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

Did people on the show feel weird about you writing the book, or were they generally supportive?

Well plenty of the old team have read the book now and no one’s sued me. Yet.

During the last few seasons I noticed James’ fashion sense ,which was always bad, got worse. Was there a reason for this?

Senility?

What was the average cost of making an episode, and what was the most expensive to make?

I’m afraid I don’t know. Not my department. A lot, I can tell you that. The Reliant rocket was very expensive. But we were building Europe’s largest ever non-commercial rocket so that’s understandable. The car trains cost a lot too, although I can’t remember why.

Has Richard Hammond ever whitened his teeth?

He swears that he hasn’t.

What happened to all the cars used in the show? I mean cheap cars and specials’ cars .
Are they stored somewhere or just been sold immediately?
I’d love to see some of them if it’s possible :)

They are all down at a museum called Beaulieu, here in the UK. I think they were quite pleased when we stopped because it meant they didn’t get another truck load of scrap turning up once we’d done with it.

Did you borrow cars from specific people (ie. one guy who was several) or were they mostly press cars?

Do Hammond and May someti.es get upset because of Clarckson jokes

What car filming crew use on specials

Looked to me like someone always moved the fit birds in the audience to the in studio shot scenes behind whoever was presenting, As the BBC never sent me TG tickets when I asked can you confirm or deny this rumour? How nice is Sabine Schmitz arse in the flesh? Looks ace on ca,mera

Yes, the audience was moved around to make it more visually appealing. Standard TV technique. Be honest, do you or does anyone want to look at seven blokes in Subaru fleeces standing behind Clarkson with their mouths hanging open or would you prefer to have this broken up by some people who don’t look like they’ve escaped from a rally stage? Ex-act-lyyyyyy.