Top Gear (2002 TV series)/Series 2

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Series 2 (2002 format)
Series 2 saw the reintroduction of James May.
Series 2 saw the reintroduction of James May.
Episodes 10
Originally aired 11/05/2003 - 20/07/2003
Original network BBC Two
Resolution 576i
Aspect ratio 16:9 Widescreen
Preceded by Series 1 (2002)
Superceded by Series 3 (2003)

The second series of Top Gear premiered in the United Kingdom on the 11th May, 2003, and concluded on the 20th July, 2003, after a run of 10 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 2 attracted an average viewership rating of 3.16 million viewers per episode, with a peak of 3.76 million viewers for Episode 8, and a low of 2.46 million viewers for Episode 6.

Highlights from this series include the debut of James May under the new format following a brief stint as presenter back in 1999 after his initial rejection of the third presenting slot the year prior, his position taken up by Cornish car dealer Jason Dawe. Thematically, Series 2 was largely the same as its immediate predecessor, and featured the first phone-in competition that would characterise the next few series of the show, asking viewers what the greatest car of all time was. This segment would be removed from most rebroadcasts after 2003, and was considered lost media for a long time.