Hello CT. My name is Richard Porter and I was the script editor on Top Gear. Ask me anything.
After working on the show for 13 years, 22 series and 175 programmes, there’s quite a lot I can tell you about Top Gear. I know whose idea it was to get a dog, I was there when we got threatened by drug barons in Bolivia, I can give you the real story of that Porsche number plate.
After working on the show for 13 years, 22 series and 175 programmes, there’s quite a lot I can tell you about Top Gear. I know whose idea it was to get a dog, I was there when we got threatened by drug barons in Bolivia, I can give you the real story of that Porsche number plate. I’ve put all these things in my new book, but you can ask me about them anyway. Or something else. Up to you. I’m here all night. Try the soup in a basket.
Comments
What was your favorite challenge on top gear?
I liked the amphibious ones very much, and I have a massive soft spot for the British Leyland challenge, but that’s mostly because I like crap old British Leyland cars.
Do Richard, Jeremy and James behave in private life as they do on television?
They do. They really do. Which is what made it fun. Exhausting, sometimes, but always fun.
What was the best perk of the job?
Crisps. A lot of crisps.
What do you think of my car?
Ummm… I think I’m a little bit frightened. Or aroused. Nnnnno, it’s frightened.
lol.. my gf just asked “why would anybody do such thing to their car?”
mmmmmmmm, swagen
It just made my day!!!
Rice Rice babu
What’s the real history behind the Porsche plate? You said tou could answer, so I asked!
Total coincidence. I swear on my life. We never even saw the car before it was shipped to South America. JC wanted 928 GT, there were only two for sale at the time, it was bought remotely and put into a container. We never saw plates until on Argentine soil, and even then never noticed. The specials are months in the planning, the cars were bought at the last minute. We couldn’t have got that plate on the right car without hacking the DVLA. We couldn’t have bought the car and chosen the location because location must be planned months and months in advance. It really was a horrible coincidence.
Who’s the stig?
Ben collins
Hi,
Who was the last Stig? Also, will Clarkson, Hammond & May’s future endeavours feature The Stig?
I doubt I’ll get a concise answer to either, but I’m not the only one who wants to know, lol! ;)
Can’t tell you, would have to kill you. Clarkson/Hammond/May show won’t feature Stig since he is the property of the BBC. That’s not even a joke. They own his mysterious ass.
Did clarkson, may or hammond ever recieve off-camera mechanical assistance during any of the challenges and specials, or did clarkson really fix everything with a hammer?
We sometimes had a mechanic on hand to keep cars going but a lot of his job was just stopping Jeremy smacking through some vital part of the car. When he was making the S-class cottage, for example, he almost drilled through the side airbags.
It’s obvious some things were scripted, however what to you, was the most absurd, non scripted moment?
I might have to come back to that one. Too many to mention, although the Alabama gas station debacle is an obvious one.
WHO IS THE STIG?
Ben Collins
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