Series 1 of '' Top Gear'', a British motoring magazine and factual television programme, was broadcast in the United Kingdom on

BBC Two BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It covers a wide range of subject matter, with a remit "to broadcast programmes of depth and substance" in contrast to the more mainstream an ...

during 2002, consisting of ten episodes that were aired between 20 October and 29 December. This series was the first to feature Jeremy Clarkson and

Richard Hammond Richard Mark Hammond (born 19 December 1969) is an English journalist, television presenter, mechanic, and writer. He is best known for co-hosting the BBC Two motoring programme ''Top Gear'' from 2002 until 2015 with Jeremy Clarkson and Jame ...

as the main hosts of the programme, a role they would both maintain until the twenty-second series, but the only series to feature Jason Dawe as their co-presenter before he was replaced for the second series. The series introduced much of the new elements that the programme had brought in as part of its relaunch of original 1977 programme of the same name, including the anonymous driver known as "The Stig" (portrayed by Perry McCarthy), the Top Gear test track, and the celebrity timed laps that would begin with the Suzuki Liana. The series' most notable elements included a group of "grannies" doing specialized stunts, several religious leaders racing against each other, and the presenters making their own "''James Bond''" gadget car.

Production

Following the cancellation of the original format of ''Top Gear'' in December 2001, previous format presenters Jeremy Clarkson and

Andy Wilman Andrew Neville Wilman (born 16 August 1962) is an English television producer who is best known as the former executive producer of the ''Top Gear'' show, from 2002 to 2015, as well as being the executive producer of ''The Grand Tour''. He was r ...

convinced the BBC to revive the show with a new format for the following year. These new changes included the use of television studio segments and challenges, and a revamped presentation of reviews, unlike the previous show which focused on the production of cars. Clarkson later announced that he would present the new show, with Wilman serving as the executive producer, whilst motoring journalists

and Jason Dawe joined as new presenters, both of whom had not hosted the previous format.

Episodes

Best-of episodes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Top Gear (series 1) 2002 British television seasons Top Gear (2002 TV series) series