Editing Top Gear (2002 TV series)/Series 1

{{Infobox Series
| name = Series 1 (2002 format)
| front_image = TG_2002_S1_Main.jpg
| image_size = 320px
| caption = Jeremy Clarkson with Jason Dawe and Richard Hammond
| epcount = 10
| airdates = 20/10/2002 - 29/12/2002
| network = BBC Two
| res = 576i
| aspect = 16:9 Widescreen
| length = 589:56
| prec = [[Top Gear (1977 TV series)/Series 45|Series 45 (2001)]]
| superc = [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 2|Series 2 (2003)]]
}}

{{TG Series|version=2002|number=first|date=20th October|year=2002|date2=29th December|year2=2002|eps=10|host=Jeremy Clarkson|pronoun=he|otherhosts=[[Jason Dawe]], [[Richard Hammond]] and [[The Stig#Black Stig|The Stig]]|studio=Television Centre|studioinfo=Wood Lane, [[London]]|channel=BBC Two|mins=60|format=studio|num=1|mil=3|hunthou=3|mil2=3|ht2=67|mostviewed=[[{{PAGENAME}}/Episode 9|Episode 9]]|mil3=2|ht3=43|leastviewed=[[{{PAGENAME}}/Episode 1|Episode 1]]|highlights=introduction of [[Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car]] alongside the debut of the 2002 format as a whole}}

==Production==
In August 2001, the BBC announced<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1480197.stm BBC News - BBC takes ''Top Gear'' off road.]</ref> that ''[[Top Gear (1977 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' in its previous incarnation was to be discontinued after 23 years on the air. This meant an uncertain future for three of its main hosts; [[Tiff Needell]], [[Vicki Butler-Henderson]], and [[Adrian Simpson]], who after meeting with former colleague Richard Pearson in the Autumn of that year, decided to move<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1657807.stm BBC News - ''Top Gear'' team switch lanes.]</ref> to rival broadcaster [[Channel 5]]. The resultant programme, rechristened as ''[[Fifth Gear]]'', would premiere<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1918330.stm BBC News - ''Top Gear'' finds a new home.]</ref> in April of 2002 and recycle much of the format that the outgoing ''Top Gear'' had employed. Public reception<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1918681.stm BBC News - ''5th Gear'': Your views.]</ref> to this new series was largely positive, and put pressure on the BBC to deliver a suitable replacement.

On the 22nd March, 2002, BBC Two channel controller Jane Root would announce that long-time presenter Jeremy Clarkson would be returning<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1888721.stm BBC News - Clarkson back in ''Top Gear''.]</ref> to the show as lead presenter. Clarkson, who had retired<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/260265.stm BBC News - Clarkson slips out of ''Top Gear''.]</ref> from the original incarnation of ''Top Gear'' at the beginning of 1999, citing<ref>[https://www.topgear.com/car-news/jeremy-clarkson/clarkson-leaving-top-gear-tv ''Top Gear'' - Clarkson leaving ''Top Gear'' TV.]</ref> a myriad of reasons including his dislike of the journey to Pebble Mill studios in Birmingham, and the direction in which the show was heading from a creative standpoint. As one of the few remaining personnel following the departure of much of its cast and crew for ''5th Gear'', [[Andy Wilman]] would decide to seize control of the ''Top Gear'' television franchise and began drawing up plans for a successor with lifelong friend Clarkson. Towards the end of 2001, he would approach<ref>Clarkson, J. (2005) 'The backroom boy who put Top Gear on top of the world', ''The Times'', 6th November.</ref> the aforementioned channel controller Root with a proposition to revive ''Top Gear'' under a different format, which was immediately approved.

Scriptwriter [[Richard Porter]], who had joined the programme in 1998 after working in a Wilmslow branch of Next, had left the programme in 2000 to found [[SniffPetrol]], a satirical motoring website<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20011129112239/http://www.sniffpetrol.com/ (Archive link) SniffPetrol homepage as of November 2001.]</ref> similar in style to more infamous publications such as ''The Onion''. After several months, Porter would be persuaded back onto the show after a brief tenure working with [[Channel 4]]'s ''[[Driven]]'', who had intended to relaunch their programme in a studio format, unbeknownst to those working with Porter that ''Top Gear'' had had the same idea. With filming due to begin in the Summer of 2002, Porter would begin writing new scripts for films featured in the series, the first of these being Clarkson's road test of the [[Renault Vel Satis]] around [[Swindon]].

==Episodes==

{| class="wikitable" style="width:1320px; text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
! style="background:#BAD1FF; width:25px;" | #
! style="background:#BAD1FF; width:30px;" | Total
! style="background:#BAD1FF; width:125px;" | Episode Page
! style="background:#BAD1FF; width:235px;" | Challenge(s)
! style="background:#BAD1FF; width:235px;" | Original airdate (UK)
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1
| rowspan="3" | 1
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Episode 1|Series 1, Episode 1]]
| Can you beat a speed camera? • Can you run a car on vegetable oil?
| 20th October, 2002
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | [[Citroën Berlingo|Citroën Berlingo Multispace]] • [[Lamborghini Murciélago]] vs. [[Pagani Zonda]] • [[Mazda 6]]
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' [[Harry Enfield]] • Competition application: Grannies doing doughnuts
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#BAD1FF; height:1px;" |
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2
| rowspan="3" | 2
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Episode 2|Series 1, Episode 2]]
| Can a bus jump 14 bikes?
| 27th October, 2002
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | [[Ford Focus RS#First_generation|Ford Focus RS]] • [[Noble M12 GTO]] • Retrospective: [[Ford Escort#Second_generation|Ford Escort RS 1800]]
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' [[Jay Kay]] • Competition application: Britain's Biggest car bore
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#BAD1FF; height:1px;" |
|-
| rowspan="3" | 3
| rowspan="3" | 3
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Episode 3|Series 1, Episode 3]]
| Can a granny do doughnuts?
| 3rd November, 2002
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | [[MINI One]] vs. [[Toyota Yaris Verso]] • [[Aston Martin DB7|Aston Martin DB7 Vantage]] • Retrospective: [[Citroën DS]] • [[Westfield XTR2]]
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' [[Ross Kemp]] • Car design competition with Ian Callum and Peter Horbury • Competition application: Fastest Faiths
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#BAD1FF; height:1px;" |
|-
| rowspan="3" | 4
| rowspan="3" | 4
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Episode 4|Series 1, Episode 4]]
| Saloon Grand Prix
| 10th November, 2002
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | [[Aston Martin Vanquish]] vs. [[Ferrari 575M Maranello]] • Retrospective: [[Nissan Skyline GT-R]] • Family saloon group test: [[Renault Laguna#Second_generation|Renault Laguna II]] vs. [[Jaguar X-Type]] vs. [[BMW 3 Series (E46)|BMW 318i]] vs. [[Honda Accord Euro#Third_generation|Honda Accord]]
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' [[Steve Coogan]] • Competition application: Budget Bond Car • Jeremy interviews [[Richard Burns]]
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#BAD1FF; height:1px;" |
|-
| rowspan="3" | 5
| rowspan="3" | 5
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Episode 5|Series 1, Episode 5]]
| Bond car on a budget with [[Edd China]]
| 17th November, 2002
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | [[Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W220)]] vs. [[Audi A8]] • [[Maybach 62]] • [[Bentley Arnage#Arnage T|Bentley Arnage T]]
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' [[Jonathan Ross]] • Used [[Peugeot 206]]s
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#BAD1FF; height:1px;" |
|-
| rowspan="3" | 6
| rowspan="3" | 6
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Episode 6|Series 1, Episode 6]]
| Can a granny do a handbrake turn?
| 24th November, 2002
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | [[Honda NSX#NSX-R|Honda NSX-R]] • [[Renault Vel Satis]] • [[BMW Z4]] • [[Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (R230)#SL55_AMG|Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG]]
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' [[Tara Palmer-Tomkinson]] • [[Cool Wall]] introduction • Used [[Volkswagen Golf]]s
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#BAD1FF; height:1px;" |
|-
| rowspan="3" | 7
| rowspan="3" | 7
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Episode 7|Series 1, Episode 7]]
| Who is the fastest faith?
| 1st December, 2002
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | [[SAAB 9-3]] • [[Lotus Elise#111S|Lotus Elise 111S]]
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''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
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#BAD1FF; height:1px;" |
|-
| rowspan="3" | 8
| rowspan="3" | 8
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Episode 8|Series 1, Episode 8]]
| Who is the fastest white van driver? • Turning a Lada into a Lotus
| 8th December, 2002
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | [[Audi RS 6]] vs. [[Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W211)#E55 AMG|Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG]] • Supermini group test: [[Ford Fiesta (fifth generation)|Ford Fiesta]] vs. [[Citroën C3]] vs. [[Honda Jazz]] vs. [[Nissan Micra (third generation)|Nissan Micra]] vs. [[MG ZR]] • [[Maserati Coupé#Cambiocorsa|Maserati Coupé Cambiocorsa]]
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' Sir [[Michael Gambon]]
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#BAD1FF; height:1px;" |
|-
| rowspan="3" | 9
| rowspan="3" | 9
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Episode 9|Series 1, Episode 9]]
| Stripping down a [[Jaguar XJS]] • [[Radical SR3]] vs. plane on the Top Gear Test Track
| 22nd December, 2002
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | People carrier group test: [[Renault Espace (fourth generation)]] vs. [[Toyota Land Cruiser#J120 (Prado)|Toyota Land Cruiser]] vs. [[Volvo XC90]] • [[Subaru Forester]] • [[Volkswagen Golf R32#First_generation|Volkswagen Golf R32]]
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' [[Gordon Ramsay]] • Cooking food on a car's engine • [[Cool Wall]] #3
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#BAD1FF; height:1px;" |
|-
| rowspan="3" | 10
| rowspan="3" | 10
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Episode 10|Series 1, Episode 10]]
| [[Top Gear Awards/2002 (December)|2002 Top Gear Awards]] • Who is the fastest faith?
| 29th December, 2002
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | [[Range Rover (L322)]] vs. rivals: [[Toyota Land Cruiser#J100|Toyota Land Cruiser]] • [[BMW X5]] • [[Jeep Grand Cherokee (WJ)|Jeep Grand Cherokee]] • German tuner cars: [[AS One]] vs. [[MTM Bimoto]] • Retrospective: [[Lotus Esprit]] • [[TVR T350|TVR T350C]] power lap challenge
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' Award presentation for fastest driver • Jason's guide to buying old bangers
|}

===Compilation Episodes===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:1320px; text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
! style="background:#BAD1FF; width:25px;" | #
! style="background:#BAD1FF; width:30px;" | Total
! style="background:#BAD1FF; width:125px;" | Episode Page
! style="background:#BAD1FF; width:235px;" | Challenge(s)
! style="background:#BAD1FF; width:235px;" | Original airdate (UK)
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1
| rowspan="3" | 1
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Best of Top Gear (26th January, 2003)|Best of Top Gear #1]]
| Speed camera • Bus jump • Vegetable oil
| 26th January, 2003
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | 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
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' Harry Enfield • Jonathan Ross • Tara Palmer-Tomkinson • Cool Wall
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#BAD1FF; height:1px;" |
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2
| rowspan="3" | 2
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Best of Top Gear (30th March, 2003)|Best of Top Gear #2]]
| Fastest Faiths
| 30th March, 2003
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | Lamborghini Murciélago vs. Pagani Zonda • Ford Focus RS
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' Gordon Ramsay • Sir Michael Gambon
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#BAD1FF; height:1px;" |
|-
| rowspan="3" | 3
| rowspan="3" | 3
| [[{{BASEPAGENAME}}/Series 1/Best of Top Gear (6th April, 2003)|Best of Top Gear #3]]
| Grannies doing doughnuts • Plane vs. car race
| 6th April, 2003
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Vehicles
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | Volkswagen Golf R32 • TVR T350C power lap challenge • Bentley Arnage T
|-
! style="font-size: 85%;" | Guests and features
| colspan="3" style="font-size: 85%;" | '''''SIARPC:''''' Jay Kay • Steve Coogan • Cool Wall
|-
|}

==Home video distribution==
{{TG 2002 Early Videos}}

Clips from the programme's first two series were later compiled and released on DVD as the 90-minute long [[{{ROOTPAGENAME}}/Home Video Releases/Top Gear: Back in the Fast Lane|Top Gear: Back in the Fast Lane]] compilation, which was released in October of 2003.

==Trivia==
*Series 1 was the only series of ''Top Gear'' to air in 2002.
*It was the only series to feature Jason Dawe as host, his role on the show taken over by James May from Series 2.
*Series 1 was the first of 4 series to feature 10 episodes, the others being Series 2, Series 4, and Series 10.
*It was also the first of 6 series to feature 10 or more episodes, with Series 6 and Series 22 each featuring 11 episodes.
*The look and structure of the studio set noticeably changes between episodes; by the end of the series, it is much darker in appearance.
*Richard Hammond would appear concurrently in archive programming he had produced for Granada Television's [[Men & Motors]] channel prior to his departure from the network, such as ''[[Used Car Heaven]]''.
*One of these episodes featured RV02 ONL, the same Ferrari 360 Modena which appeared in various pieces of ''Top Gear'' promotional material, including the series' introduction.
*Likely before the final title sequence was filmed and edited together, an alternate title sequence with a different version of "Jessica" was made. This appeared on [[UKTV/UK Horizons|UK Horizons]] and some [[BBC/BBC World|BBC World]] airings.

==References==
<references/>

==Navigation==
{{TG 2002 Series}}
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 Scriptwriter [[Richard Porter]], who had joined the programme in 1998 after working in a Wilmslow branch of Next, had left the programme in 2000 to found [[SniffPetrol]], a satirical motoring website<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20011129112239/http://www.sniffpetrol.com/ (Archive link) SniffPetrol homepage as of November 2001.]</ref> similar in style to more infamous publications such as ''The Onion''. After several months, Porter would be persuaded back onto the show after a brief tenure working with [[Channel 4]]'s ''[[Driven]]'', who had intended to relaunch their programme in a studio format, unbeknownst to those working with Porter that ''Top Gear'' had had the same idea. With filming due to begin in the Summer of 2002, Porter would begin writing new scripts for films featured in the series, the first of these being Clarkson's road test of the [[Renault Vel Satis]] around [[Swindon]].
-==Hosts==
-*'''[[Jeremy Clarkson]]''' - main host (all episodes)
-*[[Jason Dawe]] - secondary host/used car expert (all episodes)
-*[[Richard Hammond]] - secondary host (all episodes)
-*and [[Perry McCarthy]] as [[The Stig#Black Stig|The Stig]] - professional driver (all episodes)
 ==Episodes==