Top Gear Filming in BC

[Twila]

'Top Gear' TV Show To Film In B.C.

Car junkies, rejoice!

The popular British television show "Top Gear" is filming in parts of B.C. later this month, giving viewers from all over the world a little glimpse of the province.

The BBC series will be testing the Hennessey VelociRaptor SUV on highways in the Boundary and South Okanagan areas, reports Castanet.

“This is awesome for the region as the show has such a huge worldwide audience, it is great exposure for our area and for producers to see the kind of scenery and locations we offer,” Okanagan Film Commissioner Jon Summerland told the outlet.

Top Gear co-host Richard Hammond tweeted earlier this week about his presence in the province.

It was also rumoured that "Top Gear" was shooting in Alberta, according to Luxury BC.

"Top Gear" follows the hosts as they test drive — and test the limits of — luxury vehicles. It began in 1977 and last year became the most-watched factual TV show in the world, according to BBC News.

 

[Blackleaf]

I'm not sure how the Top Gear team may go down with the locals there. Their British humour may be a bit too shocking and un-PC for the squeaky clean, liberal Canadians. We'll probably see them hounded out of Canada like they were hounded out of Argieland the other month.

"Top Gear" follows the hosts as they test drive — and test the limits of — luxury vehicles. It began in 1977 and last year became the most-watched factual TV show in the world, according to BBC News.

Back when it started in 1977, though, it was just a simple, boring motoring magazine, with a group of boring people like Tiff Needell telling us boring, mundane facts about cars. That's all it was. It was only when Clarkson, May and Hammond came along years later that they made it fun, by introducing humour, motoring challenges and fun games and going on foreign jaunts, like when they travel through southern Africa, through India, through South America, avoiding terrorists in the Middle East and gun-toting thick Yanks in southern USA.

It is now watched by over 350 million people in over 100 countries, making it probably the most successful British television export of all time.

How Top Gear conquered the world with humour, dedication and determination | Daily Mail Online

Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May have witnessed Top Gear go from a small TV show to a worldwide phenomenon

The team are famous for their madcap stunts. Here a hatchback can be seen being launched off the dockside in Belfast at the departing Stena HSS ferry

James May narrowly escaped injury when the caravan he was in, which was attached to an airship, crashed into some trees in another stunt for the show

Richard Hammond was seriously injured and hospitalised for a month after crashing a jet-powered car in a stunt for the show

The Stig costume is worn by at least four drivers to help maintain the mystery behind their identities

Top Gear is bound to get packed audiences for its five-city UK arena tour next year:

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Liverpool (Echo Arena) - 13-15 February 2015
Newcastle (Metro Radio Arena) - 20-22 February 2015
Belfast (Odyssey Arena) - 22-23 May 2015
Sheffield (Motorpoint Arena) - 5-6 June 2015
London (The O2) - 28 November 2015

Top Gear Live 2015 Arena Tour