Fifth Gear

infobox television
show_name = 5th Gear


caption = The Fifth Gear Logo
format = Motoring and motorsports
runtime = 46 minutes currently
23 minutes originally
creator =
company = North One
starring = Tiff Needell
Vicki Butler-Henderson
Tom Ford
Jason Plato
Jonny Smith
Tim Shaw
country = United Kingdom
network = Five
first_aired = 8 April 2002
last_aired = present
num_episodes = 132
imdb_id = 0324679

"Fifth Gear" (formerly "5th Gear") is a motoring magazine show on British television channel Five. The programme started its fourteenth series in August 2008. "Fifth Gear" has also aired on the SPEED Channel in the USA for a short period in 2006 to early 2007. Repeats of "Fifth Gear" also started airing on UKTV channel, Dave in April 2008. "Fifth Gear" first aired in 2002 as a replacement to the original incarnation of the BBC show "Top Gear" (as opposed to the current format), which was cancelled in 2001 due to low ratings. Five originally wanted to carry on using the "Top Gear" name, but the BBC refused. Several of "Top Gear's" ex-presenters, including Quentin Willson, Tiff Needell and Vicki Butler-Henderson were hired by Five to present "Fifth Gear". [cite web |title=Top Gear team switch lanes |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1657807.stm |date=2001-11-15 |work=BBC News Online |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation] After the completion of "Fifth Gear's" first series, the BBC relaunched "Top Gear" in a new hour-long format presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and Jason Dawe (replaced after the first series by current presenter James May).

how format

The "original format" consisted of a 30 minute programme, including approximately 7 minutes of adverts. [cite web |title=Top Gear finds a new home|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/reviews/1918330.stm |date=2002-04-09 |work=BBC News Online |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |first=William |last=Gallagher] The eighth series returned in the autumn of 2005 in a longer format of 45 minutes, and the ninth series (which went to a 13-week run) was increased to a one hour airtime slot (approximately 46 minutes excluding adverts).

Location

At the start of series 10 the show introduced between-feature links filmed at the Ace Cafe in London. In previous series these links were filmed at the production company offices in Birmingham. Originally produced by Chrysalis Television, the Birmingham offices were situated on the top floor of the headquarters of 100.7 Heart FM (also, at that time, a Chrysalis Radio company), near Birmingham's Five Ways area. The team moved out when Chrysalis sold their Television Division to [http://www.all3media.com All3Media] in September 2003 (the section which currently produces Fifth Gear is now known as North One Television, part of the All3Media group).

In series 14, a location change from the Ace Cafe meant link sequences were filmed instead at the Millbrook Proving Ground, along with some of the vehicle testing features.

Presenter Line-up

For series 10 Tim Lovejoy was introduced as a main presenter, this was shortlived when Tom Ford replaced Lovejoy alongside Vicki Butler-Henderson for series 11 onwards. Ford and Butler-Henderson join regular presenters Jason Plato, Jonny Smith and Tiff Needell. Needell and Plato are predominantly used in performance car features where Smith and Ford cover lifestyle and general motoring issues. Previous presenters have included ex-"Top Gear" presenters Quentin Wilson and Adrian Simpson as well as ex-"Top Gear" editor (and "Fifth Gear" producer) Jon Bentley who presented safety and scientific features. Tim Shaw was added to the line-up for the 14 series starting in the August 2008.

Accidents

During series 12 [ [http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain.jsp?lnk=450 Fifth Gear: Behind the scenes] Accessed 28 May 2008] two accidents took place during filming.

* Episode 7: Tom Ford broke his foot and several toes [ [http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/news/36636.html "Fifth Gear star Tom Ford hurt in crash"] Autotrader.co.uk News - Accessed 10 October 2007] when he crashed a modified Bedford Rascal van. Ford was recording a piece about drifting. He and co-host Jonny Smith were racing each other in a D1 Grand Prix style around a private track. After winning the event, Ford was performing a victory drift that went wrong, put his van (painted to resemble the A-Team GMC Van) up on two wheels and sent him into a safety barrier.

* Episode 8: BTCC driver Jason Plato suffered multiple burns when a Caparo T1 he was driving at Bruntingthorpe proving ground burst into flames [ [http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~10~id~155660.htm "Plato injured as Caparo T1 bursts into flames"] Crash.net News - Accessed 10 October 2007] . The car, capable of 200mph, burst into flames at an estimated 150mph. Plato said: "There was a slight loss of power, I looked in the mirror and saw some smoke, there was a slight smell of oil and then suddenly there was this intense heat. The car spontaneously erupted into a ball of flames and I was sat in the middle of a fireball." The presenter was initially taken to Market Harborough and District Hospital by former BTCC driver Phil Bennett before being treated at Kettering General Hospital. He later received specialist burns treatment at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

The "Fifth Gear" awards

Each year, the programme gives out various awards:

2004

* Best small car – BMW 1-Series
* Best family car – Ford Focus
* Best fast car – Porsche 911 Carrera S
* Car of the year – Volkswagen Golf GTI

2005

* Best small car – Ford Fiesta ST
* Best family car – Honda Civic
* Best fast car – BMW M5
* Car of the year – Porsche Boxster

2006

* Best small car – MINI Cooper S
* Best family car – Citroen C4 Picasso
* Best fast car – Chevrolet Corvette Z06
* Car of the year – Audi TT

2007

* Best small car – Fiat 500
* Best family car – Ford Mondeo
* Best fast car – Audi R8
* Car of the year – Audi R8

hoot outs

"Fifth Gear" claims to be 'world renowned' for their 'infamous' shoot outs, between similarly priced, similarly powerful cars, or, recently, cars versus bikes. These shoot outs take place at the Anglesey Circuit on the Isle of Anglesey close to Aberffraw. During the refurbishment of Anglesey, shoot-outs were switched to Castle Combe Circuit.

2002 (Series 1 and 2)

* Ford Focus RS vs. Honda Civic Type-R vs. SEAT León Cupra R

2003 (Series 3 and 4)

* BMW Z4 3.0i vs. Porsche Boxster
* Radical SR3 vs. Ariel Atom
* Nissan 350Z vs. Audi TT 3.2 Quattro
* BMW M3 CSL vs. BMW M3

2004 (Series 5 and 6)

* Citroen C2 GT vs. Ford SportKa
* Ford Transit 125 T280 vs. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 213CDI
* Skoda Fabia vRS TDi vs. MINI Cooper
* Lotus Elise 111R vs. Vauxhall VX220 Turbo

2005 - Series 7

* Ducati 999 vs. Lamborghini Gallardo
* Honda Civic Type-R vs. Renaultsport Clio 182 Cup
* Vauxhall Monaro VXR vs. MG ZT260
* MINI Cooper S Convertible vs. Smart Brabus Roadster Coupe
* Mosler MT900S vs. Ducati 999
* Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG vs. Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG
* BMW X5 4.8is vs. Porsche Cayenne S
* Noble M400 vs. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ-400

2005 - Series 8

* Porsche 911 Carrera S vs. Lotus Exige 240R
* Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI GSR vs. Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX FQ-320
* Westfield XTR4 vs. Suzuki GSXR1000
* Ford Fiesta ST150 vs. Mitsubishi Colt CZT
* Mazda RX-8 vs. Alfa Romeo GT 3.2 V6
* Nissan 350Z vs. Audi TT Sport Quattro 240
* Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG vs. Jaguar XJR
* Subaru Legacy 3.0 R spec. B Sports Tourer vs. Volvo V50 T5 SE AWD
* Lancia Delta Integrale vs. BMW M3 e30.

2006 - Series 9

* Mazda MX-5 vs. Mazda MX-5 mk. I
* Subaru Impreza WRX STi Type-UK vs. Subaru Forester STi
* Vauxhall Astra VXR vs. Ford Focus ST
* Mercedes-Benz A200T vs. Toyota Corolla Verso T180
* BMW M6 vs. BMW M5
* Škoda Octavia vRS vs. Volkswagen Golf GTI
* Volkswagen Golf R32 vs. BMW 130i M Sport
* Nissan Navara vs. Mitsubishi L200

2006 - Series 10

* Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX MR FQ-360 vs. Stunt Plane

2007 - Series 11

* Week 5: Renaultsport Clio 197 vs. Vauxhall Corsa VXR
* Week 6: MINI Cooper vs. Suzuki Swift Sport
* Week 9: White van Megane shoot-out: Renaultsport Megane 230 F1 Team R26 vs. Ford Transit Connect X-press
* Week 10: Hire car shoot-out: Vauxhall Astra 1.6 vs. Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec

2007 - Series 12

* Week 1: BMW 335i vs. Audi S5
* Week 3: Honda Civic Type R (UK 198 BHP specification) vs. Honda Civic Type R (Japanese 222 BHP specification)
* Week 5: Audi TT 2.0T S-tronic vs. Audi TT 2.0T manual
* Week 7: vs. Dodge Charger

2008 - Series 13

* Week 1: Lotus Exige S 240 vs. Caterham CSR 260 Superlight
* Week 2: Renaultsport Clio 197 vs. Rage Buggy R180RT
* Week 3: Vauxhall VXR8 vs. Lotus Carlton
* Week 4: VW Transporter Sportline vs. Mercedes-Benz Vito X
* Week 5: Fiat Panda 100HP vs. Renault Twingo GT
* Week 6: MINI One vs. Fiat 500 1.4
* Week 7: Ford Fiesta ST185 vs. Vauxhall Corsa SRi
* Week 8: Porsche Cayenne GTS vs. BMW X5 4.8i
* Week 9: Volkswagen GTI vs. Subaru Impreza WRX
* Week 10: Ford Escort RS Cosworth vs. Ford Focus RS

2008 - Series 14

* Week 1:
* Week 2:
* Week 3:
* Week 4:
* Week 5:
* Week 6:

eries guide

*Series 1: 8 editions First shown 8 April 2002 -
*Series 2: 8 editions
*Series 3: 8 editions
*Series 4: 8 editions
*Series 5: 8 editions
*Series 6: 8 editions
*Series 7: 8 editions
*Series 8: 13 editions
*Series 9: 12 editions
*Series 10:13 editions
*Series 11:10 editions
*Series 12:10 editions
*Series 13:10 editions
*Series 14:8 editions
*Special "The Super Car Collection" 1x60'

External links

* [http://www.five.tv/fifthgear "Fifth Gear"] at five.tv

References