Hello CT. My name is Richard Porter and I was the script editor on Top Gear. Ask me anything.

28 Oct 2015

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

For the episodes with the boatcars, did they have to make sure they floated before the test?

The problem with testing floatingness is that you really have to just get on with it. So there was a lot of theory and then we just went ahead and drove them into the water on camera. Hence, Richard’s vans never lasted long.

Where can I get a Stig costume? When will May, Clarkson and Jeremy air their show? What do you drive? What’s your favorite car?

You cannot get a Stig costume. That’s his skin.

When the trio went on a caravan holiday back in series 8, did the caravan accidentally caught fire or was it scripted?

what about the scene with the rednecks throwing rocks/attacking the van

Do you make up the Top Gear Challenges? And if you don’t, than who does?

Your thoughts on the India Episode please. You said you liked it for ‘’other reasons’’ ?

Were there many challenges that were shot but didn’t make it onto the show?

Not really. TV is very time consuming and expensive to make so big challenges always made it to screen. There were a few other things that didn’t. You’ll have to buy my book to find out what.

Yea, that’s right, I’m basically bribing people to buy my stuff now.

How does Jeremy Clarkson like his steak? Rare etc?

During those specials where they race cars against public transports..How real are those? Because I see the camera car is always a Range Rover..it can’t possibly keep up with those hypercars doing a race against public transport/boat or plane? I’d think alot of times the cast had to slow down for the camera crew to catch up etc..

Remember, there are still speed limits on public roads. And many of the ‘arty’ shots were filmed afterwards by retracing the route the following day. The races were as real as they could be.