Top Gear does victory lap after SA TV debut

Johannesburg -  The Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc-fronted reboot of the world’s biggest motoring entertainment programme premiered on BBC Brit last week to record-ratings.
 
It means it is BBC Brit’s biggest show since the channel launched in September 2015. The series 23 debut also doubled the overnight audience for Series 22’s opener. The premiere broadcast of Top Gear also ensured BBC Brit was the top channel in its competitor set.
 
Kully Kaur-Bains, Head of Programming for South Africa, says: "We’re thrilled with the response from our local audiences and we’re looking forward to premiering the rest of the season – especially episode two, which was filmed in Durban and Lesotho."
 
Adam Waddell, BBC Worldwide’s Managing Director for Top Gear, says: "This is the beginning of a new era for Top Gear and following the show’s excellent performance on BBC Two in the UK, we're delighted that so many other countries are supporting the new-look show. We are excited about continuing to deliver a strong international audience for the new programme."
 
This week on Top Gear, Chris Evans, Matt LeBlanc and Eddie Jordan take music stars Sharleen Spiteri, Seasick Steve and Tinie Tempah on the ultimate SUV test in wildest South Africa.
 
Back at the track, F1 superstar Jenson Button gives Chris a ride in the McLaren 675LT, while actor Damian Lewis (Homeland) and musician Sharleen Spiteri are this week’s Stars In A Rallycross Car.
 
This was the first Top Gear shoot for Cape Town resident Eddie Jordan. On his experience of filming in South Africa Eddie Jordan said: "I couldn’t have asked for a more spectacular setting to make my Top Gear debut. I thought I had seen most of the wonders of this world, but this was just magical."