ALL NEW U.S. PREMIERE SEASON OF TOP GEAR SHIFTS INTO ACTION IN MARCH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Thursday, February 18, 2010 Devin Johnson, 212 339 1709 Sarah Takenaga, 212 705 9422 www.press.bbcamerica.com <http://www.press.bbcamerica.com> ALL NEW U.S. PREMIERE SEASON OF TOP GEAR SHIFTS INTO ACTION IN MARCH The world's biggest car show, Top Gear, returns for a brand new U.S. premiere season on BBC AMERICA. Hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May push the limits and each other's buttons as never before in the International Emmy-winning program. There's a new search for the greatest driving road in the world, a novel approach to caravanning and the invention of a new motor sport...well sort of. Top Gear Season 14 premieres Monday, March 15, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. The new season starts with a driver's idea of heaven when Richard and James take an Aston DBS Volante, a Ferrari California and a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder to Romania in search of an obscure stretch of tarmac that some driving enthusiasts claim is nothing less than the greatest road in the world. Meanwhile, James makes a rare appearance on the track as he compares two absurdly powerful limos, the BMW 760i and Mercedes S63 AMG, and gets into a strange card game with The Stig. Later in the series, Jeremy and Richard settle the thorny issue of which company has, above all others, made the greatest number of truly brilliant cars, James has a novel solution for getting caravans to campsites without clogging up the roads, Jeremy hits the track in a replica of a legendary rally car and Richard invents the brand new sport of airport vehicle racing. Celebrities taking a turn in the "Star in the Reasonably Priced Car" include Troy and Hulk actor Eric Bana, Frost/Nixon and The Twilight Saga: New Moon star Michael Sheen and Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie, who seems to have a little trouble with the gearstick. One of the most successful and interesting phenomenon's on UK television, Top Gear defies traditional notions of programming genre and has become a global phenomenon reaching 150 million homes worldwide. Top Gear Season 13 hit #1 on the best-selling TV (Seasons) list for iTunes last month. The director is Brian Klein (Clarkson) with Executive Producer Andy Wilman (Jeremy Clarkson: Greatest Raid of All Time, Speed). BBC AMERICA brings audiences a new generation of award-winning television featuring news with a uniquely global perspective, provocative dramas, razor-sharp comedies, life-changing makeovers and a whole new world of nonfiction. BBC AMERICA pushes the boundaries to deliver high quality, highly addictive and eminently watchable programming to viewers who demand more. It is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 66 million homes. For more information on BBC AMERICA, go to www.bbcamerica.com and for press inquiries, go to www.press.bbcamerica.com EPISODE SYNOPSES Episode 1 Romania is the setting for Jeremy in an Aston DBS Volante, Richard in a Ferrari California and James in a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder as they search for a strip of tarmac that many hardcore drivers claim is nothing less than the greatest road in the world. On the Top Gear track, James compares two absurdly powerful limousines - the BMW 760i and Mercedes S63 AMG. The program also features fellow car enthusiast, Troy and Hulk star Eric Bana, who does a lap in the Reasonably Priced Car. Episode 1 premieres Monday, March 15, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Episode 2 Jeremy, Richard and James attempt to save the planet by building their own electric car out of TVR chassis and milk float batteries. It's then driven through the streets of Oxford, before being put through the rigours of the new car testing process. The Top Gear track witnesses a battle of the continents. Representing the United States of America is the American Corvette ZR1, while Europe's entry is the Audi R8 V10. What will prevail - the American's muscle, or the finesse of the European? And the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car is Hollywood's hottest new property: Michael Sheen, star of Frost/Nixon and The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Episode 2 premieres Monday, March 22, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Episode 3 Jeremy and Richard settle the thorny issue of which company has, above all others, made the greatest number of truly brilliant cars. They drive various models of Lancia cars through the British countryside and have a night race against a Morris Marina. James has a novel solution for getting caravans to campsites without clogging up the roads by taking the helm of a caravan airship while being followed by Richard in a Lamborghini Balbonne. Jeremy hits the track in a remarkable replica of a Lancia Hawk Stratos while UK TV broadcaster, Chris Evans, is the Star in the Reasonably Priced Car. Episode 3 premieres Monday, March 29, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Episode 4 Jeremy travels to Belfast to conduct an extremely thorough test of the Renaultsport Twingo 133, involving a tunnel, a ferry and British television actor Ross Kemp (EastEnders). Meanwhile, Richard investigates ways to speed up summer vacation through the medium of motorsport and invents the brand-new sport of airport vehicle racing. Various airport municipal vehicles (including a fire engine, baggage carrier and hospitality truck) race around an airfield. Jeremy compares 4x4s, testing a Diesel Range Rover, BMW X5 and Audi Q7 on the Top Gear track. And the Star in the Reasonable Priced Car is the award-winning British film director and Madonna's ex-husband, Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, RocknRolla, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels). Episode 4 premieres Monday, April 5, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Episode 5 Jeremy, Richard and James attempt to prove that cars can be art by taking over an entire modern art gallery and filling it with motoring-related works, including some remarkable creations of their own. Formula 1 racing driver David Coulthard assists Jeremy in creating a painting using the Red Bull F1 car exhaust and infra-red paint, James builds a sculpture from car parts and Richard paints an homage to John Constable's The Haywain with a motoring twist. In their quest to prove that cars can be more popular than traditional art, the presenters set themselves the challenge of attracting more visitors to their exhibition than will visit a more traditional gallery over the same period - a task that forces them to engage in some unusual promotional activities, including a visit to Middlesbrough Football Club. On the test track, Jeremy drives a new British supercar, the sensationally fast and sensationally expensive Noble M600. And The Star In The Reasonably Priced Car is Formula 1 Champion racing driver, Jenson Button. Episode 5 premieres Monday, April 12, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain personal views which are not the views of the BBC unless specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it from your system. Do not use, copy or disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it and notify the sender immediately. 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