History YMMV / TopGearUK

** [[https://i.imgur.com/jKuwJ2T.png "This is brilliant, but I like this."]]

** Remember the news segment about Jaguar drivers/owners being able to get away with anything as long as they reference their ''Jaaags''? [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bls1KKDwmo Well...]]

* FanonDiscontinuity: Many fans refuse to watch everything after the original hosts were replaced in 2015, and usually treat Series/TheGrandTour as if it were [[SpiritualSuccessor a proper continuation of the series]].

** "[[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/oh-no-anyway Oh no! Anyway...]]" [[labelnote:Explanation]]A RunningGag during Series 11 was to briefly comment on the Dacia Sandero [[TakeThat and then immediately segue into other news]]. The instance of this that became the most popular was Clarkson's reaction to hearing that the Dacia Sandero had been delayed, leading him to sarcastically say "oh no" and then immediately drop the topic with "Anyway...". Starting in 2020, two pictures of Jeremy saying the line became popular as reaction images to sarcastically show sympathy in regards to bad news that the poster doesn't really care about, occasionally as a method of changing the subject as the trio of presenters so frequently did, or to mock HeadInTheSandManagement.[[/labelnote]]

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After the mixed reaction of Series 23, Series 24 undid most of the poorly received changes that had been made. The show, once again, focuses on three guys having fun in cars and brought back the classic Top Gear Test Track for celebrity speed laps.

* CriticalResearchFailure: During the London to Oslo race Clarkson is driving through the Netherlands. The graphics shown include little signs to show where he is, one sign read "Zuiderzee". The Zuiderzee ceased to exist in 1932, it's now a lake called [=IJsselmeer=].

* ReplacementScrappy: Radio/ChrisEvans ([[NamesTheSame no, not]] [[Creator/ChrisEvans that one]]) has not been well-received, being the target of a never-ending barrage of criticism from the moment rumors about his potential selection started to come up; come the actual show, and not a single episode would go by without droves of people criticizing his presentation style, in particular his extremely enthusiastic behaviuor. On the other hand, Creator/MattLeBlanc was very well received with critics and viewers noting that he simply slipped into the presenting role as if he'd been doing it his entire life. Evans didn't last long with the show, announcing his departure in July 2016.

* SugarWiki/DevelopmentHeaven: Thanks to ''Top Gear'''s global popularity, oodles of merchandise revenue, and the BBC's unflagging support and non-commercial format, the show can freely say whatever it wants about cars from powerful manufacturers without fear of reprisals (though some manufacturers have gotten annoyed and stopped providing cars for review, which prompts [[StreisandEffect more ridicule and public attention]]), while shooting in gorgeous locations and pulling ridiculous stunts for the laughs.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: The Stig.

** Jeremy Clarkson being let go from the series in 2015 after punching a producer over food immediately hammered the fanbase into three sides: those who thought that Clarkson was justifiably dismissed for an act of severe misconduct, those who felt that he was in the wrong but that firing him was an over-reaction, and those who thought that the whole thing was a smokescreen and an excuse for the allegedly left-wing BBC to persecute Clarkson for his political views.

* SugarWiki/DevelopmentHeaven: Thanks to ''Top Gear'''s global popularity, oodles of merchandise revenue, and the BBC's unflagging support and non-commercial format, the show can freely say whatever it wants about cars from powerful manufacturers without fear of reprisals[[note]]though some manufacturers have gotten annoyed and stopped providing cars for review, which prompts [[StreisandEffect more ridicule and public attention]][[/note]] while shooting in gorgeous locations and pulling ridiculous stunts for the laughs.

** The crossover Hammond did with the cast of ''Series/AshesToAshes2008'' for Children In Need hits this once the finale of ''Ashes to Ashes'' aired [[spoiler: and it's revealed that it takes place at a limbo for dead and dying police officers. Granted, Richard isn't a police officer but still...]]

---> '''Clarkson:''' Well, if he is dead, and you fancy a job on Series/TopGear, why don't you write to us at "I'm better than Richard Hammond ''was''"

** When Clarkson couldn't get his car out of the mud, he shouted in frustration "I hate working on ''Top Gear''!" That was in his last episode, one he was only featured in & wasn't allowed back to host. In fact, the assault that lost him the job took place when he got back to the hotel from that particular shoot.

** In the Winter Olympics special Hammond concludes (after a survival challenge pitting him against a car) that "if you want to drive to the North Pole, buy a Hammond". The next year, Clarkson and May would drive to the North Pole ''without'' Hammond. Hammond raced them on a dog sled and never actually made it all the way.

** Top Gear Dog ended up being most unsuitable for the job, especially as she prone to being car sick, especially over May. According to former script editor Richard Porter, the idea of adding a dog to the show in the first place was May's.

** In 2015, ''The Guardian'' published a satirical article suggesting that Sabine Schmitz be hired as a presenter under the belief that she, as a woman and German, would cause the stereotypical ''Top Gear'' viewer (in the writer's mind a chauvinistic Briton brimming with pride over his country's triumph over the Nazis in World War II) to flee the show and lead to its cancellation. Schmitz would really be hired not long after the story was printed and cited as one of the bright spots that helped ''Top Gear'' survive the shaky Chris Evans-led era.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Then-Mayor of London UsefulNotes/BorisJohnson appeared as the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car in 2008, 11 years before he became the Prime Minister.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment:

* HarsherInHindsight:

** In 2003, they awarded the "Most Boring Formula One Driver" award to Kimi Raikkonen. Yes, that Kimi Raikkonen, who is known for crashing snowmobile races and dressing up as a gorilla in a yachting event.

** "[[https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/oh-no-anyway Oh no! Anyway...]]" [[labelnote:Explanation]]A RunningGag during Series 11 was to briefly comment on the Dacia Sandero [[TakeThat and then immediately segue into other news]]. The instance of this that became the most popular was Clarkson's reaction to hearing that the Dacia Sandero had been delayed, leading him to sarcastically say "oh no" and then immediately drop the topic with "Anyway...". Starting in 2020, two pictures of Jeremy saying the line became popular as reaction images to sarcastically show sympathy in regards to bad news that the poster doesn't really care about, occasionally as a method of changing the subject as the trio of presenters so frequently did.[[/labelnote]]

* AcceptableTargets: Too many to list, but they're particularly fond of slamming [[AcceptablePoliticalTargets Labour politicians]], [[MoralGuardians the politically correct]], [[{{Eagleland}} America]], [[GayParee France]], [[{{Oktoberfest}} Germany]], [[NorseByNorsewest Switzerland]], UsefulNotes/TheMidlands and anybody working for the Health and Safety Executive. And ''especially'' caravans. Also AcceptableEthnicTargets (in the broader sense): the constant joking about the height of both Richard Hammond (shorter than average) [[note]]5'7"[[/note]] and Jeremy Clarkson (taller than average).[[note]]6'5"[[/note]]
-->'''James''': Ooh, and you have to be between 5 foot 2 and 6 foot 7, so that's you two out. Excellent.\\
'''Jeremy''': That's "heightist" frankly.\\
'''Richard''': Yeah, that's "heightist."\\
'''James''': I can't think of a better recommendation actually.\\
'''Jeremy''': What?\\
'''Richard''': Us not being able to do it?\\
'''James''': Exactly, I'll be going, I'll see you [''indicating audience''] there.
** After his publicised unmasking, the second Stig has fallen into this.

** One episode involved Jeremy Clarkson "duelling" a [[RealLife/CoolPlane Westland WAH-64]] (a [[UsefulNotes/BritsWithBattleships British Army]] version of the [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks American Apache]] attack helicopter) in a Lotus Exige. As per his usual "Americans are brainless obese barbarians" attitude, Jeremy threw in a smug TakeThat, claiming that he was perfectly safe because the pilots "being British, not American, don’t shoot their allies" (Jeremy is most likely referencing the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarnak_Farm_incident Tarnak Farm incident]]). The next year, [[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/jul/11/military.afghanistan a British Apache wounded nine soldiers]] of 2 PARA in a friendly fire incident.

* FanHater: The complaints over the various controversies and the StopHavingFunGuys crowd are bad enough, but when it stoops down to bashing people's taste in comedy, what follows usually makes the presenters' squabbling look like sensible debate.
** The hatred from the Morris Marina Owners' Club, after they burnt a Marina in the Communist Car segment... even though the burnt car was a rusted shell with no interior and had to have frame repairs, patches, and a new paintjob to match the other car used. [[note]]The scrap car had to have a framework fabricated and fitted into the floor and chassis areas (sills, suspension mounting areas etc.) as it was really quite the rustiest thing they could have found, this made it safe to use on the "race" segment during which the interior trim from the good car was used in close ups. Prior to the fire, that trim was replaced to the good car and the remains of the scrap one filled with a bed of poly peanuts and flour to give the impression of an interior fire. No interior trim was destroyed, nor any usable parts. Even the windows were replaced with sugar glass. The car was obtained from a man who had intended to use it for racing of the oval track variety, but as it had no structural integrity, he gave up on that idea and gladly took the BBC's cash.[[/note]]

** "[[OhCrap Oh no]]! [[MoodWhiplash Anyway]]..."

* AccidentalInnuendo: Jeremy Clarkson's catchphrase: "How hard can it be?" doesn't really seem to ring a bell for most people, as it can be taken in many ways.

* AngstWhatAngst: The presenters allegedly have a pact (mentioned in the context of Hammond's accident but apparently still in force) that, should any of them die, the remaining hosts would appear at the beginning of the next episode, make a mournful comment, pause for a moment of silence, and then say, "Anyway," and cheerily continue with the show.

** Absolutely anything that Richard Hammond says in episodes of ''Top Gear'' relating to "flying through the Pearly Gates backwards in a fireball" (or similar) that was recorded before his miraculously non-fatal high-speed crash.