Top Gear (2002 TV series)/Series 1

Series 1 (2002 format)
Jeremy Clarkson with Jason Dawe and Richard Hammond.
Episodes	10
Originally aired	20/10/2002 - 29/12/2002
Original network	BBC Two
Resolution	576i
Aspect ratio	16:9 Widescreen
Uncut length	589:56
Preceded by	Series 45 (2001)
Superceded by	Series 2 (2003)

The first series of Top Gear premiered in the United Kingdom on the 20th October, 2002, and concluded on the 29th December, 2002, after a run of 10 episodes. The series' main host was Jeremy Clarkson, and he was accompanied by Jason Dawe, Richard Hammond and The Stig as co-presenters. The series was produced at Television Centre in Wood Lane, London, and aired on BBC Two in a 60-minute studio format. Series 1 attracted an average viewership rating of 3.3 million viewers per episode, with a peak of 3.67 million viewers for Episode 9, and a low of 2.43 million viewers for Episode 1.

Highlights from this series include the introduction of Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car alongside the debut of the 2002 format as a whole.

Episodes

#	Total	Episode Page	Challenge(s)	Original airdate (UK)
1	1	Series 1, Episode 1	Can you beat a speed camera? • Can you run a car on vegetable oil?	20th October, 2002
		Vehicles	Citroën Berlingo Multispace • Lamborghini Murciélago vs. Pagani Zonda • Mazda 6
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Harry Enfield • Competition application: Grannies doing doughnuts
2	2	Series 1, Episode 2	Can a bus jump 14 bikes?	27th October, 2002
		Vehicles	Ford Focus RS • Noble M12 GTO • Retrospective: Ford Escort RS 1800
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Jay Kay • Competition application: Britain's Biggest car bore
3	3	Series 1, Episode 3	Can a granny do doughnuts?	3rd November, 2002
		Vehicles	MINI One vs. Toyota Yaris Verso • Aston Martin DB7 Vantage • Retrospective: Citroën DS • Westfield XTR2
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Ross Kemp • Car design competition with Ian Callum and Peter Horbury • Competition application: Fastest Faiths
4	4	Series 1, Episode 4	Saloon Grand Prix	10th November, 2002
		Vehicles	Aston Martin Vanquish vs. Ferrari 575M Maranello • Retrospective: Nissan Skyline GT-R • Family saloon group test: Renault Laguna II vs. Jaguar X-Type vs. BMW 318i vs. Honda Accord
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Steve Coogan • Competition application: Budget Bond Car • Jeremy interviews Richard Burns
5	5	Series 1, Episode 5	Bond car on a budget with Edd China	17th November, 2002
		Vehicles	Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W220) vs. Audi A8 • Maybach 62 • Bentley Arnage T
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Jonathan Ross • Used Peugeot 206s
6	6	Series 1, Episode 6	Can a granny do a handbrake turn?	24th November, 2002
		Vehicles	Honda NSX-R • Renault Vel Satis • BMW Z4 • Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Tara Palmer-Tomkinson • Cool Wall introduction • Used Volkswagen Golfs
7	7	Series 1, Episode 7	Who is the fastest faith?	1st December, 2002
		Vehicles	SAAB 9-3 • Lotus Elise 111S
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Rick Parfitt • Cool Wall #2 • Diesel sports car (Peugeot RC Carreau) • Jason vs. electric car (Ford TH!NK) • Favourite car in a school playground
8	8	Series 1, Episode 8	Who is the fastest white van driver? • Turning a Lada into a Lotus	8th December, 2002
		Vehicles	Audi RS 6 vs. Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG • Supermini group test: Ford Fiesta vs. Citroën C3 vs. Honda Jazz vs. Nissan Micra vs. MG ZR • Maserati Coupé Cambiocorsa
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Sir Michael Gambon
9	9	Series 1, Episode 9	Stripping down a Jaguar XJS • Radical SR3 vs. plane on the Top Gear Test Track	22nd December, 2002
		Vehicles	People carrier group test: Renault Espace (fourth generation) vs. Toyota Land Cruiser vs. Volvo XC90 • Subaru Forester • Volkswagen Golf R32
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Gordon Ramsay • Cooking food on a car's engine • Cool Wall #3
10	10	Series 1, Episode 10	2002 Top Gear Awards • Who is the fastest faith?	29th December, 2002
		Vehicles	Range Rover (L322) vs. rivals: Toyota Land Cruiser • BMW X5 • Jeep Grand Cherokee • German tuner cars: AS One vs. MTM Bimoto • Retrospective: Lotus Esprit • TVR T350C power lap challenge
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Award presentation for fastest driver • Jason's guide to buying old bangers

Compilation Episodes

#	Total	Episode Page	Challenge(s)	Original airdate (UK)
1	1	Best of Top Gear #1	Speed camera • Bus jump • Vegetable oil	26th January, 2003
		Vehicles	Noble M12 GTO • BMW Z4 • Citroën Berlingo Multispace • Aston Martin DB7 Vantage • Supermini group test: Ford Fiesta vs. Citroën C3 vs. Honda Jazz vs. Nissan Micra vs. MG ZR • Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Harry Enfield • Jonathan Ross • Tara Palmer-Tomkinson • Cool Wall
2	2	Best of Top Gear #2	Fastest Faiths	30th March, 2003
		Vehicles	Lamborghini Murciélago vs. Pagani Zonda • Ford Focus RS
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Gordon Ramsay • Sir Michael Gambon
3	3	Best of Top Gear #3	Grannies doing doughnuts • Plane vs. car race	6th April, 2003
		Vehicles	Volkswagen Golf R32 • TVR T350C power lap challenge • Bentley Arnage T
		Guests and features	SIARPC: Jay Kay • Steve Coogan • Cool Wall

Home video distribution

Unfortunately, along with much of the content filmed for Top Gear's first eight series, Series 1 has never been made available on a home video format by the BBC.

Clips from the programme's first two series were later compiled and released on DVD as the 90-minute long Top Gear: Back in the Fast Lane compilation, which was released in October of 2003.