Top Gear is an amazingly popular BBC television series about motor vehicles, focusing mainly on super cars.  It is presented in a humorus style by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. The show is currently in its 14th season.

When you hear about a TV show with three British presenters covering and reviewing cars you will most likely want to switch to another channel. Who understands their British English and odd names for items such as trunk (boot) or sedan (saloon) anyway? However once you meet these three presenters your attitude will change and not just a little bit.

The Presenters

The names Clarkson, Hammond, and May, off the bat may not tell you anything but let this writer introduce you to TV’s most entertaining car show hosts on British if not worldwide television. By now you may have guessed (aside from the title of this article) that we are talking about the BBC Program Top Gear and its three entertaining hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy Clarkson as a journalist has a long standing history in automotive journalism, in fact he is one of the founders of the Motoring Press Agency (MPA). This he founded with a partner in 1984. Over the years he has presented on a variety of television shows such as his very own "Clarkson", he also also has columns in "The Sunday Times" and "The Sun". On Top Gear he seems to like to speak out against government regulations as well as the at times over sensitive special interests groups which receives a lot of attention and criticism. If your expecting political correctness from Jeremy, I believe you may wait a while, which I find in many ways refreshing.

Richard Hammond

Hammond or the "Hamster" as he is sometimes referred to on Top Gear (after having been caught chewing on card board on a few occasions) is an automotive enthusiast, and overall presenter he has hosted/presented many  science and lifestyle programs before joining Top Gear.  He also received international attention when he attempted a high speed run in the Vampire Dragster and crashed in the vehicle. One of the many things that makes Hammond even more likeable is his love of Porsche 911's ... well who doesn't love those beauties.  Hammond however is not just bound to the four wheeled vehicles which he proved in the Top Gear Vietnam Special in which he points out his love for riding motorcycles.

James May

James shows just like is co-hosts a long history in writing automotive reviews in "Car Magazine" and "Autocar". He was dismissed from Autocar after placing a secret message into issues. Throughout the years he has written books such as "May on Motors" and "Notes from the Hard Shoulder". His history with cars is long and his love for old and simple cars is shown throughout his Top Gear life. Having watched Top Gear for years now I find James to be a great presenter and also as someone who tends to ground the rest of the gang on occasion, which at times... is dearly needed. His style of clothing however at times tends to make you wonder. His different style of humour and character does not make James any less valuable or entertaining, to be honest it is hard to imagine the show without James' contributions.

Top Gear: The Show

Top Gear (UK as its now known as Top Gear Australia and Russia have been launched in the last two years) in its first season was much more of a car review and buyer advice show. Top Gear changed to much more of a car enthusiast entertainment show after it was re-launched in its second season. Yes you heard right it was actually cancelled after the first season due to poor ratings. This change however seems to have been to the dismay of some die hard car enthusiasts as well as die hard Top Gear Fans.

Car Reviews

Throughout the seasons (that’s all 14 of them so far) Clarkson, Hammond, and May provide a wealth of news about cars and their performance.  The News part of the show usually discusses the upcoming car releases, the benefit of watching this tends to be that these three don’t pull any punches and many a time label the cars for what they really are.

One does have to understand though that Jeremy, Richard, and James tend to review and test drive a lot of high end super cars such as; Ferrari 430s,  Audi R8’s and other far higher end vehicles which tend to have far more performance and comfort then run in the middle consumer vehicles.

This however doesn't stop the gang of pointing out the validities of consumer vehicles and reviewing these in detail. Their reviews tend to be right on the money when it comes the short comings and short sightedness of the cars as well as their designers.

Super Cars

The cars... the super cars we dream about from childhood on, I believe we all have some sort of car that we just started dreaming about as children and to this day may try to acquire. In Top Gear you will find that Jeremy, Richard, and James do what most people just dream about and that is to drive the most expensive most exclusive super cars in the world and well play around with them. Now who wouldn't want to jump into a Ferrari 599, Lamborghini Murcielago or one of Richard Hammonds favorites the Pagani Zonda. Where we  dream the dream they not only live it but thrive in finding out the vehicles abilities and short comings. If you want to see a Pagani Zonda or Ferrari 430 or any other super car that you may dream about, actually being driven to the limits and shown off then all I can recommend for you to do is find your BBC Network or buy their shows and tune in.

Entertainment Value

Watching this show never really gets old, the bickering, the betting, the challenging of Jeremy, Richard and James make for a great television show revolving all around cars and the fun you can have in them.

The challenges the three presenters encounter through the seasons make always for great moments in TV such as; cars converted to boats with which they have to cross the English channel or the races they have against one another in planes, trains, and you guessed it automobiles.  As absurd as some of the challenges sound you will find that they are a delight to watch and... as in my case watch again.

Every Season it seems they have one big special in which the three get some money, or some old vehicles and get placed in another country with the daunting task to reach some place a thousand or more miles away. The general idea sounds easy if you're not the first people ever driving to the North Pole, or crossing South America in old four wheel drives, or riding motorcycles across Vietnam. The specials are very much a treat to watch and can be recommended to anyone.