Top Gear (2002 TV series)/Series 3

Series 3 (2002 format)
Series 3 built on its predecessors and pushed new boundaries.
Episodes	9
Originally aired	26/10/2003 - 28/12/2003
Original network	BBC Two
Resolution	576i
Aspect ratio	16:9 Widescreen
Preceded by	Series 2 (2003)
Superceded by	Series 4 (2004)

The third series of Top Gear premiered in the United Kingdom on the 26th October, 2003, and concluded on the 28th December, 2003, after a run of 9 episodes. The series' main host was Jeremy Clarkson, and he was accompanied by Richard Hammond, James May 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 3 attracted an average viewership rating of 4.03 million viewers per episode, with a peak of 5.40 million viewers for Episode 6, and a low of 3.15 million viewers for Episode 8.

Highlights from this series include the two-part attempted destruction of a Toyota Hilux which culminated in host James May having the truck hoisted to the top of Rachel Point Tower in Hackney, London before the latter was demolished. The series also saw the demise of the show's first Stig following Perry McCarthy's various violations of non-disclosure. His replacement was Ben Collins, who had previously appeared during the preceding series finale as part of the 24 Hour Citroën 2CV Race at Snetterton.