre, Shepshed	7th November, 1991
		Vehicles	Honda Civic
		Guests and features	Quentin Willson reports on car auction houses • Rally Quest '91 winner Francine Bogg
9	235	Series 26, Episode 9	Cheltenham Race Course	14th November, 1991
		Vehicles	Citroën XM Estate vs. Audi 100 Avant • Ford Bronco Rally Raid
		Guests and features	Michael Collie reports on traffic congestion in Cambridge • Jeremy Clarkson looks at classic cars with famous owners
10	236	Series 26, Episode 10	1991 Lombard RAC Rally Preview	21st November, 1991
		Vehicles	Rover 800 Mk2
		Guests and features	Jeremy Clarkson on company cars • Janet Trewin reports on benzene gas • Tony Mason visits the Subaru Rally Team in Banbury • Quentin Willson reports on second-hand Metros
11	237	Series 26, Episode 11	1991 Lombard RAC Rally Special	28th November, 1991
		Vehicles	None
		Guests and features	1991 Lombard RAC Rally Report • Francine Bogg's progress as Rally Quest winner
12	238	Series 26, Episode 12	Morecambe Illuminations	5th December, 1991
		Vehicles	Retrospective: Jaguar Mark II
		Guests and features	Chris Goffey reports on car security • Tony Mason reports on the Morecambe Illuminations Rally revival
13	239	Series 26, Episode 13	Tixall, Staffordshire	12th December, 1991
		Vehicles	Vauxhall Frontera & Frontera Sport
		Guests and features	Janet Trewin reports on joyriding and banger racing
14	240	Series 26, Episode 14	Ferrari Factory, Maranello	19th December, 1991
		Vehicles	Ferrari 348
		Guests and features	Michael Collie reports on the 1991 Shell Eco-marathon • Tony Mason reports on a steam-powered vehicle festival near Manchester

Reverse Gear

8 days after the series concluded, BBC 2 ran a compilation of highlights from 1991, titled Reverse Gear.

#	Total	Episode Page	Location/Event(s)	Original airdate (UK)
1	241	Reverse Gear	Highlights from the 1991 series of Top Gear	27th December, 1991
		Vehicles	Jaguar XJR-15 • Retrospectives on: Lamborghini (Miura • Countach • Diablo)
		Films and features	Other motoring highlights from 1991

Hosts

• Jeremy Clarkson - main host (12 episodes)
• Chris Goffey - secondary host (6 episodes)
• Quentin Willson - used car expert (6 episodes)
• Tony Mason - motorsports correspondent (6 episodes)

Also featuring

• Tiff Needell - professional driver/tertiary host (4 episodes)
• Janet Trewin - tertiary host (3 episodes)
• Michael Collie - tertiary host (3 episodes)
• Nicky Fox - tertiary host (1 episode)
• William Woollard - guest host (1 episode)

Trivia

• At 14 episodes, this was the longest Top Gear series up to that point.
• It was the first to be hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, of a total 37 he'd host as lead presenter, more than any other Top Gear host.
• With Woollard and Baker both having bowed out at the end of Series 25, this series meant Chris Goffey was the last surviving regular host of Top Gear's '80s era, following the earlier retirement of Frank Page in 1988.