Top Gear Australia series 3

Last updated

Top Gear Australia
Season 3
No. of episodes4
Release
Original network Nine Network
Original release28 September 2010 (2010-09-28) 
5 May 2011 (2011-05-05)
Series chronology
 Previous
Series 2
Next 
Series 4
List of episodes

The third series of Top Gear Australia began on 28 September 2010 with a 75-minute Ashes Special featuring the presenters of both the Australian and UK Top Gear's competing in a series of challenges. This special was used a promotional tool by the Nine Network, who, as of late 2009, had acquired the airing rights to both the UK and Australian shows from SBS One. [1] The series proper began 3 weeks later on 19 October. The show airs on Tuesday nights at 7:30pm on Channel Nine.

Contents

A number of changes were made by Nine for the 3rd series. Of the original hosts from SBS, only Steve Pizzati made the move, with new hosts Shane Jacobson & Ewen Page (editor-in-chief of Top Gear Australia magazine) replacing Warren Brown & James Morrison. [2] while former Australian cricketer Shane Warne was added as an occasional guest reviewer. The test track at Camden Airport was redesigned and the 'Star Car' was replaced. The Proton Satria Neo used in the first 2 series on SBS made way for a more 'Australian' Ford XF Falcon Ute complete with bull bar, UHF CB aerial and stickers. (Nine also changed the name of the celebrity car challenge from 'Star In A Bog-Standard Car' to 'Star In A Car').

Due to the change in design of the Top Gear test track, in Episode 2 it was announced that the lap time leader board had been re-calibrated. The Stig drove 5 cars from the previous two seasons around the new track and a difference of +23.9% was calculated.

A two-disc DVD set of the third season, simply titled Top Gear Australia was released in March 2011. It contained all three episodes along with the Ashes Special.

Episodes

TotalNo.TitleReviewsFeatures/challengesGuest(s)Original air dateViewers
(millions)
17"The Ashes Special"NoneVan drag race • Double decker cars • Synchronized donuts • Sheep hurdling • Rally race Jeremy ClarksonRichard HammondJames MayBritish Stig 28 September 2010 (2010-09-28)N/A
181Series 3, Episode 1 Morgan Aero SuperSport Outback road trip in South Australia to Lake Eyre • V8 Lifesaving reel Lisa McCune 19 October 2010 (2010-10-19)1.22
192Series 3, Episode 2 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Can you use a V8 Supercar in the real world? • New Zealand mountain challenge Michael Clarke 26 October 2010 (2010-10-26)1.07
203Series 3, Episode 3 Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2Caparo T1 Grey Nomad adventure on a budget Craig ReucasselAndrew Hansen 2 November 2010 (2010-11-02)0.93
214Series 3, Episode 4 Hulme F1BMW X5M vs Porsche Cayenne Turbo SHDT Blue MeanieSUV vs People Mover (Ford Territory vs Kia Carnival) Jimmy Barnes 5 May 2011 (2011-05-05)N/A

Ratings

EpisodeOriginal AirdateTimeslotViewers1Nightly Rank (#)Weekly Rank (#)
#119 October 2010Tuesday
7:30 P.M.
1,224,000 [3] 4 [4] 12 [3]
#226 October 20101,079,000 [5] 7 [6] 25 [5]
#32 November 2010953,000 [7] 16 [8] 39 [7]
1 Viewer numbers are based on OzTAM data for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth combined.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Stig</span> Mysterious driver in TV motoring show Top Gear

The Stig is a character from the British motoring television show Top Gear. Created by former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson and producer Andy Wilman, the character is a play on the anonymity of racing drivers' full-face helmets, with the running joke that nobody knows who or what is inside the Stig's racing suit. The Stig's primary role is setting lap times for cars tested on the show. Previously, he would also instruct celebrity guests, off-camera, for the show's "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment.

<i>Fifth Gear</i> Television series

Fifth Gear is a British motoring television magazine series which has been broadcast since 2002. Originally shown on Channel 5 from 2002 to 2011, it began as a continuation of the original version of the BBC show Top Gear, which ran from 1977 until being cancelled in 2001. It moved to the Discovery Channel in 2012, then in 2015 to History; since 2018 it has been broadcast on Quest. Following a 2021 relaunch, with an emphasis on electric cars, it has been branded as Fifth Gear Recharged. The show is currently presented by Vicki Butler-Henderson, Sid North, Karun Chandhok and Jason Plato with Grace Webb and engineer Jimmy de Ville also involved in reports. Its former presenters include Quentin Willson, Adrian Simpson, Rory Reid, Jonny Smith, former racing driver Tiff Needell and Car SOS host Tim Shaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SBS (Australian TV channel)</span> National public television network in Australia

SBS is a multicultural public TV network in Australia. Launched on 24 October 1980, it is the responsibility of SBS's television division, and is available nationally. In 2023, SBS had a 7.7% audience share.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Jacobson</span> Australian actor, director, writer, and comedian

Shane Jacobson is an Australian actor, director, writer, and comedian, best known as the "Dunny Man" for his performances as the eponymous character Kenny Smyth, a plumber working for a portable toilet rental company, in the 2006 film Kenny and the spin-off TV series, Kenny's World. In 2006, he won the Australian Film Institute's Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for that performance. In 2017 and 2018 he presented Little Big Shots, on the Seven Network, based on the American series of the same title. In 2019, Jacobson became a judge on Australia's Got Talent.

<i>Ashes to Ashes</i> (British TV series) British television fastasy drama series (2008–2010)

Ashes to Ashes is a British fantasy crime drama and police procedural drama television series, serving as the sequel to Life on Mars.

<i>Top Gear</i> test track Car test track in Surrey, United Kingdom

The Top Gear test track located at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, United Kingdom was used by the BBC automotive television programme Top Gear. The track was designed by Lotus Cars as a testing facility, with many of its Formula One cars tested there. It was used to test both cars and drivers seen on the programme, mainly in Power Laps and Star in a ... Car.

<i>Top Gear</i> (American TV series) American motoring television series 2010-2016

Top Gear was an American motoring television series, based on the BBC series of the same name. The show's presenters were professional racing driver Tanner Foust, actor and comedian Adam Ferrara, and automotive and racing analyst Rutledge Wood. As with the original British version, the show had its own version of The Stig, an anonymous racing driver, and a celebrity guest was featured each week for the first two seasons. The show premiered on November 21, 2010, on History.

<i>Top Gear Australia</i> Australian TV series or program

Top Gear Australia is an Australian motoring reality television series, based on the British BBC series Top Gear. The programme first premiered on SBS One on 29 September 2008. A second season was ordered following the high ratings for the premiere episode and positive comments from advertisers, and the second season began broadcasting from 11 May 2009. After acquiring the rights to broadcast the UK version in 2009, the Nine Network started airing their own version of Top Gear Australia in September 2010. Top Gear Australia returned for a fourth season in 2011. The show was cancelled on 28 April 2012 due to declining ratings. An eight part series will return in 2024 on Paramount+ with new hosts.

The first series of Top Gear Australia was aired during 2008 on SBS One and consisted of eight episodes, beginning on 29 September and concluding on 17 November. The presenting line-up consisted of cartoonist Warren Brown, racing drivers Charlie Cox and Steve Pizzati, as well as the Australian cousin of the Stig. Based on the original UK version, the show's segments included "Power Laps", "Star in a Bog Standard Car", "What Where They Thinking?", "Old car commercials", "Stunts" and "V8 to the Rescue". The studio recordings took place at Bankstown Airport in Sydney. The power laps and the celebrity segments were recorded at Camden Airport with parts of the runways and taxiways used as a test track.

<i>MasterChef Australia</i> Cooking reality television series

MasterChef Australia is an Australian competitive cooking reality show based on the original British MasterChef. It is produced by Endemol Shine Australia and screens on Network 10. Restaurateur and chef Gary Mehigan, chef George Calombaris and food critic Matt Preston served as the show's main judges until 2019, when they were replaced by Series 4 winner and chef Andy Allen, food critic Melissa Leong, and restaurateur and chef Jock Zonfrillo.

<i>Top Gear Russia</i> Russian TV series or program

Top Gear Russia was a Russian motoring television series that ran on Ren-TV, and was based on the British program Top Gear produced by the BBC. It premiered on 22 February 2009. The show was cancelled due to low ratings and aired for the last time on 25 October 2009.

The second series of Top Gear Australia was aired during 2009 on SBS One and consisted if eight episodes, beginning on 11 May and concluding on 29 June. Warren Brown, Steve Pizzati and Australian cousin of the Stig returned for their second series, whilst James Morrison joined the programme replacing Charlie Cox, who left after series one.

<i>Food Safari</i> Australian TV series or program

Food Safari is an Australian television food series presented by Maeve O'Meara and produced by Kismet Productions in association with SBS TV Australia, and explores the cuisines brought to Australia by its immigrants. From seasons 1 to 4, each episode covered a cuisine from a particular culture, including commonly used ingredients and where to obtain them in Australia, the preparation and consumption of 'popular favourites', basic dishes and desserts/sweets. Seasons five to seven, whilst still covering Australian cuisine, focused on the basic elements involved in food preparation, with Food Safari Fire consisting of barbecuing, grilling and smoking of meat and vegetables, Food Safari Earth consisting of vegetarian dishes and focusing on European fermentation and preservation of vegetables, and Food Safari Water which focused on seafood.

The second series of the Australian cookery game show MasterChef Australia premiered on 19 April 2010 on Network Ten, concluding on 25 July 2010 when Adam Liaw was named the winner.

Top Gear Australia: Ashes Special is a special episode of the motoring series Top Gear Australia and Top Gear. It is part of the Channel Nine revamp of Top Gear Australia, which sees Australian hosts Ewen Page, Steve Pizzati and Shane Jacobson, take on the hosts of Top Gear, James May, Richard Hammond, and Jeremy Clarkson in a series of challenges involving the best and worst of British motoring, as well as a rally, and driving through a safari park. Other challenges include a drag race between a Holden VE Commodore ute and a standard looking Ford Transit van customised with a Jaguar XJ220 engine, and the double car race seen in Series 11 of Top Gear UK. An edited version of the Ashes Special was shown in the UK on 30 January 2011 as part of Series 16, Episode 2 of Top Gear UK.

Top Gear is a British motoring magazine and entertainment television programme. It is a revival by Jeremy Clarkson and Andy Wilman of the 1977–2001 show of the same name for the BBC, and premiered on 20 October 2002. The programme focuses on the examination and reviewing of motor vehicles, primarily cars, though this was expanded upon after the broadcast of its earlier series to incorporate films featuring motoring-based challenges, special races, timed laps of notable cars, and celebrity timed laps on a course specially-designed for the relaunched programme. The programme drew acclaim for its visual and presentation style since its launch, which focused on being generally entertaining to viewers, as well as criticism over the controversial nature of its content. The show was also praised for its occasionally-controversial humour and lore existing in not just the automotive community but in the form of internet memes and jokes. The programme was aired on BBC Two until it was moved to BBC One for its twenty-ninth series in 2020.

The Grand Tour is a British motoring television series, created by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and Andy Wilman, made for Amazon exclusively for its online streaming service Amazon Prime Video, and premiered on 18 November 2016. The programme was conceived in the wake of the departure of Clarkson, Hammond, May and Wilman from the BBC series Top Gear and was originally contracted with 36 episodes over three years.

References

  1. "Top Gear Moves to Nine". EBroadcast Australia. 23 October 2009. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
  2. "Top Gear Australia's new hosts". The Spy Report. Media Spy. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
  3. 1 2 TV Ratings: Week 43 2010
  4. Week 43
  5. 1 2 TV Ratings: Week 44 2010
  6. Week 44
  7. 1 2 TV Ratings: Week 45 2010
  8. Week 45 [ permanent dead link ]