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
How much planning did it take to allow Jeremy to crash the roller into the swimming pool to open the new outdoor pool. Also can I have a free ticket to gjos 10 year anniversary? Love the podcasts.
A lot of planning. Thing is, Jeremy is weirdly brave and fearless about stuff like that. He’d have simply done it and worked out how to escape while he was literally underwater. BBC safety people were a little more cautious.
Shall I buy your book?
Yes. Yes you should.
How (or if) did you guys get the cars back from the Africa special (in search of the origin of the river Nile) ? Because I seem to remember all the cars were stuck in the middle of nowhere and the Volvo’s rearaxle had broken off…
Oh God, I KNEW there was something I needed to sort out….
How hard did clarkson punch
Who did you like the best working with? Jezza, Hamster, or Captain slow?
All three in different ways. I liked going to the pub with James the most, but that’s mainly because we like the same sort of pubs and brown beer.
Is Clarkson real human or he’s just a gorilla, as everyone thinks?
He’s a very real human. I’ve seen him eat a sandwich and everything.
Are the Special Episodes real? I can hardly believe they sleep in shacks and ‘accidentally’ break down and get stuck in rivers!
There is much realness in those shows.
Dear so-called Richard so-called Porter, did you really receive a complaint from the Morris Marina Owner’s Club?
We had some emails and there was a lot of shouting about it online.
Did Jeremy Richard and James actually get along?
Yes, but in that way that real mates do where they also annoy each other.
The Hovervan, how difficult was that episode to plan and shoot?
Really REALLY difficult. My God, that bloody thing took forever to make.