User:Chrizman/TopGearGTi
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| Chrizman/TopGearGTi | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Motoring |
| Presented by | Steve Berry, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Tiff Needell |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | To be totalled |
| Production | |
| Production company | BBC |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Two, UK Horizons |
Top Gear GTi is a British Motoring Television Programme that ran for four series between September 1999 and May 2001. It is a sister show of Top Gear (1977 TV Series), following the same name. It's only main presenter was Vicky-Butler Henderson, with Steve Berry presenting some episodes alongside her. Other regulars from the original Top Gear presented segments aswell. Unlike it's predecessor, Top Gear GTi had a slot on UK Horizons instead of the BBC and was broadcast daily.
Show Format
All series of Top Gear GTi followed the format of it's sister show, being an outdoor motoring magazine with no set studio locations. Episodes were considerably shorter than Top Gear, being roughly 10 to 15 minutes in length. The show was broadcast Friday through Monday, with no episodes broadcast on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday.
Series List
| Series | Episodes | Original Broadcast Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unknown | September to December 1999 |
| 2 | Unknown | January to May 2000 |
| 3 | Unknown | September to December 2000 |
| 4 | Unknown | January to May 2001 |
Presenters
Vicki Butler-Henderson was the main presenter, but other regulars from the original Top Gear (Like Steve Berry and Tiff Needell) presented segments too. In it's later years, Jason Barlow made many contributions to the final episodes of the series.
Demise
Top Gear GTi finished around six months before the time that Top Gear finished, the main series continuing until the end of 2001, with a one-off special being presented by Jason Barlow in early 2002. The show never had particularly impressive viewing figures, possibly because of the magazine format which lead to the demise of it's big brother. Despite departing from the main series, Steve Berry continued to stay into the last episodes of the series. The shows existing presenters found themselves under pressure to keep the daily demand of episodes being made. Barlow provided some relief, but the show was not viable to be continued if it strained the cast and crew alike during making the series.
Controversy
It has been stated that Top Gear GTi finished some time around 2002/2003. If this were so, the format would have been refreshed and new presenters would have been added. This is not the case, as Top Gear GTi never lasted into 2002, the series ending in the previous year. It has also been mentioned that many of the Top Gear presenters got involved with Top Gear GTi. This is highly unlikely, by 2000, the presenting line-up numbers for the main show were dwindling. Many of the well-known presenters from the 90's had left even before this show began, so it is most likely that Top Gear GTi ran from 1999 to 2001.