Top Gear (partially found audition and screen test tapes of BBC motoring show; 1988-2018)

Top Gear logo.

Status: Partially Found

Since its inception in 1977, the BBC motoring show Top Gear has operated under four different guises. This included its original car magazine format from 1977 to 2001; its 2002-2015 run primarily under presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May; its 2016-2018 version again under multiple presenters; and from 2019-2022 with hosts Chris Harris, Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness. During the show's recruitment and selection stages, thousands of auditions and screen tests were sifted through to find the ideal hosts. For brevity's sake, this article focuses on some of the more notable auditions and screen tests, many of which have since become lost media. This also includes auditions for Top Gear's Australian and American spin-offs.

Jeremy Clarkson (1988)

Synonymous with both the original and 2002-2015 runs, Jeremy Clarkson had embarked on a writing career after he started reviewing cars for the Shropshire Star. In 1987, he was writing for Performance Car and also briefly became a video games reviewer for Amstrad Computer User. In June that year, he attended the UK launch of the Citroen AX, where he bumped into then-Top Gear researcher Jon Bentley. After a long talk during dinner, Bentley soon realised Clarkson's entertainment potential and viability as a Top Gear host. When he became a producer in 1988, Bentley swiftly invited Clarkson and five other car magazine contributors for auditions. Considering the justification needed for costly screen tests that required a whole camera crew, it illustrated Bentley's faith in Clarkson who otherwise lacked television experience.

The candidates were told to bring a car of their choice to Shugborough, Staffordshire. Not only were they tasked to provide a two-minute review of it, but they would also be promptly challenged to assess a Citroen 2CV. Clarkson brought along an original Range Rover and gave it a highly positive review. The opposite proved true for the 2CV, a car Clarkson completely despised. Bentley chose it thanks to its Marmite-esque notoriety. Clarkson started his 2CV review by claiming it was "Catholic country France, lots of children, so lots of room for them in the back." He then proceeded to rant and rave about his hatred of it, which lasted approximately 20 minutes. Following this, Bentley backed Clarkson thanks to his confidence, charisma and humour displayed during the screen test, the latter being a notable unique selling point that ultimately led to his appointment.

Clarkson made his debut in Episode 176, broadcast on 27th October 1988. With a reputation for not being afraid to speak his mind, a Clarkson-led Top Gear would regularly generate ratings of up to six million viewers per episode. His opinions, most infamously on the Vauxhall Vectra and Toyota Corolla, did cause consternation among car manufacturers, though he was regularly defended by Bentley and Top Gear editor Tom Ross. But in January 1999, it was reported that Clarkson was to leave the show after eight years. In a March 1999 piece for Top Gear Magazine, he expressed how Top Gear had become stale and his dislike of having to constantly travel to Birmingham. According to script editor Richard Porter in his book And On That Bombshell, another contributing factor was Clarkson finding nothing of interest to say about the new Renault Clio. After moonlighting on shows like Clarkson and Jeremy Clarkson's Extreme Machines, he, along with Porter and executive producer Andy Wilman, spearheaded the show's first reboot, in what would become Top Gear's most successful period. Notably, in that very same 1999 Top Gear Magazine column, Clarkson expressed his "pity" for his replacement, a man by the name of James May.

James May (1992, 1999 and 2002)

Not only did Bentley discover Clarkson, but he also gave James May his first chance at becoming a Top Gear presenter. Like Clarkson beforehand, May was relatively unknown in the wider motoring world, but had achieved some notoriety writing for The Engineer and Autocar. In 1992, he was looking for work after he placed a rude hidden message in the latter magazine's Road Test Year Book, which led to his dismissal upon its discovery. Later that year, Bentley, ever the talent spotter, invited May to conduct a screen test involving a Caterham at his home. Bentley praised May for similar reasons he backed Clarkson, but this convinced BBC officials that a more unique presenter was required. May instead joined Channel 4's Driven for a single series after passing another screen test, but was dropped in favour of the rally driver Penny Mallory after Channel 4 decided the show needed a female presenter.

Following Clarkson's exit, Top Gear conducted some screen tests on candidates seeking to fill Clarkson's rather large shoes. Among them was May, who first met Porter as the latter was intrigued by May's contributions to CAR magazine and Driven. May's 1999 audition finally landed him a presenting gig on Top Gear. But ultimately, his tenure was short-lived for he was again shafted in favour of a female presenter, in this case Kate Humble. Additionally, May was left jobless after CAR magazine was displeased that he worked for their direct rivals, who had just launched their own magazine. However, another opportunity arose three years later as Clarkson and co. sought two new presenters for the reboot. The selection stage would be twofold; the first stage involved hopefuls sending tapes to the Top Gear office where they showed off their presenting abilities. Porter and Wilman recalled sifting through recordings of varying quality, including one that saw a man "replicate" the experience of driving a Lamborghini while sitting on his sofa. Another saw a man try in vain to achieve a handbrake turn in his BMW 3-Series at an industrial estate, all while failing to utter a single word.

The second stage involved candidates travelling to a studio in Acton, West London. There, they would conduct a review of the Renault Avantime and chat with Clarkson in a Top Gear News segment. After passing the first stage, May was seemingly seeking a second crack at hosting Top Gear. However, his third screen test was remarkably strange; according to Wilman, May described the Avantime as "marketing bollocks", which in hindsight was actually a valid criticism considering the Renault's commercial failure. He subsequently dismissed the news segment script and instead ranted about his Rolls-Royce, whose poor fuel economy forced him to rely on Sainsbury's deal where he would receive free petrol if he spent a considerable amount on his regular shops. A then-BBC executive claimed in a 2008 article by The Guardian that May was actually talking about an old Bentley he owned and his over-reliance on Tesco deals. Whatever the case, May ended up with unneeded lettuce and other food that subsequently rotted in his fridge. The story greatly amused Clarkson et al, with Clarkson eager to have May join him for the reboot.

Some sources claimed it was May who snubbed the BBC after having proved reluctant to present another show following the Driven and original Top Gear fiascos. But based on Wilman's comments, it appeared the BBC were again uninterested in featuring May, as two major conflicts were brewing behind-the-scenes between the corporation and the Top Gear office. In an interview with The Intercooler Podcast, May clarified that he was rejected by the BBC. However, following a push by Clarkson, May ultimately joined the cast for the second reboot series, becoming a cornerstone of the 2002-2015 show's success. His inaugural segment was on his very own Bentley T2, which Porter recalls was based on his final audition. Such was the demand for May that screen tests conducted prior to Series 2 ultimately became redundant.

Richard Porter (1998)

Though he may initially appear obscure compared to everyone else listed in this article, Richard Porter was in reality a critical figure for the 2002-2015 run's success, as its script editor. Porter got his break on the original Top Gear after responding to a researcher job offer advertised on a 1997 episode of the show. After getting along swimmingly with Bentley during the interview, primarily thanks to the pair wearing and complementing the surprisingly similar bright ties they wore, Porter was offered the role as a junior researcher. He also immediately gelled with Clarkson and other presenters like Quentin Willson, the latter having praised one of his early scripts and subsequently giving Porter confidence in his writing abilities. The young researcher was soon tasked to find some presenters to tag alongside Clarkson. After his list of candidates were dismissed for either being no-hopers and/or had previously been rejected, Porter was soon given an opportunity by Bentley to become a presenter himself. Months before Clarkson quit, Porter and Bentley recorded a screen test at a local park where the former reviewed a "Peugeot", which was actually just a small bush.

Following this, Porter recorded two segments for the show. The first was a review of the Subaru Legacy; he praised the car for its flat-four engine, four-wheel drive system, and boot and back seat space, though criticised its £25,000 price tag, styling and for being too civilised for its target market of farmers. Porter felt his review was "rubbish", insisting it only aired because a filler segment was required. He additionally recorded a piece concerning car colours, though this went unaired and ended up as lost media in itself. Ultimately, Bentley and Porter agreed the latter would be best suited in roles behind the camera rather than in front of it. Porter quit the original Top Gear in the summer of 2000 following a change in producer and realising the show was becoming stale upon someone suggesting a segment on the best motorway service food. But Porter shortly became a pivotal player in the show's revival alongside Clarkson and Wilman. His script writing for all 175 episodes of the show contributed to Top Gear winning numerous awards, including, ironically enough, the 2005 International Emmy for non-scripted entertainment. While his Top Gear hosting duties were short-lived, Porter has since become a judge for the ITV4 motoring show The Car Years.

Jason Barlow (1998 and 2002)

Before the show experienced its first reboot, Jason Barlow was one of the last presenters hired for Top Gear's original format. Previously, he had been an editor for the magazines Performance Car and Loaded. In early 1998, likely around the same time as Porter's screen test, Barlow auditioned for Top Gear. Little is known about it, though Barlow ultimately never received a response back. In September of that same year, Barlow was invited to screen test for Channel 4's Driven, where he became one of the main presenters alongside Mike Brewer, May and Mallory. This marked his television debut, where he successfully hit the ground rolling as Driven became a ratings success. Lasting for a few series, Driven received praise for revitalising motoring programming, becoming a firm rival of Top Gear. In an interview published in the 16th January 2000 issue of The Sunday Mirror, Barlow cited Clarkson as having refreshed the overall approach to motoring journalism. He also felt Top Gear in its then-current form was too laddish, even with the presence of Vicki Butler-Henderson and Humble.

Though he appeared settled in Driven, things suddenly changed in early 2000 when he landed a presenting role on Top Gear. Based on his interview with the Belfast Telegraph, it is unclear whether Barlow required a screen test as he was reportedly "headhunted" for the role. Describing it as his "dream job", Barlow presented 55 episodes before the show faced cancellation in August 2001. Barlow was naturally disappointed by this, having described the show as "part of the fabric of the nation". Worse still, his fellow presenters and many of the production crew jumped ship to form Channel 5's Fifth Gear in November that same year. As he was under contract with BBC 2, Barlow could not join them. Nevertheless, the BBC still had plans for Barlow for its newly envisioned motoring programmes, including the spin-off Top Gear: Car Jack. He was soon informed that Clarkson had also been negotiating for a return to Top Gear.

With Clarkson, Wilman and Porter furiously engaging in Top Gear's reboot, Barlow was among numerous names invited for the auditions stage. He recalled himself and Clarkson dining at a Notting Hill restaurant, giving Barlow hope that he was integral to the reboot. Alas, while nothing was discussed concerning his Avantime review, Barlow believed his News segment was a disaster. In a nutshell, he and Clarkson shared no real chemistry, making him surplus to requirements in a Clarkson-led programme. Though greatly disappointed by this, Barlow technically did present a Top Gear show following this, albeit the used car show Wrong Car, Right Car. It was hastily renamed from Top Gear: Car Jack after a spate of recent carjacks. The show lasted for two series and has since fallen into obscurity. Since then, Barlow has presented several editions of Channel 4's Dispatches, became the editor for Top Gear Magazine and, like Porter, was a judge for The Car Years.

Richard Hammond (2000 and 2002) and "Gendergate"

In the original Top Gear's swansong years, another audition had been held. Among the candidates included a young man by the name of Richard Hammond. Having previously accumulated experience in radio reporting, Hammond landed his first major television gig with the Granada Sky Broadcasting channel Granada Men & Motors. Shows he presented included the weekly review series 4 Wheels Good; the car restoration programme Better Cars; and headed Motor Week alongside Ginny Buckley, Howard Stableford and Ian Royale. In an interview with Yahoo! News, Hammond remarked this and his prior time as a Renault UK PR as helping sustain himself, stating he struggled to make a living in radio. Hammond stayed on Men & Motors for nearly a decade, but he had regularly described hosting Top Gear as his "dream job", having even grown up watching Clarkson's car reviews in the 1980s.

In 1999, Hammond was contacted by Bentley about presenting for Top Gear. An emotional Hammond readily agreed and the pair met at Top Gear's offices centred at the Pebble Mill Studios in Birmingham. Though the resulting discussion was promising, Bentley ultimately left that programme that same year before Hammond could be offered the job. Nevertheless, another opportunity arose the following year as Hammond and others participated in a round of auditions. Not much is known regarding the 2000 screen tests, though Porter stated the final two remaining candidates were Hammond and fellow motoring journalist Adrian Simpson. Porter personally backed Hammond, having been impressed with his previous Men & Motors work and overall drive. However, Hammond's prior experience ultimately went against him, as the producer felt television rookie Simpson could in time be shaped into the ideal Top Gear presenter. Simpson worked on Top Gear until he and others opted to launch Fifth Gear in November 2001. Hammond also applied for Driven in 2000, with him, British Touring Car Championship driver Jason Plato and motoring journalist Chris Harris being the final three candidates in consideration. Plato was ultimately the one selected for the show's final years.

Undeterred by his prior near-misses, Hammond auditioned for Top Gear's reboot. For the first stage, Hammond conducted a review of his company car, a Renault Laguna. His recording was obtained by producer Kate Shiers, who watched and subsequently forwarded it to Wilman for review. Wilman stated that the review was "rubbish" and remarked Hammond dressed rather like Batman. He nevertheless saw potential in Hammond's energetic presentation and invited him to the second round of auditions. What helped Hammond was that his agent, Kate Moon, was connected to a woman also included on the Top Gear shortlist. Indeed, throughout the 2002 auditions, Clarkson and Wilman were embroiled in a bitter dispute with BBC higher-ups concerning the presenter line-up. In what Wilman dubbed as "Gendergate", the BBC insisted that at least one of the presenting trio needed to be a woman. He and Porter recalled viewing auditions from women who would typically be well-suited for a car show. However, Wilman and Clarkson demanded an all-male trio. The pitch was actually not over how an all-male presentation was "superior" to a more diverse line-up. Rather, as Clarkson and Porter both explained, the issue surrounded the show's focus on bantering and "taking the piss" out of one another. Put simply, two men frequently making fun of a woman's choices and appearance was seen as not naturally funny and could additionally be deemed as rather mean-spirited. Eventually, Clarkson and Wilman met then-Controller of BBC Two Jane Root to resolve the dispute and ultimately got their wish.

Meanwhile, on 19th February 2002, Hammond arrived at the auditions in a 1982 Porsche 911 SC and a "bad shirt" according to Wilman. In a comment under Hammond's DRIVETRIBE interview, a user by the name of chrisforeman3165 claimed to be the camera operator for this audition, which was the very last conducted on that day. Beforehand, Hammond met Porter and was informed that he very nearly got the job on old Top Gear, much to his annoyance. He also met Wilman, who advised him not to replicate his bombastic style suited for Men & Motors. Whereas most sources claim the review sequence involved a Renault Avantime, Hammond recalled he actually critiqued a Skoda Superb in a walk around fashion. According to Wilman, Hammond's review mainly consisted of him sprouting "some old nonsense" about the car. In the News segment, Hammond started decently, where he bantered with Clarkson about car news, made light about electric car owners and joked about their respective heights. Despite this, Wilman began doubting the promise the former displayed in his original take. Suddenly, Hammond discussed with Clarkson some of his disastrous moments as a radio DJ, particularly when he had to list out lambs available for adoption during a Radio Cumbria piece. With this, Hammond had won over Clarkson et al, who all laughed heavily at his self-deprecating anecdotes and his soon-legendary banter with his fellow presenter. This stage, Hammond recalled, was the easiest part of the audition, stating it was akin to "meeting up with an old mate".

However, Hammond left the studios down-hearted, having believed he would not be selected for an "incredible" programme. But as he began to leave, two things sealed Hammond's future: Firstly, Clarkson, Wilman and Porter all appreciated Hammond's love for a "crap" Porsche 911 SC, which was in left-hand drive in a country which drove on the right. Secondly, Hammond announced to everyone present "Right, I've got to back to the 'Nam, Cheltenham." After Hammond departed, Clarkson remarked "I liked him", a feeling reflected by others present. Camera operator Foreman stated everyone at filming was certain of Hammond's selection, which materialised months later. Though Hammond had earlier been informed of the likelihood a woman was to be picked, he received a call from executive producer Gary Hunter confirming that he was now on the show. Upon learning this - and recalling Hunter to confirm that he was actually going to join the Top Gear crew - Hammond burst into tears and celebrated the news with his wife Mindy and a bottle of champagne. Clarkson and Wilman have constantly reminded him that his "'Nam" quote landed him the gig.

Interestingly, Mike Brewer of Wheeler Dealers fame has claimed that after he rejected Top Gear, he pushed for Hammond to be given the role. Both became firm friends working for Renault UK's PR department; after rejecting Top Gear in favour of launching Wheeler Dealers, Brewer recalled assisting Hammond to make sure he passed the screen test. In response, Hammond stated Brewer's narrative was entirely untrue, though he admitted Wilman was probably the only individual who could fully verify or debunk the story. Hammond's initial time on Top Gear was troubled, primarily thanks to two difficult pilots. During a break in filming, Hammond confided to Porter that he was considering quitting the show. However, he was encouraged to stay on, though almost found himself on the chopping block following Series 1's conclusion. Ultimately, he was kept on although fellow presenter Jason Dawe was not so lucky. While a Gendergate argument insisted that a female presenter was mandatory if the show wanted a more diverse audience, the 2002-2015 run indicated around half of Top Gear's ratings comprised of female viewers. Hammond has been credited as the main factor for the show's popularity among women.

Jason Dawe (2002)

Another key figure involved in the 2002 auditions was Jason Dawe. Unlike May and Hammond, Dawe notably lacked television experience before Top Gear. However, he had accumulated vast motoring experience, particularly within the second-hand car market and in consultancy projects for the likes of Audi and Jaguar. Though little has been discussed surrounding his first audition, his subsequent screen test impressed Wilman and Porter, as he combined his vast car knowledge with good charisma. Wilman remarked Dawe somehow entertainingly provided used car news. Despite this, it appeared Dawe would be rejected in favour of Hammond and May. However, whereas Gendergate had been resolved, further conflicts arose between Top Gear and the BBC. Hammond's selection was assured, but the BBC refused to allow Top Gear to have three hosts of the same age and middle-class status. Rather bizarrely, Dawe was therefore chosen over May, even though both had very much in common with each other as well as Clarkson and Hammond. Still, Dawe was considered a "front-runner" throughout the arguments, with many such as Porter noting he felt like a good fit for the reboot.

After enduring the pilots, Dawe got to grips with Series 1. His main segment was Insider Dealings, where he imparted key and otherwise little-known sensible consumer advice for buying brand-new and second-hand vehicles. While very informative, the segments bored the majority of the studio audience, many of whom had to be persuaded to stay during filming. His other segments received a mixed reception, with his piece on the Nissan Skyline being widely panned for its factual errors. Ultimately, Dawe and Hammond's jobs were in jeopardy. But whereas Hammond was kept on and remained until 2015, Dawe's contract was terminated in favour of bringing in May. In a piece for Motor Trade News, Dawe claimed his termination arose because of his used car segments, which ultimately could not be viably used for international broadcasts. Porter implied Dawe's lack of prior television experience also hurt his Top Gear performances. Post-Top Gear, Dawe headed niche motoring shows that played more to his strengths, including ITV 4's Used Car Roadshow along with Penny Mallory, and Men & Motors production Classic Gear with Chris Searle, Alice Crocker and Mallory. Since then, Dawe has mainly stuck to written publications like the aforementioned Motor Trade News.

Perry McCarthy (2002)

Before he auditioned for Top Gear, Perry McCarthy had embarked on a motor racing career that became infamous due to bad luck. This included stints in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, to a catastrophic season driving for the Andrea Moda Formula One team in 1992. The context of McCarthy's audition is somewhat confusing. In a November 2006 interview with AutoTrader, McCarthy recalled attending the auditions to become a regular presenter. But in subsequent interviews, he claimed he earlier met Clarkson at the launch of his book Flat Out, Flat Broke, who informed him the show wanted to feature an anonymous racing driver. Originally, Clarkson and Wilman planned to feature previous Top Gear presenter Tiff Needell as their racing driver, especially for the planned Power Laps. However, the BBC shot the idea down as they envisioned fresh new hosts alongside Clarkson. Worse still, most other racing drivers typically lacked interesting personalities required for piece-to-camera segments and banter. Clarkson devised a compromise: a racing driver whose identity was unknown, never publicly spoke and never took off their helmet.

Depending on McCarthy's narrative, he either conducted a regular audition for the show and was subsequently selected as its anonymous racing driver, or had readily agreed to the idea with Clarkson beforehand. Regardless, he ended up as the final host alongside Clarkson, Hammond and Dawe. However, he was mortified concerning his character's original name: The Gimp, coined by Clarkson in reference to the namesake BDSM slave in Pulp Fiction. Naturally, McCarthy and the BBC objected to this on the grounds of decency. Thus, Clarkson and Wilman settled on The Stig, a slang term for children making their debuts at school. With this, the pair and McCarthy established The Stig as an exceptionally unusual yet highly talented racing driver whose identity was a closely-guarded secret. Not only were the general public unaware McCarthy portrayed The Stig, but so too were Porter and many of the Top Gear production crew, with Wilman having threatened to fire those who found out. McCarthy initially dedicated himself to maintaining his secret identity, even eating during breaks in filming while keeping his racing gear on. His black helmet was specifically chosen by him to enhance The Stig's otherworldly appearance, in a similar vein as Darth Vader. However, he was also required to train guests for the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segments. To do this, he utilised a poor French accent, which led some to believe he was either Michael Schumacher or Alain Prost.

Alas, the original Stig's identity quickly became public knowledge. According to Porter, McCarthy began making careless mistakes which enabled most production members to learn he portrayed the character. He is known to have revealed his identity to a few celebrities he was prior acquaintances with, including Ross Kemp and David Soul. Though Kemp and Soul likely kept their promises to not publicly blurt out Stig's identity, it appears others did not as the 12th January 2003 issue of The Sunday Mirror reportedly confirmed the McCarthy rumours. Though McCarthy attempted to deny this, the damage was done, much to the Top Gear crew's disappointment. During his Fuelling Around podcast, McCarthy revealed Top Gear did not even want his wife finding out, something that naturally could not be honoured. The first Stig, retroactively known as the Black Stig, was killed off in Episode 1 of Series 3 when he drove the show's modified Jaguar XJS off the HMS Invincible.

Ultimately, McCarthy's departure appeared a mutual one; in a Daily Mirror interview, he expressed becoming tired of conducting frequent tests at only £700 per week, as well as becoming aghast that the BBC did not publicly back him during a lawsuit involving a damaged Jaguar. Meanwhile, Porter claimed the BBC were upset over his identity becoming public knowledge and how he attempted to trademark The Stig. After McCarthy's pay rise request was denied, his BBC contract was left unrenewed, with him later stating he left at the right time. Since then, McCarthy has been involved in numerous ventures, including providing motor racing commentary and journalism. Becoming the first Stig has played in factor in McCarthy landing lucrative deals since then. Interestingly, McCarthy noted fellow Formula One driver Julian Bailey had also portrayed the Black Stig on occasion. It is unclear whether Bailey and any other substitutes needed to have passed an audition beforehand. In the years following his departure, McCarthy claimed he knew his successor's identity.

Jason Plato (2002)

Even before auditioning for Top Gear, Plato had earned extensive motor racing and television success thanks to his determination and connections. After his Formula One ambition went up in smoke, Plato instead embarked on a career in touring cars. In 1996, he dominated the Renault Spider Trophy season, earning a test session to potentially drive for the Frank Williams-backed Renault British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) outfit. Alas, Plato was overlooked in his original test, but a chance encounter with Williams, where he begged for the drive for five minutes, gave him a second opportunity against former Formula One drivers Gianni Morbidelli and Jean-Christophe Boullion. Plato won said test and made a strong BTCC debut with the Williams team. However, Plato was still struggling to stay afloat with his racing career and so explored television opportunities. His first gig was for the Television South magazine production Members Only, which he obtained with permission from Williams. But a more lucrative opportunity arose following a screen test with Driven. Despite his lack of experience with piece to camera sessions, Plato was selected over Hammond and Harris because of his prior friendships with Brewer and Mallory.

This decision infuriated Hammond, who felt he deserved the role thanks to his broadcasting pedigree and the fact Plato already held prominent seats in motorsport. This led to the pair clashing at a car launch, though the animosity between them has since mostly died down. Meanwhile, Driven became a prominent factor in the downfall of the original Top Gear. However, the show itself was facing its own decline by the early 2000s, having tried a relaunch in a similar guise to what the 2002-2015 Top Gear would soon adopt. In early 2002, fresh off winning the 2001 BTCC title with Vauxhall, Plato was invited to screen test for Top Gear, which he agreed to do having conducted previous films with Clarkson. Plato made sure this audition was top-secret for two reasons: Firstly, a leak would certainly strain his relations with Channel 4 and Driven. Secondly, he discovered Hammond was also in attendance. As there was still bitterness between the pair, Plato proved lucky no encounter emerged as Hammond later admitted on Fuelling Around that he would have most certainly leaked Plato's audition to Driven. This scenario would have consequently doomed Hammond's audition too, as his anger over Plato would have taken over. Plato therefore asked Clarkson to keep said audition a secret.

Whereas Hammond gave his all in the audition, it became clear Plato's heart was not in it. He was perfectly content with his Driven role and admitted as such midway through his Top Gear screen test. Alas, while he accepted Hammond was by far the better candidate for Driven and Top Gear, Plato regretted binning his latter screen test since Driven would soon be cancelled and reboot Top Gear became world-famous. However, he joined Fifth Gear in 2004 and has been a show mainstay ever since. This included a major accident in a Caparo T1 in 2007, to becoming integral to the show's reboot entitled Fifth Gear: Recharged. In 2022, following 97 wins and a second championship with Chevrolet in 2010, Plato announced his retirement from the BTCC. He has since launched the Fuelling Around podcast with Dave Vitty.

Mike Brewer (2002)

While synonymous with Wheeler Dealers, it is interesting to note that Mike Brewer was also offered Top Gear presenting roles on multiple occasions. At a young age, Brewer had assisted in car restorations along with his father and had also begun to buy and flip cars aged 17. Like Hammond, Brewer had worked at Renault UK for several years. It was in the late 1990s when Brewer was contacted by Channel 4 about presenting a car show. Unlike the majority documented in this article, Brewer stated in an interview with Car Throttle that he initially had no interest in presenting or writing about cars. Still, after some persuasion, Brewer eventually attended a screen test and beat out the likes of Wilson in presenting Deals on Wheels. Just weeks into his Deal on Wheels stint, Brewer was contacted by Bentley regarding possibly hosting Top Gear in the wake of Clarkson leaving the show. In an interview with The Late Brake Show, Brewer recalled being offered a guaranteed eight minutes at the start of every episode. Brewer had no interest in presenting for the original Top Gear, having declared it as "rubbish". But rather cunningly, he informed Channel 4 of this news to trigger a kind of bidding war. Because of this, not only did Brewer gain a multi-year contract with Channel 4, but he also got to host another motoring show: Driven.

As previously mentioned, Driven became a major success for Channel 4, with its ratings helping to bring old Top Gear to its knees. Brewer in particular fondly recalled working on the show alongside Plato, Mallory and Barlow. Alas, Brewer recalled internal strife within Channel 4 contributed towards the show's downfall, but not before its final series introduced numerous aspects that 2002-2015 Top Gear would harness. As Top Gear's reboot was in its pre-production stage, Brewer was contacted by Wilman inviting him to a screen test. Although reluctant to feature in a "crap" show, Brewer became intrigued upon learning that Clarkson was the lead presenter. After conducting his Avantime review, Brewer engaged in a heated yet entertaining News segment with Clarkson, trading insults with one another. Though Wilman and Hunter earnestly believed they had found a dream team, Brewer ultimately declined to join Top Gear since he did not wish to kowtow to Clarkson. A last-ditch effort was made to have Brewer team with Clarkson in a separate motoring show where they would drive Ferrari F355s across Europe came to nothing, as Brewer believed he or Clarkson would murder the other within a short period. He instead supposedly recommended and coached Hammond to become a Top Gear presenter. A year on, Brewer launched Wheeler Dealers for the Discovery Channel, which in itself has become a highly popular motoring show in the 20+ years it has been on air.

Ben Collins (2003)

With the Black Stig killed off, Top Gear swiftly sought to find a replacement. In the early 2000s, Ben Collins had primarily competed in single-seater events with the ambition of entering Formula One. Though he had achieved success in Formula 3 and had embarked on some 24 Hours of Le Mans campaigns, Collins peaked prematurely and opted to find a living through television work as track attendance and television exposure began to decline across most motorsport categories. Hence, Collins auditioned for several motoring television programmes, including the Bentley-led Fifth Gear. This screen test, where Collins was tasked to conduct a walkaround review of a car in a car park, ended in failure. Collins persevered and sent in a CV for Top Gear, having grown up with the show back when Noel Edmonds presented it. He was surprisingly fortunate to be invited in the auditions; he recalled Wilman typically made the selection process easier by immediately binning the top-half of submitted CVs. By the summer of 2003, Wilman carried out the auditions at the Top Gear Test Track in Dunsford. The candidates were challenged to set standing start lap times in a blue 1.6 litre Ford Focus, with the objective of beating McCarthy's best lap.

Having watched the reboot, Collins understood the importance surrounding The Stig's anonymity. Therefore, he donned a balaclava and made sure not to tell anyone unconnected to the show about the auditions. Upon meeting Wilman, he assured him that the test session had remained a secret. Collins had never driven on the Top Gear Test Track; thus, Wilman slowly drove Collins across the track, pointing out the tyre walls and key markings at each corner that candidates were forbidden from overlapping. Following this tutorial, Wilman got out of the Focus and brandished a stopwatch to time Collins. As he was told to do standing starts instead of flying laps on an airfield track, and was in a front-wheel car far from the standards of Formula One and Le Mans, Collins realised his previous top-level racing experience would count for little here. Hence, he utilised his first lap to learn the track and how the Focus performed. Lessons included fewer revs for the start procedure, noting the first corner had more elevation compared to the others, getting his bearings straight on a confusing track layout and making sure to brake lighter to avoid overstressing the front tyres. Though it was a messy lap, with Collins having also overcooked the brakes, he felt confident his second time would be faster. Thanks to a much cleaner lap, Collins was closing in on McCarthy's best time.

On lap 3, Collins achieved an ideal standing start. He followed this up with late braking to maximise speed through the corners, as well as crucially going flat out on the Follow-Through. As he approached Gambon, the Focus ended up hitting the apex, which caused the car to get two wheels off the ground before crash landing as it drove across the finish line. Despite Collins' confidence that he had beaten McCarthy's lap, Wilman challenged him to go even faster. Though he subsequently set a similarly fast time, Collins admitted he could go no quicker than that. An unperturbed Wilman thanked the candidate and said his goodbyes, making Collins believe he was out of the running. The reality was that not only did Collins set the fastest time, but he had beaten McCarthy's best by a staggering 1.5 seconds. Notably, this audition was attended merely by Collins and Wilman, thus meaning it was left unrecorded. However, some lost media was crucial surrounding Collins' hiring; this included the actual lap times set by McCarthy and the candidates, which Wilman noted down but remained tight-lipped about them during the auditions. Additionally, Wilman requested the raw footage for a Vauxhall commercial starring Collins, which took place on snow and ice. According to Collins, Wilman's assessment was to identify how much of the aired footage came from Collins succeeding on the first attempt, thus negating the need for extensive editing. A month following this, Collins was employed as the second Stig.

Upon his hiring, Collins found and subsequently donned the iconic white overalls and helmet The Stig wore. The new Stig, appropriately known also as the White Stig, made his debut in Episode 2 of Series 3. For the next seven years, Collins dedicated himself to The Stig's unusual characteristics. Outside of the presenters, producers, his wife and later a few very close friends, Collins never revealed his identity to anyone. He adopted some of McCarthy's ideas, including arriving at the studio with a balaclava, utilising a fake accent such as when coaching celebrities in the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segments and eating lunch away from everyone else in a secluded location. Collins additionally acted as The Stig would too, his body language helping to express the character's mysterious and otherworldly nature. This included skits outside of driving, such as when The Stig travelled by public transport during the race to London. For their part, Top Gear greatly helped maintain the illusion; for instance, an idea for The Stig to enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans was scrapped when it became clear his identity would consequently be exposed. Additionally, Top Gear also created a whole segment where it claimed Michael Schumacher was The Stig, further protecting the character. Interestingly, Schumacher declined to drive the Suzuki Liana, prompting Collins to portray Schumacher as if he was The Stig, in a rather comedic affair.

The Stig's popularity contributed towards the rush to discover his identity. In fact, "Who is The Stig?" became among the most popular search engine queries worldwide. In June 2009, The Telegraph alleged Collins was The Stig thanks to a YouTube video which compared his actual voice to The Stig's during an interview he made at a Bristol gallery. Just over a year later, Collins finally became overwhelmed with the character's anonymity, and, seeking to obtain profits similar to what the other three presenters enjoyed thanks to Top Gear, began writing an autobiography that would confirm the rumours. This led to legal wranglings between the BBC and Collins' publisher HarperCollins over the book's publication. Ultimately, London's High Court ruled in favour of HarperCollins, leading to Collins being confirmed as The Stig in September 2010. His book, The Man In The White Suit, was promptly published. Collins was subsequently fired from Top Gear and his admission attracted disappointment from both the show's crew and its fans. Nevertheless, Collins' decision proved a lucrative one as his book became a best-seller and he joined the rival show Fifth Gear in October 2010. Time healed all wounds too, as he made later appearances on Top Gear and The Grand Tour as himself too. Porter remarked that Collins' high standards as The Stig meant his successor had to be given acting lessons to somewhat replicate his predecessor. It is currently unknown how the third Stig's auditions were conducted.

Warren Brown, Charlie Cox and Steve Pizzati (Top Gear Australia, 2008)

In November 2007, it was announced that public service broadcaster SBS had acquired international licencing rights to produce an Australian spin-off of Top Gear. SBS had already broadcast the UK original since 2005; its spin-off would become the first international version of Top Gear. It also marked the first prime-time Australian motoring programme following Torque in the 1970s. Shortly afterwards, SBS announced that an open auditions stage would commence to find a new set of presenters as well as a Stig. The applications needed to be around ten minutes in length, with the ideal candidates showcasing their skill and passion for motoring. Though no television experience was necessary, SBS notably discouraged attempting to become the next Clarkson, Hammond or May as the show sought a signature Australian approach. Whereas the UK show's 2002-2015 run was exclusively presented by men, SBS confirmed they were happy to consider female candidates. Duo and trio presentations were also accepted.

Over 4,000 applications were sent over to SBS by the time the deadline expired on 1st February 2008. Many of these tapes were subsequently uploaded to YouTube and received analysis from the likes of Drive and Final Gear. Those shortlisted would later be interviewed and complete a series of driving tests to ensure they were suitable for the show. The process ultimately took several months as SBS struggled to find the ideal set of presenters. Eventually, SBS narrowed their selection pool down to twelve candidates, before confirming the show's inaugural trio in late May 2008. They included the former British Touring Car Championship and Porsche Cup driver and then-Moto GP commentator Charlie Cox; The Australian Daily Telegraph's cartoonist and motoring columnist Warren Brown; and Porsche Australia driver Steve Pizzati. Episodes began airing in August; beforehand, SBS notably uploaded all three presenters' auditions onto YouTube. The original trio filmed eight episodes together for the first series, which drew controversy after it was revealed the show had caused almost $200,000 worth of damage to featured cars.

Ultimately, Pizzati was the only presenter to stay throughout the original Top Gear Australia's run, which ended in 2012 following declining ratings. Cox left after a single series to focus on UK commitments while Brown was replaced when the Nine Network acquired the show in 2010. According to Drive, there were at least two Stigs during the show's lifespan, with a replacement having occurred when the show was acquired by Nine. It later established that the former V8 Supercars competitor Cameron McConville was likely behind the second incarnation. Based on SBS' audition page, it is probable both Stigs auditioned before they were selected.

Top Gear USA Auditions (2008 and 2010)

In January 2008, a second attempt at producing a US spin-off of Top Gear had been launched. Previously, Discovery had produced a pilot in late 2005, though ditched the show after the dry run was poorly received. This time, NBC was intrigued by the Top Gear concept and launched plans to have BBC Worldwide Productions establish a pilot simply entitled Gear. The show first attempted to recruit The Tonight Show host and major car enthusiast Jay Leno, but he declined after believing an American Top Gear was doomed to fail. Their next candidate was the comedian Adam Carolla, who achieved notoriety through shows like Loveline and The Man Show. In an interview with Popular Mechanics, Carolla revealed he was selected by BBC America following an interview where he showcased his enthusiasm for automobiles. Following this, racing driver Tanner Foust was invited for an audition in the UK. At the time, Foust had competed in multiple categories, having recently become a two-time Formula Drift champion. He was also the host of Speed motoring show Supercars Exposed, where he accumulated experience doing televised test drives. Recounting his audition during a Driving Line interview, Foust had arguably the simplest Top Gear screen test: Discuss his favourite car. However, Foust admitted he overthought the question, rambling on about how car enthusiasts regularly change their best-loved car and comparing his then-favourite, the Porsche 911 Turbo, to women. Despite the ordeal, Foust became the second presenter chosen for the NBC pilot.

With Carolla and Foust guaranteed presenting roles, the pair sought to find another co-host in auditions conducted at BBC Worldwide's North Hollywood facilities. According to The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, several hundred candidates mainly sourced from automotive publications attended the screen tests. Some hopefuls, such as The Truth About Cars writer Robert Farago and televised poker commentator Oliver Nejad, even produced elaborate auditions to demonstrate their potential to BBC Worldwide, all to no avail. In contrast, Dan Neil was considered among the favourites for the job. A car reviewer for The Los Angeles Times, Neil notably won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, to date becoming the only motoring reviewer to do so. Neil had reportedly signed a contract with NBC prior to April 2008. However, things went pear-shaped during a screen test alongside Carolla and Foust. Like Barlow's audition with Clarkson, Neil and Carolla completely lacked synergy together. Neil was subsequently released from his NBC contract, having admitted his performances on camera were not up to scratch. Other rejected candidates reportedly included Pimp My Ride host Xzibit and the actor Chris Williams.

Finally, Eric Stromer was given a screen test. Stromer had sustained a niche within the world of construction and home improvement television shows, including Over Your Head. He also regularly appeared on The Adam Carolla Show, though neglected to mention his Top Gear aspirations to Carolla until late in the process. Little is known about Stromer's screen test, but Carolla and Foust agreed he was a good match for them. The line-up was confirmed in June 2008, with Carolla, Foust and Stromer compared to Clarkson, Hammond and May respectively. The pilot was conducted on 26th July 2008 and received praise from attendees such as The New York Times' John Pearley Huffman. Alas, in December of that same year, NBC decided to pass on Top Gear following concern over its high production expenditure and how its car-focused reboot Knight Rider was a flop. But as the UK original grew in popularity, one major American channel remained interested in a US spin-off: History.

Unlike Discovery and NBC, History commissioned a full series of Top Gear USA. Casting began in early 2010; a major problem swiftly emerged when Carolla was now fixated on other projects, including an NBC single-camera sitcom pilot that never got off the ground. But while Stromer was also dropped, BBC Worldwide remained interested in bringing Foust in as host. He became the first pick for History's adaptation; he would soon be joined by comedian Adam Ferrara and NASCAR analyst Rutledge Wood. Before Top Gear, Ferrara starred in the comedy-drama series Rescue Me and had embarked on a pilot for the motoring show United States of Cars, which ultimately never came to fruition. Meanwhile, Wood was a staple of Speed's NASCAR coverage and its NASCAR-related programmes such as the game show NASCAR Smarts. In a conference call also involving Foust, Ferrara and Wood recalled suddenly being contacted by BBC Worldwide Productions concerning a Top Gear screen test. As both were fans of the UK show, they responded enthusiastically.

The History screen test, conducted in early 2010, was unusual for a Top Gear audition. Instead of filming scenes at a studio, BBC Worldwide instead gathered the trio and had them meet up at a disused mall car park. According to Wood, the trio had never met each other beforehand, making this audition a critical chemistry test. The recording involved Foust showcasing his drifting abilities in a Mitsubishi Evo 10 with his co-presenters in the passenger seats. Ferrara described it as Foust "driving around like he pulled a bank job". In the end, the trio recalled having extensive fun and enthusiasm with the Evo 10, while the producers jotted down their notes. The screen test ceased before Foust and Ferrara could test the Evo 10's braking abilities, by stopping close to a sofa while having Wood sit on it. Satisfied with the trio's immediate chemistry and rapport, BBC Worldwide and History confirmed Foust, Ferrara and Wood as hosts in April 2010. Top Gear USA lasted on History for six series before it faced cancellation. Its early series saw it attract 1.3-2 million viewers per episode. At the very least, it easily beat out The Car Show, which ironically featured Carolla and Neil as hosts.

Throughout the show's lifespan - including its NBC pilot - The Stig was portrayed by racing driver Paul Gerrard. Recruitment for the American Stig began simultaneously with NBC's search for three presenters. Beforehand, Gerrard had competed in numerous racing categories, including open wheel, while also working alongside Faust to present Supercars Exposed. In an interview with TheSmokingTirePodcast, Gerrard discussed how he applied for each version of Top Gear USA to become a regular presenter, but never ranked beyond the remaining six. As a backup, Gerrard fought with around 50 other racing drivers from across categories like IndyCar to become The Stig. The Stig tests were conducted on a four-day period by Faust at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, who had also set-up a confusing four-mile layout to test the drivers' skill and adaptability. Having been shown the course by Faust, Gerrard was given one or two laps to impress in a Mazdaspeed3, a Ford Mustang and an Aston Martin. He effectively worked out the course by the time he drove the Aston Martin, posting a time 1.7 seconds faster than anyone else. He was subsequently offered the role two weeks later; cunningly, he lied about living in Los Angeles to ensure he was even invited for the audition. Like Collins, Gerrard maintained the illusion effectively throughout his tenure, with not even his children being aware of his other identity. A year following Top Gear USA's cancellation, Gerrard confirmed to TFL that he was The Stig to promote his book Optimum Drive. He expressed no plans to reprise The Stig in the future.

Rory Reid (2015)

Following the events of March 2015, Clarkson's contract with the BBC was not renewed. In an act of solidarity, Hammond, May, Wilman, Porter and others also subsequently left Top Gear and went on to form Amazon Prime Video show The Grand Tour. This left the BBC with a major headache as it needed to reboot the show with new presenters and production crew. Though some consideration was made to have a female lead presenter, it was confirmed in June 2015 that BBC Radio frontman Chris Evans would take over, having previously appeared in the 2002-2015 show on a few occasions. Soon afterwards, Evans publicly announced open auditions for a possible new presenter would commence. He stated that while a new role was not guaranteed, a successful candidate could be anyone aged 17 or above, who can showcase their raw passion and knowledge of cars, with no prior television experience required. The first stage involved an individual recording a 30-second piece-to-camera clip demonstrating their enthusiasm for both cars and Top Gear, without performing any stunts or car reviewing. The submission deadline was 20th July 2015, leaving candidates with a month to record their pieces.

Just under 15,000 auditions were sent over to the BBC from as far as Kazakhstan. Some auditions uploaded to YouTube were utterly bizarre while others were literal piss-takes, such as a man who confessed that he liked urinating on cars. In a humorous "audition", rally driver Ken Block presented his talent and passion in front of an impressed Evans, only for The Stig to reject him. Nevertheless, some hopefuls did take the process seriously; among them was Rory Reid, a digital journalist and long-term Top Gear fan. A contributor and editor for CNET and Recombu, Reid accumulated prior television experience thanks to appearances on Gadget Geeks and gained YouTube prominence through the channel Fast, Furious and Funny. In his audition, Reid turned things on its head by claiming it was an "anti-audition". He insisted he should not be hired because he was a passionate, knowledgeable and experienced car journalist, describing himself as Clarkson and Idris Elba's lovechild. This move appeared to work; comments within his now-unlisted YouTube video were positive, mainly for being a unique yet entertaining audition. As the deadline approached, BBC News notably singled out Reid among four others as possible future presenters.

In addition to his tape, Reid sent a cover letter to the BBC. He was subsequently invited to the screen test stage, which was conducted on 7th September 2015 at Dunsford. The screen tests were split into two sections: The first involved candidates conducting a walkaround summary of a Volkswagen Golf GTI at the Top Gear studio. According to Reid in an interview with AutoTrader, he was given half a script, tasked to write the remaining half and conduct the summary without the assistance of autocue. Reid confidently recorded his screen test at the first take. The next stage challenged hopefuls to do a 15-minute road test in a Mercedes AMG C63 estate worth £85,000. Like Collins beforehand, Reid had never driven on the Top Gear Test Track previously and so first spent a few laps gaining a feel for the Mercedes and recording his lines. Having honed his talent thanks to his previous motoring journalist experience, Reid demonstrated his drifting ability and went flat out at the Follow Through. Following the audition, Reid felt confident he was going to be selected over another candidate, the motoring journalist Chris Harris.

Reid was among the final ten candidates being considered for Top Gear. Rumours circulated that The Stig was also involved in the final selection process. Reid was soon devastated to learn he was rejected following this screen test. In fact, out of almost 15,000 open audition candidates, it appeared none were going to appear on Top Gear, with Evans having even pondered hosting the second reboot alone. Nevertheless, Reid, encouraged by a friend to "change their minds", contacted the BBC for further details on his unsuccessful application, and soon realised he needed to properly stand out if he was to be chosen. He subsequently recorded, edited and sent through a video where he conducted a spoken word poetry review of the Rolls-Royce Ghost Series II. Upon the corporation viewing said video, Reid was hired by the BBC. In February 2016, Evans confirmed the second reboot's line-up, which included him, Reid, Harris, Friends actor Matt LeBlanc, racing driver Sabine Schmitz and former Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan. Of them, Reid was the only one to be selected from the open auditions, something he took with a lot of pride. Evans stated that Reid's audition "stuck out a mile" and described him as "knowledgeable, funny cool and warm".

Reid recalled thoroughly enjoying his time on Top Gear, describing it as "life-changing". However, he also remarked how it felt he was "a soldier parachuted into a war" as the new series became a major ratings and critical failure, with the series finale attracting just 1.9 million. Reid nevertheless stayed on while Evans resigned after a single series. A reworked format featuring primarily LeBlanc, Reid and Harris received a warmer reception compared to the first series, though critics derided the lack of chemistry between the trio. Reid recalled that compared to the 2002-2015 format, the cast and production crew typically went their separate ways post-filming, making it difficult to build genuine rapport. In addition, Reid got to host Extra Gear alongside Harris, which provided a behind-the-scenes look at the show. Reid left Top Gear in 2018 to take up a lucrative editorial role at AutoTrader and has since also become a presenter for Fifth Gear's own reboot, titled Fifth Gear: Recharged.

Matt LeBlanc (2015)

Reid recalled a diverse range of candidates present at the screen tests, including some who turned up via a helicopter ride. Among the more recognisable guests who attended was Matt LeBlanc, who had already gained international fame by portraying Joey Tribbiani in Friends and Joey. Though not much has been discussed regarding his screen test, LeBlanc apparently received his own "five-star Winnebago". Another advantage LeBlanc held was that he had previously driven on the Top Gear Test Track, where he posted the fastest celebrity time of 1:42.1 in a Kia Cee'd. Ultimately, LeBlanc's screen test occurred without any shenanigans, with his appointment as presenter confirmed in February 2016. He later admitted that he signed up to ensure he remained employed following the conclusion of the sitcom Episodes.

Rumours circulated that Evans was against LeBlanc's appointment, but such a claim was denied by then-Acting Director of BBC Television Mark Linsey. Though the first series proved difficult, some critics remarked that LeBlanc developed into a strong central figure as it progressed. LeBlanc therefore stayed on for another series, unlike Evans, having regularly denied there was any animosity between them. He also expressed surprise at the "media shitstorm" regarding Top Gear, though promised a "more productive and more creative" show featuring him, Harris and Reid. As previously mentioned, this version received lukewarm reception, with LeBlanc having also remarked he was more of an actor than a presenter during filming. LeBlanc departed the show in 2018 so he could spend more time with his family. He continued to star on the CBS sitcom Man With a Plan, which lasted for four seasons. On a separate note, it is unclear how Schmitz and Jordan's auditions went in comparison.

Chris Harris (2015)

Shortly after attaining the lead presenter role, Evans contacted motoring journalist and racing driver Chris Harris. During that time, Harris had switched from magazine publications like Autocar to attaining an online following, producing films for his YouTube channel Chris Harris on Cars. Evans notably praised Harris' work during their phone conversation, but declined to immediately offer him a Top Gear job. Instead, Harris later received a screen test invitation. Harris was initially reluctant to attend for several reasons; firstly, he did not believe anyone could replicate Clarkson, Hammond and May's success, deeming anyone who tried was "psychotic". He was also against starring on television, though remarked his career had stalled because his YouTube channel was not generating sufficient revenue. Harris had previously screen tested for Driven, after Autocar colleagues jokingly decided to apply on his behalf. Though Harris labelled it as "dreadful" in his book Variable Valve Timing, Plato revealed in Fuelling Around that Harris was among the remaining three candidates alongside Hammond. Harris additionally recalled a failed audition for a Bentley-led show (presumably Fifth Gear) where he struggled to review a Lotus. Conforming to scripts, Harris admitted, was one of his weak points, something that he understood would affect him for a script-based show like Top Gear.

Still, accepting his younger self would be disappointed if he did not at least try, Harris auditioned for Top Gear. Since Reid recalled his audition occurred when Harris arrived, it can be safely assumed the latter also completed his screen test on 7th September 2015. During the Mercedes test, Harris prioritised completing the challenging script section first before demonstrating his technical drifting ability. As he anticipated, the Golf GTI walkaround was tougher for him, describing the studio itself as "macabre and wrong" for usage in screen tests. Like Reid, Harris was originally rejected by the BBC. Unfazed, he filmed scenes for a Red Bull TV pilot in America that never came into fruition, as well as recording more elaborate projects for his YouTube channel. Two months after the auditions, the BBC offered a Top Gear presenting role, which he decided to accept. In a show preview, Harris expressed how influential Top Gear was in his life and aimed to combine "journalistic credibility" with humour. Meanwhile, he was praised by Evans as being an "online special forces lone wolf car reviewer".

Although he described working for Top Gear as a "dream come true", Harris identified the second reboot's impending downfall during the first shoot. Though matters certainly improved following the departure of Evans, the second reboot became critically derided and was a figure of hate. In an interview with The Late Brake Show, Harris opened up about the mental health struggles he experienced in the wake of relentless online abuse, many from those who preferred the 2002-2015 run. It got so bad that Harris eventually sought therapy. Much to his credit, Harris perserved throughout the ordeal, eventually hosting Top Gear alongside LeBlanc and Reid. He also got to host Extra Gear with the latter, while Chris Harris on Cars was picked up by BBC America. Following the departures of LeBlanc and Reid, Harris became the show's main presenter, having conducted screen tests with new hosting duo Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness.

Ant Anstead (2015)

On paper, Ant Anstead appeared very likely to become a Top Gear presenter. Having run a car construction and restoration company for many years, he soon became a presenter for the Channel 4 motoring show For the Love Of Cars. His passion and wealth of experience within the car industry caught the Top Gear producers' eyes, who subsequently invited him for a screen test. According to his 2017 interview with The Sun, the second reboot's audition process took about twelve weeks, with him among those invited to Dunsford. Ultimately, Anstead has not discussed anything concerning his Golf GTI walkaround, as it was overshadowed by his road test.

As he discussed on The Late Brake Show with Jonny Smith, Anstead like all other candidates drove a Mercedes AMG C63, which he recalled contained three in-car cameras. During the test, Anstead was driving the Mercedes at high speed while praising it for its versatility. Suddenly, he lost control and was unable to correct it; as he and Smith noted, the Top Gear Test Track was typically forgiving when it came to spins thanks to its open nature. However, Smith lost control at the track's back end and somehow ended up colliding with its only tyre wall. Thus, not only did he terminally damage the Mercedes, but he had also embedded it within the tyre wall. A backup Mercedes was available, but the accident marked the end of Anstead's chances. He nevertheless noted he was unintimidated during the audition, more so since its lack of mainstream attention meant his career was ultimately unharmed. That same year, he hosted Building Cars Live for the BBC, interestingly alongside May and Humble, which indicated there was no bitterness towards the latter replacing the former back in 2000. Anstead subsequently hosted Channel 4's The World's Most Expensive Cars and was a Wheeler Dealers star for three series.

Jonny Smith (2015 and Extra Gear)

Speaking of Jonny Smith, he too was in attendance for the 2015 screen tests. Like Anstead, Smith had already garnered television notoriety, having presented Fifth Gear for 18 series. He naturally was required to pass a screen test to land the role, which he remarked went well. Upon learning of Evan's open audition announcement, Smith recorded ten versions of his audition on his mobile phone and then sent the best one to Top Gear. Interestingly, Smith revealed on the Smith and Sniff podcast that the original proposed screen test was very different, consisting of a chemistry test with Evans. Ultimately this version was cancelled and reworked into the aforementioned Golf GTI/AMG Mercedes auditions. Whereas Smith's Mercedes test consisted of a few well-executed power slides, he admitted feeling nervous during the Top Gear studio segment, having never entered the facility previously.

According to Porter, Smith was included in the producer's shortlist, though he was eventually not selected for the second reboot. However, Series 24 of the main show featured both Harris and Reid in more prominent roles, thus mandating a third presenter for the spin-off Extra Gear. A nervous Smith was invited to conduct a two-stage screen test, first introducing a piece before engaging in a chemistry test with Reid and Harris in the studio. Conducted sometime in 2017, Smith was in the end overlooked in favour of the comedian George Lewis. Nevertheless, Smith and Porter agreed that the unsuccessful auditions were actually blessings in disguise, considering the reputational damage most involved in the second reboot suffered. Smith carried on with Fifth Gear until Series 28, before declining to feature in the electric car-exclusive Fifth Gear: Recharged. He has since embarked on a YouTube career, launching the aforementioned The Late Brake Show, and Smith and Sniff alongside Porter. Additionally, Smith still has a can of Red Bull lying in wait should he ever be offered a role on Top Gear in the future.

Top Gear America Auditions (2017 and 2019)

Though Top Gear USA was finished on History, BBC Worldwide was not yet done with producing an American adaptation. In March 2017, it was announced that a reboot entitled Top Gear America would be broadcast on BBC America, this time featuring William Fichtner, Antron Brown and Tom Ford. Fichtner is most known for his acting career, including starring in Prison Break. While he appeared a left-field choice for sources like The New York Post, Fichtner was actually a dedicated car and motorsport fan, having even won the 2011 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. Fichtner was subsequently invited for a screen test. Additionally, the show's casting director contacted drag racing driver Antron Brown. Brown notably became the first black drag racing champion, having won the Top Fuel dragster championship on three separate occasions. Brown was requested to send over an audition tape, which he recorded in his garage. He was among over a few hundred people invited to the screen tests; this also included Tom "Wookie" Ford, a car journalist for publications like CAR magazine and later on the associate editor for Top Gear Magazine. Unlike Fichtner and Brown, Ford had prior presenting experience on a motoring show, having presented Fifth Gear throughout the 2000s. He, like with several others documented in this article, was invited by Bentley for a screen test beforehand, which he passed despite falling on his back partway through the audition.

The Top Gear America screen tests occurred in January 2017 at BBC America's North Hollywood offices. According to Brown, there were around 30 people in attendance when he, Fichtner and Ford were present, where he was considered a "frontrunner". The audition process randomly matched individuals together in chemistry tests to see what would stick. This ultimately generated multiple trios that might have boasted collective car knowledge but lacked any synergy. Brown started to re-consider his interest in hosting Top Gear, having described some pairings as lacking the required team spirit. But just as filming neared its conclusion, Fichtner, Brown and Ford were paired together. Using a classic Jaguar, the trio unveiled their knowledge, passion and humour and displayed substantial chemistry together. Brown recalled that everyone else present fixated on the trio during the segment, making it clear the line-up had potential. Fichtner subsequently pushed BBC America to base the show around this line-up, which was publicly announced in March 2017. A new American Stig was also confirmed, but their identity remains unknown as of the present day. Alas, this American reboot lasted merely eight episodes, as its ratings plummeted from 0.3 for its opener to 0.12 by Episode 6.

Undeterred by previous failures, it was announced in April 2019 that BBC Studios (the renamed BBC Worldwide) had signed a multi-year broadcasting deal with MotorTrend for a revived Top Gear America. Seeking new hosts, BBC Studios first contacted the actor Rob Corddry, most known for his work on The Daily Show and for his comedic film appearances. In an interview with Late Night Playset, Corddry revealed he immediately jumped at the opportunity. He was soon joined by fellow actor Dax Shepard, most known for presenting MTV's Punk'd and for hosting the Armchair Expert podcast. Together, the pair conducted screen tests with at least twelve individuals. The third candidate was motoring journalist Jethro Bovingdon, who at the time was presenting a few fellow MotorTrend programmes like Head 2 Head. Interestingly, Bovingdon claimed he was originally ineligible to audition because the producers blacklisted British candidates. However, the producers changed their minds and invited him to the screen tests, which actually forced Bovingdon to delay a flight he planned back to the United Kingdom. Even then, Bovingdon remarked he was "quite lucky" to audition considering he was not especially knowledgable of either Corddry or Shepard's previous work.

Like with other Top Gear auditions, the second Top Gear America tests reverted to studio segments involving the candidate alongside Corddry and Shepard reviewing cars. In their Armchair Expert podcast, the pair remarked that although they saw other good candidates, they knew Bovingdon was by far the best fit after spending around 20 minutes bantering and mucking about. Particularly, Corddry expressed being "dumbstruck" by the resulting synergy, believing a golden line-up had been found. The trio were therefore confirmed as presenters in December 2019. Though filming was restricted to California because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a full series was aired on the MotorTrend+ app starting on 29th January 2021. As of April 2024, this incarnation of Top Gear America has aired for two series. Though The Telegraph claimed the show lacked any chemistry, Jalopnik believed it had become good following a shaky first outing.

Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness (2018)

With LeBlanc and Reid having left for pastures new, the BBC once again revamped Top Gear in October 2018 for Series 23. Having kept Harris as the lead presenter, the BBC sought to invite two of his "heroes" for screen tests: Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness. Before embarking on a media career, Flintoff achieved extensive success as a professional all-rounder cricketer. He was a crucial figure behind England's 2005 Ashes Series glory, ending Australia's 16-year Ashes dominance and earning an MBE in the process. Post-cricket, Flintoff hosted the BBC Radio 5 show Flintoff, Savage and the Ping Pong Guy and became a captain for the Sky One game show A League of Their Own. During filming for the latter show, Flintoff was invited to audition for Top Gear. Having described hosting Top Gear as "the only job I really wanted", Flintoff readily agreed to participate. Meanwhile, Paddy McGuinness had gained notoriety in the world of comedy starting from the late 1990s. His most recognised work came in collaboration with Peter Kay, where they produced Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere for Channel 4. Having also been the long-term host for ITV game show Take Me Out, McGuinness was invited for screen tests that occurred in the summer of 2018 at Dunsford. Like Flintoff, McGuinness was very passionate in his praise for Top Gear, describing it as "a job you would give your right arm for".

According to The Telegraph, the screen tests were split into two sections: The candidates first had to assess the pros and cons of a Dacia Duster, before they engaged in a chemistry test with Harris. According to Harris, the chemistry test was anything but, consisting merely of bantering to determine a format for the upcoming series. Not much is known about how the duo's screentests went overall, though McGuinness praised the show for making it a relaxed process. Meanwhile, Flintoff recalled putting his all into the audition, making him concerned when months passed without any response from the show. Ultimately, both men successfully passed the screen tests and were confirmed as the new presenters in October 2018. Harris claimed he saw potential in both, especially as they were allowed to push boundaries as the 2002-2015 run did. Though Flintoff and McGuinness admitted they lacked Harris' encyclopaedic knowledge of cars, Harris praised the pair for their enthusiasm and, compared to certain previous Top Gear presenters, actually being able to simultaneously drive and review.

Top Gear under this format lasted from Series 29 to 33. Compared to the 2016 reboot, morale was relatively high among the producers and presenters, with the trio having become firm friends within a short time period. Under a less scripted and "nicer" format as Flintoff put it, the show was seemingly overcoming its "problem phase" according to the BBC. But ultimately, the show still received mixed reviews, with critics of Series 33 believing that Top Gear needed another overhaul. This reboot also witnessed several accidents; McGuinness and Flintoff were fortunate to escape serious injuries during crashes in a Lamborghini and a motorbike respectively, while Harris suffered a hand injury while competing in a Formula Hmong event. But on 13th December 2022, during filming for Series 34, Flintoff suffered serious, life-altering injuries in an accident while driving a Morgan Super 3 at 124 mph. Top Gear was immediately put on hiatus, with the BBC confirming a year later that it would not return for some time. The incomplete Series 34 is unlikely to ever be publicly released as a mark of respect to Flintoff. Since then, Flintoff has worked on a second series of Field of Dreams, while Harris and McGuinness have filmed Chris & Paddy: Roadtrip, a spiritual successor of Top Gear.

Availability

This article has documented notable Top Gear auditions and screen tests which have been covered extensively by primary and secondary sources. However, it should also be noted that other auditions are known to have occurred. For example, Quentin Willson and Vicki Butler-Henderson have both confirmed they were screen tested, but little else is known regarding their auditions. Of the pre-2002 auditions, it has been established that Clarkson's 1988 and May's 1992 recordings have been lost to time. Bentley recalled that his copy of Clarkson's audition inexplicably vanished from his BBC office, having had no luck in finding it ever since. The survival status of the other original Top Gear screen test tapes is unknown, with none known to have received a public release.

In his piece for Top Gear Magazine, Wilman noted there was an abundance of VHS recordings sent as part of the 2002 auditions, claiming they stacked all the way up to the office ceiling. It is unclear whether these tapes were preserved by the BBC or discarded following the section process. Regardless, in an era before the abundance of video-sharing websites like YouTube, none of these recordings were made publicly available online. Their survival, including that of the infamous "Lamborghini impression" and the "BMW 3-Series handbrake" auditions, may well depend on whether the candidates produced their own copies and are willing to share them. However, the length of time that has passed makes a full recovery of every tape highly unlikely. None of the subsequent screen tests are known to have been publicly released. Aside from Hammond and May's auditions, one 2002 screen test of particular interest is McCarthy's, as he auditioned as a regular presenter rather than as the Black Stig. Outside of a brief mention by Porter in And On That Bombshell, the pre-Series 2 screen tests conducted before May's appointment are completely obscure, with no information on who participated. Reportedly recorded in a room at BBC White City, no footage from these redundant auditions has been found.

More than 4,000 auditions were assessed by SBS for Top Gear Australia. Unlike with the 2002 UK recordings, many hopefuls opted to upload their videos onto YouTube. These were assessed by the likes of Drive and Final Gear back in 2007 and early 2008, but many of these uploads have since been privated or were completely taken down. The same issue surrounds the 2008 American auditions; a YouTube playlist has been conjured up to document these rather obscure rejected tapes, but these only represent a fraction of what was evaluated by SBS and NBC. None of the American screen tests have publicly resurfaced, but the eventual Australian hosts' recordings were uploaded to YouTube by SBS prior to the first series being aired. The video has since been taken down, however, but a possibility remains that someone downloaded it and thus may be able to re-upload it in the future.

Amazingly, one Australian Stig audition was partially preserved in an unusual way. In February 2010, Nine Network's A Current Affair (ACA) broadcast footage of "Crazy Carlo", who was caught drifting on double lines across Sydney roads. As it turned out, "Crazy Carlo" was actually Carlo Arena, who had uploaded an audition onto YouTube to become the next Stig. According to Arena, the stunt was conducted on a cordoned-off road on 22nd February 2008 and it was sent to Top Gear Australia's production company Freehand Productions. Nine ended up in hot water as it transpired they had edited the video so that it omitted clear footage of Arena, as well as him uttering his first and last name. In contrast, Arena was investigated for dangerous driving on public roads, though he escaped without charges because the statute of limitations for driving offences had already been exceeded. A subsequent ACA broadcast claimed they had originally received complaints about Arena from a motorsports community, and had discovered other concerns from viewers and local residents. However, Crikey discovered that Nine had also obtained Arena's mobile phone number and so could have easily contacted him for an explanation. Regardless, Arena was not invited to The Stig screen tests because he explicitly revealed his actual identity in the video. Arena has since taken down the full video, but clips from both ACA broadcasts can be viewed online.

Meanwhile, the BBC received nearly 15,000 auditions for the second Top Gear reboot. A tiny fraction of these are viewable on a YouTube playlist, but the majority have either been taken down, were never uploaded online to begin with, or barely received any views to make them appear on YouTube's search results. Reid was among those who made their auditions public; though he has since unlisted the original video, it remains accessible, with it also being incorporated into Reid's AutoTrader interview. As Anstead and Smith noted in their The Late Brake Show episode, none of the 2015 second stage screen tests have publicly resurfaced. Anstead requested the BBC continually withhold his test footage because of its "super embarrassing" context. As for Smith, he expressed interest in obtaining his audition during a Smith and Sniff podcast, mainly because he pulled off some good drifts in the Mercedes. Finally, due to the BBC putting Top Gear on the backburner following Flintoff's accident, it is extremely unlikely his and McGuinness' screen tests will be publicly released in the near future.

Finally, some non-footage lost media must also be considered. These include the 2002 auditions' script for the news segment that May immediately discarded; the lap time data for Collins and Gerrard's Stig outings; and the studio walkaround scripts Reid et al were required to complete and harness for their 2015 screen tests. Like with the missing footage, these materials are unlikely to publicly resurface, outside of Collins and Gerrard revealing how quicker they were compared to the other candidates.

Gallery

Videos

DRIVETRIBE interview where Richard Hammond discussed his 2002 audition and screen test (0:13-2:22).

VINwiki video where Collins Ben Collins summarised how he became The Stig (0:13-4:39).

AutoTrader interview where Rory Reid discussed his audition (viewable at 3:35) and his screen test.

The Late Brake Show interview where Brewer discussed the two times he rejected hosting Top Gear (16:01-20:34).

The Late Brake Show interview where Ant Anstead discussed his screen test (10:28-13:05).

Smith and Sniff podcast where Jonny Smith discussed his Top Gear and Extra Gear auditions (18:40-24:52 and 34:56-36:07).

See Also

• Advanced Driving with Graham Hill (lost ITV motoring series; 1974)
• The Car Show (partially found British Channel 5 television series; 1997-1998)
• The Care of Your Car (lost early BBC motoring show; 1947)
• Clarkson (partially found BBC Two talk show; 1998-2000)
• Fifth Gear Europe (partially lost Discovery Channel Europe motoring series; 2009)
• Greatest Ever Screen Chases (found Sky One television documentary; 2005)
• "I went on the internet and I found this" (partially found photos showcased during Top Gear News segments; 2008)
• Jeremy Clarkson's Extreme Machines (partially found BBC Two television series; 1998)
• Panic Mechanics (lost BBC Two game show; 2002)
• Racing Arrows (partially found Formula One TV series; 2001)
• Rally Report (partially lost BBC Two television series; 1984-2001)
• Testosteron (lost Polish motoring magazine programme; 2005)
• Top Gear (partially found American pilots to British show; 2005-2008)
• Top Gear (partially found Discovery Channel adaptation of BBC Two TV series; 2005)
• Top Gear (partially found episodes of BBC Two television series; 1977-2002)
• Top Gear (partially found footage of Cenotaph stunt; 2016)
• Top Gear (partially found original British airings of BBC Two television series; 2002-2003)
• Top Gear (partially found unaired segments of BBC motoring show; 2002-2015)
• Top Gear - Series 1: Episode 1 (unaired pilot episodes of BBC Two television series; 2002)
• Top Gear - Series 22: Episode 10 (lost footage of unfinished episode of BBC motoring show; 2015)
• Top Gear GTi (partially found footage of UK Horizons television series; 1997-2003)
• Wrong Car, Right Car (partially found BBC Two television series; 2002-2003)

External Links

• YouTube playlist containing some of the 2015 first stage audition tapes.
• YouTube playlist containing some of the Top Gear Australia and Top Gear USA audition tapes.
• Top Gear Wiki page on the show's lost media, including Clarkson's 1986 and May's 1992 audition tapes.