The main presenters are
* '''Jeremy Clarkson''': The [[TheCaptain leader]] of the central trio: the oldest, tallest, and most obstreperous. Tends to be very vocal in his dislikes and [[SmugSnake self-confident]] to the point of arrogance. Also physically the most fragile. Given his choice of cars (and most everything else, really) he prefers [[TimTaylorTechnology sheer raw power]] (preferably with the noise to go with), then control, and then speed. Clarkson, who had become a celebrity in Britain for co-presenting the original format of ''Top Gear'' from 1988 to 1999, was the one responsible for successfully pitching the 2002 revival of the show to the BBC. He is also the most likely to get into hot water for his on-air remarks -- as for instance the furor after his joking suggestion that participants in the recent UK public sector workers' strike should (among other things) be shot in front of their families.[[note]]Although this was a particularly idiotic [[IncredibleLamePun nontroversy]]. Clarkson actually expressed sincere support for the strikers, then "because this is the BBC and we have to be impartial" suggested executing them as an obvious joke.[[/note]]
* '''Richard Hammond''': The [[TheLancer second in command]]: the youngest, shortest, and second-most obstreperous -- also MrFanservice. Described by the others as the toughest physically but the most fragile emotionally. Tends to be chatty and moody. Given his choice, he wants a fast, powerful car, but the [[CargoShip love of his life is a 1963 Opel Kadett with under 50 hp, named Oliver]]. Known affectionately as "Hamster" for his size, chattiness, paper eating, and willingness to engage in risky stunts. Hammond is so willing to engage in risky stunts that in September 2006, he suffered a near-fatal brain injury after crashing at [=288.3mph/464.0km/h=] during a test of a jet-powered car. (He later got better.) Has been noted for his similarity in appearance to both [[Music/{{Muse}} Matt Bellamy]] and DavidTennant. He's [[HeAlsoDid also the host of the series]] ''BlastLab'', ''Total Wipeout'' and, formerly, ''BrainiacScienceAbuse''. A new series, ''Richard Hammond's Crash Course,'' just started a run on BBC America in April 2012.
* '''James May''': TheQuietOne (relatively speaking) somewhere between Clarkson and Hammond in age and height: a picture-perfect StraightMan with an understated sense of humor and a gift for [[DeadpanSnarker deadpan delivery]]. Likes physics, classical music, alcohol, light aircraft and interesting facts. Far more careful than the other two, and obsessive (to the point of possibly suffering from OCD) about details, down to the proper arrangement of his tools. May is implicitly acknowledged to be the most technically savvy of the three. He prefers control and good handling over power and speed, and absolutely refuses to run on camera[[hottip:* :unless it's to go yell at a lorry driver who just totalled his beloved new car]]. The other two have dubbed him "Captain Slow" for his (self-explanatory) driving style. Like Clarkson, May was a co-host of the original ''Top Gear'' format, although his tenure on that programme was only for a brief time in 1999. [[HeAlsoDid Aside from hosting]] ''Top Gear'', May has also hosted quirky, fact-based [[BritishBrevity single-series]] documentary programmes such as ''James May's Toy Stories'', ''OzAndJames'' and ''Series/JamesMaysManLab''.
* '''The Stig:''' The show's [[BadassDriver "tame racing driver,"]] who is never seen without his racing coveralls, gloves, and [[TheFaceless (face-concealing) helmet.]] He is also [[TheVoiceless never heard speaking,]] though [[HeWhoMustNotBeHeard we hear about]] occasionally the driving advice he gives off camera. [[ShroudedInMyth Some say he naturally faces magnetic north, and that all of his legs are hydraulic]][[RunningGag ... all we know is,]] he's called [[SpellMyNameWithAThe The Stig.]] There have been three Stigs since the show's inception. The first Stig, Black Suit Stig (Perry [=McCarthy=], 2002-2003) [[DroppedABridgeOnHim was written out of the show]] after the BBC did not renew [=McCarthy=]'s contract. The first White Suit Stig (Ben Collins, 2003-2010) was sacked for publicly revealing his identity [[hottip:* :he had already been outed so that was a mere formality]].

The Australian version, obviously named ''Top Gear Australia'' had Warren Brown (replaced by Shane Jacobson for after second season), Charlie Cox (replaced by James Morrison for the second season, and then Ewen Page for the third and fourth) and Steve Pizzati bringing their own brand of entertainment to the normal ''Top Gear'' format... The first episode alone had Warren using a small car as Great White Shark bait. And let's not get started on the other crazy things they've done. The Pizzati/Page/Jacobson team appeared in an episode of the original British show, but ''Top Gear Australia'' was canceled in September 2011.

There is also an [[Series/TopGearUS American version]] which now has its own page. The show also has Chinese, Russian, and Korean versions, and there's also an [[AlternateCompanyEquivalent unofficial German equivalent]] called ''D Motor'', which features frequent ''Top Gear'' [[TheSixthRanger Sixth Ranger]] Sabine Schmidt among its hosts. The cast of ''D Motor'' have also appeared on the original British show.

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Becoming quite an international favorite, ''Top Gear'' has spawned a number of localized spin-offs:

* The Australian version, obviously named ''Top Gear Australia''. Sadly canceled in September 2011.
* An [[Series/TopGearUS American version]] which now has its own page. 
* In Asia, there are Chinese, Russian, and Korean versions
* There's also an [[AlternateCompanyEquivalent unofficial German equivalent]] called ''D Motor'', which features frequent ''Top Gear'' [[TheSixthRanger Sixth Ranger]] Sabine Schmidt among its hosts.

(It has nothing to do with the driving game series on the [[SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]]...and there ''was'' enough confusion about this, that the BBC ''did'' indeed sue the publishers of that game. The BBC indeed holds copyright to the title several times over: the ''original'' use of the show name was way back in 1967, with the birth of Radio One, where leftfield DJ [[TheLastDJ John Peel]], presented his ''Top Gear With John Peel'' show, showcasing the very best in avant-garde music, with comedy interludes from the sort of people who later became Monty Python and the Bonzo-Dog Band)

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29th Dec '12 2:21:18 PM Doryna

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27th Oct '12 5:50:53 PM Doryna

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13th Oct '12 10:03:37 PM DocStrange

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