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
Which of the many, many stars in a reasonably priced car was your favourite and which one was the worst?
Lots of favourites. Very few people who weren’t nice. They know who they are.
Actually, being celebrities, they probably don’t.
Did you read Ben Collins’s book when he retired ?
Yes. Yes I did.
We’re you amongst the few that knew the true identity of The Stig?
Also, Gallo 12 or 24?
At first almost no one knew. Later on, I did know. But they put a thing in my brain that could be exploded remotely.
Has Clarkson tried to punch u
Was Schumacher the stig on the FXX because ferrari would only let him drive it? We know you can’t tell us but do you even now who the stig is? Did he always have his helmet on in public as to not get leaked?
Yep, it was basically that. Fiat Group wouldn’t let him be seen in anything but their products.
Why are you no longer working for them? They moved on as a team, why didn´t you follow?
I am a freelance gun for hire. At the moment, I’m in hiding.
Did Koenigsegg actually put a wing on the CCX because the stig spun off and said he wanted one?
That miiiiiight have been a slight exaggeration.
Do the boys like to drink? cause in multiple episodes they are surrounded with empty beer bottles or cans
Yep, they do like a drink. Who doesn’t? Apart from Bergerac.
What was the policy for crashing into each other on the specials?
I don’t think there was a policy. Just idiots messing about.
How much of Top Gear was scripted, was it all made to happen or were there moments such as the Argentina Incident that just happened and were not scripted?
There were a lot of things that just happened. Argentina being one of them. I wouldn’t have written it that way, it was horrible.