Top Gear - Show being aired 22nd November 09. Updated with pics post 75!
- Thread starter Mark T
- 82 comments
- 5,779 views
- 6,566
- Lincoln
- Speedster502
I'm pretty sure he doesn't have the Gallardo anymore. He turned up to MPH (in their own cars) in his Mercedes CLK Black. Also I think the Aston is his wifes, and is a V8 Vantage not a DB9...Don't ask why I know so much about his cars...I'm not obsessed....
And have fun at the recording, I would love to go to it at some point 👍
///M-Spec
Staff Emeritus
- 4,928
Hiya!
Meow! (='.'=)
I do a passable impression of McLaren'sAngel. If you're interested?
!You owe me a new keyboard as I've now spit coffee all over it thanks to you.
M
- 3,323
- GTP_Mark
- Mark T33
Just got back from the recording and have to say that it was a brilliant experience. I don't think I'll be in any of the major shots although you'll be able to see me (or maybe just head) when Clarkson and Hammond are standing next to the R8 and Corvette. My girlfriend is wearing a red dress so she may be easier to spot. We should be in the centre of the screen.
I'll post a full write up tomorrow with the photos I took.
I have to say that if you ever get the opportunity to go make sure you do it. Even if you have to pay for the tickets.
I'll post a full write up tomorrow with the photos I took.
I have to say that if you ever get the opportunity to go make sure you do it. Even if you have to pay for the tickets.
- 24,460
- United States
- GTP_Jordan
- GTP_Jordan
Cool! 👍 So they film the studio portion of each episode the week it airs? I assumed they would shoot several episodes a day for a few weeks and call it a season. (Please excuse my curiosity, I've always been intrigued by television and movie production.)
- 3,279
- UK
- GTP_VEXD
The last episode that aired here (Sunday 15th), Jeremy referred to the Stig as someone who would have spelt a soldiers name right, a poignant joke aimed directly at the prime minister, who made a faux pas regarding said spelling mistake the week before this. He does try to keep things current...
I'm sure a lot of it is filmed weex in advance, but the studio/track sections are usually right up to date, trust me, you can tell by the weather when they are out on the airfield
In fact, I was going to suggest that Mark wear something describing his love for Gordon Brown, as that would have surely given him a good chance of receiving attention from Jezza, but I'm too late finding this thread
Glad you got to go Mark, we've been trying to get tickets for ages, get the pics up asap please!
👍
I'm sure a lot of it is filmed weex in advance, but the studio/track sections are usually right up to date, trust me, you can tell by the weather when they are out on the airfield
In fact, I was going to suggest that Mark wear something describing his love for Gordon Brown, as that would have surely given him a good chance of receiving attention from Jezza, but I'm too late finding this thread
Glad you got to go Mark, we've been trying to get tickets for ages, get the pics up asap please!
👍
- 3,323
- GTP_Mark
- Mark T33
In the studio yesterday we watched all the segments that do not take place in the studio (I assume they were recorded weeks ago). All the voice overs including commentary on the Stigs hot laps were recorded while we were there. Even the voice over at the start of the start of the show was recorded on the fly by JC with no script.
When we first got there and was were waiting in the car park I could hear something being driven round the track. It sounded awesome but unfortunately because it's filmed on a working aerodrome there are restrictions on where you can go so I wasn't able to see it.
Last edited:
- 3,323
- GTP_Mark
- Mark T33
Great stuff 👍! Must have been really fun! Jordan should give you a year or two of Premiumship free
I don't think you'll be able to see the GTP logo on camera unfortunately, there was someone standing in front of me and I was wearing a scarf as the hangar where it is filmed is pretty nippy inside. I wouldn't expect anything from Jordan, after all he provides the place where I can actually post this!
I did get Richard Hammonds autograph on paper with a GTP logo. I couldn't get the others as they were literally mobbed and I felt really awkward harassing them for it. My girlfriend and other friends also got a picture with the Hamster.
- 3,323
- GTP_Mark
- Mark T33
As promised I have prepared details of the how events unfolded on the day. I’ve tried to keep it as brief as I can, basically so you don’t get bored.
The Top Gear recording started at 2.30pm (as advised on the tickets) but I had been advised by various people that sometimes queuing occurred at the recordings. This is because Top Gear actually issue more tickets than there are places to account for people who may not make it on the day. Bearing this in mind I decided to leave at 9.00am with approximately 2 and a half hours travelling time. If you don’t know already Top Gear is located on a working Aerodrome in Dunsfold. Getting there was no problem thanks to the Sat Nav although the postcode of the aerodrome covers a wide area and so I had to stop and ask where the aerodrome was located.
I arrived at the Aerodrome and you have to report to a security gate to hand over your tickets and collect your Top Gear wristband. Once through you are directed to the Top Gear studio parking. I arrived about 3 hours early and there were people there before us. They have a catering shop and merchandise available for you to buy. I purchased a Top Gear cup and also collected a Top Gear questionnaire which is given out. You have ten questions to answer and if your lucky enough you are pulled from a hat and given some Top Gear goodies signed by the cast. Needless to say I didn’t win.
Your told that you will be collected by one of the Top Gear production team at around 1.45pm so I sat in the car and ate some sausage rolls and sandwiches, which was nice.
View of aerodrome
There's a gate on the far left at the end which is where you exit from the studio.
Eventually we were called and briefed on what you can and can’t do. Your allowed phones and cameras but they must be switched off during any recording. No SLR’s are allowed and ladies aren’t allowed any bags (because there have been accidents with cars getting scratched). Your then led the back way through to the studio, going past some familiar sights. Whilst walking round to the studio I saw the Stig watching the special guest do his lap which was very cool.
You’re then all counted and you make you make way into the studio which is massive and looks empty compared to when you see it on TV. They had two Audi R8’s in the studio, the V10 and V8 models. There was also the ZR1 which JC drove in California a while ago. The common Toyota pickup was there along with the Fiat police car and James car-boat. The G Whizz also features on the episode this week. The interview area with seating is located in the middle of the set.
The director and floor manager then told us about how the filming works and how if they need to re-take a shot you have to provide the same laughter even if the jokes not funny. Everything was very laid back and there was plenty of swearing going which made it even better. Each section is then filmed and they tell you where to stand and what not to do. Bearing in mind there 500+ people getting into a shot was quite difficult. Attractive women were pulled to the front so that JC could get an eyeful. There was also loads of banter going on between JC and Hammond (generally calling each other cocks). JC was talking about how he hasn’t got a day off until the 22nd December and how he has had to see Hammond every day for four weeks.
There are several small breaks and one larger break when you are able to get autographs and meet the crew. They are absolutely mobbed so I only managed to get Hammonds signature (on GTP paper!). As I mentioned in previous post I felt really awkward harassing them so I left JC and May alone who I just couldn’t get to.
My girlfriend far left
A feature of this weeks show!
More to follow!
The Top Gear recording started at 2.30pm (as advised on the tickets) but I had been advised by various people that sometimes queuing occurred at the recordings. This is because Top Gear actually issue more tickets than there are places to account for people who may not make it on the day. Bearing this in mind I decided to leave at 9.00am with approximately 2 and a half hours travelling time. If you don’t know already Top Gear is located on a working Aerodrome in Dunsfold. Getting there was no problem thanks to the Sat Nav although the postcode of the aerodrome covers a wide area and so I had to stop and ask where the aerodrome was located.
I arrived at the Aerodrome and you have to report to a security gate to hand over your tickets and collect your Top Gear wristband. Once through you are directed to the Top Gear studio parking. I arrived about 3 hours early and there were people there before us. They have a catering shop and merchandise available for you to buy. I purchased a Top Gear cup and also collected a Top Gear questionnaire which is given out. You have ten questions to answer and if your lucky enough you are pulled from a hat and given some Top Gear goodies signed by the cast. Needless to say I didn’t win.
Your told that you will be collected by one of the Top Gear production team at around 1.45pm so I sat in the car and ate some sausage rolls and sandwiches, which was nice.
View of aerodrome
There's a gate on the far left at the end which is where you exit from the studio.
Eventually we were called and briefed on what you can and can’t do. Your allowed phones and cameras but they must be switched off during any recording. No SLR’s are allowed and ladies aren’t allowed any bags (because there have been accidents with cars getting scratched). Your then led the back way through to the studio, going past some familiar sights. Whilst walking round to the studio I saw the Stig watching the special guest do his lap which was very cool.
You’re then all counted and you make you make way into the studio which is massive and looks empty compared to when you see it on TV. They had two Audi R8’s in the studio, the V10 and V8 models. There was also the ZR1 which JC drove in California a while ago. The common Toyota pickup was there along with the Fiat police car and James car-boat. The G Whizz also features on the episode this week. The interview area with seating is located in the middle of the set.
The director and floor manager then told us about how the filming works and how if they need to re-take a shot you have to provide the same laughter even if the jokes not funny. Everything was very laid back and there was plenty of swearing going which made it even better. Each section is then filmed and they tell you where to stand and what not to do. Bearing in mind there 500+ people getting into a shot was quite difficult. Attractive women were pulled to the front so that JC could get an eyeful. There was also loads of banter going on between JC and Hammond (generally calling each other cocks). JC was talking about how he hasn’t got a day off until the 22nd December and how he has had to see Hammond every day for four weeks.
There are several small breaks and one larger break when you are able to get autographs and meet the crew. They are absolutely mobbed so I only managed to get Hammonds signature (on GTP paper!). As I mentioned in previous post I felt really awkward harassing them so I left JC and May alone who I just couldn’t get to.
My girlfriend far left
A feature of this weeks show!
More to follow!
Last edited:
- 3,704
Id love to go over there and get a chance to do something like this.
- 2,903
- Kyoto
- GTP_L_Hamilton
That is so cool. I've always wondered how it worked behind the scene. Great pictures. Did you finally get Clarkson's and May's autograph?
- 3,323
- GTP_Mark
- Mark T33
Unfortunately no. I'm sure I'll catch up with May and Clarkson at some point in the future.
- 29,371
- Glasgow
- GTP_Mars
Very jealous indeed, and I will be looking out for you on Sunday night (provided I get a chance to watch the show, which is doubtful right now!!) Great pictures, too!
- 536
- R8_Man
- RacerSpencer
Ditto man! You're so lucky!
- 3,323
- GTP_Mark
- Mark T33
Apparently Hammond is like that when not on TV. I read an interview in The Times which said he was very quiet and not as chirpy. James May was also different, he seemed to walk with his head down trying to avoid eye contact (probably to avoid catching peoples attention so they don't ask for autographs). Clarkson was just as you see him on TV except with 10% more piss taking and 100% more swearing.
Similar threads
