BBC Top Gear - Series 23 discussion thread
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That's half the problem. Old Top Gear was getting stale both in terms of presenters and format. Now they've got worse presenters, and they haven't adequately changed the format.
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Quite, I had every intention of watching it "live" this week but favoured Soccer AID as being a sporting event it doesn't lend itself as well to watching on catch-up as Top Gear does.
But by some people's reckoning I don't count as a viewer, even though I watched it in iPlayer right after the match.
no one at all is suggesting that, but its not like other series haven't had online viewing as well. iplayer wasn't invented yesterday.
such a drastic drop in numbers is unlikely to be made up by streaming.
which is why both live figures posted the next morning and viewing figures after a week are used.
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The last few series of Top Gear hove consistently managed 6-7 mil viewers live.
The 2nd episode of this series achieved 2.8mil.
Both will have plenty of views on iPlayer etc on top of this.
But the comparative figures speak for themselves, the drop in interest is huge, no matter how much Chris Evans' tweets try to distort the FACTS
The 2nd episode of this series achieved 2.8mil.
Both will have plenty of views on iPlayer etc on top of this.
But the comparative figures speak for themselves, the drop in interest is huge, no matter how much Chris Evans' tweets try to distort the FACTS
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No but I'd be more interested in next week's viewing figures as whilst it wasn't a "real" major sporting event, I think Soccer Aid would have taken big chunks off the old trio's figures too.
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The last series ranged from 5.8 to 6.5 million viewers BUT that is the count AFTER 7 days so does include iPlayer....
http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-30/
Possibly in many cases yes, although personally I loved Old Top Gear right up until the end. Not rose tinted- I watched one yesterday and still love it. I suspect many others are the same.
New Top Gear just doesn't do it for me, the presenters and content actually borderline irritate me. But everyone posting in this thread will be bringing a subjective opinion- Top Gear is entertainment after all. It's great that many do like it- with Amazon coming to the table it's likely that both sides are going to be satisfied in the end.
I think like I said, and has been mentioned in reply to me in this very thread, that the format of Top Gear and presenters were stale.
Clarkson et al, needed a change as Top Gear was so borderline dull (for me) it was becoming a tedious watch.
I thought that this would be a chance for the BBC to really examine the format, however it looks like they've attempted to keep (obviously) what they feel is the winning format (it worked for Clarkson et al, high viewing figures, good marketability, syndication) and have attempted to replace the presenters.
Problem is that the format needs a change, nothing revolutionary, just something new and exciting, and while I think friend#1 is doing well, Evans is really trying to imitate what Top Gear had before (men, cars, powah, loud noises) when he should be trying to cut his own path through the show.
I think a lot of people are too quick to react to things, Top Gear had a long time to get to where it was, it was far from the finished product at the start. Teething problems, hopefully that this generation will overcome.
Evans I'm still totally unsold on.
Good satire.
He does have a point about viewing figures, although he's presented it badly (he should employ someone to use Twitter for him - he's making himself look silly). The overnight ratings are far from the whole story nowadays. Many people watch Top Gear on iplayer rather than while it's being broadcast. Add in the people who watched it on iplayer and the viewing figures are similar to the end of the Clarkson/Hammond/May Top Gear.
Is this your opinion or do you have a source?
I watched ep2 yesterday, including extra gear.
Surprinsingly enjoyed all of it, except the celeb going round the track - never been a fan anyway. Liked those SUV/crossovers, route, challenges, etc, not to mention emotional CE.
Surprinsingly enjoyed all of it, except the celeb going round the track - never been a fan anyway. Liked those SUV/crossovers, route, challenges, etc, not to mention emotional CE.
I know it is early days but IMO that really shows the difference between Clarkson and Evans. A lot of people say Clarkson was shouty too, which he was but it was tempered with bits like that video which I cannot see Evans pulling off.
First episode viewing figures were good because people wanted to see the joke that is Chris Evan epicly fail.
Second episode figures flopped because first episode was cringey / shoutey / bad; though was an improvement on the first... just.
Only improvement on the whole is the rallycross mini + track with water and jump hazard.
Second episode figures flopped because first episode was cringey / shoutey / bad; though was an improvement on the first... just.
Only improvement on the whole is the rallycross mini + track with water and jump hazard.
Yeah I can see that it could be interpreted as such, but it's a very subjective thing. Morecambe and Wise never really tried anything new across their TV careers, but they're loved/hated in equal measure. In fact that pretty much explains why I love Old Top Gear- nothing to do with cars, production values or format.... in a way Clarkson/May/Hammond are the Morecambe and Wise of their time. Furthermore you couldn't replace Morecambe and Wise with two other successful comedians and expect them to carry on the show, which seems to have been attempted here.
I do not think that is necessarily a good comparison, although I understand the sentiment. There is a major problem in this country with a lack of innovative 'prime time' television; I mean if you look back historically on what was shown, shows like X Factor, The Voice, Talent shows in general are nothing new... Nor are chat shows and general entertainment stuff (the Ant and Dec Saturday night stuff).
It is catering to audiences, rather than trying to get audiences to 'evolve' their habits and expectations (in my humble opinion), and the fact that Top Gear was stale and when an opportunity arose to try something 'new' or even a slightly new format, the BBC opted to stay with what it new and try to replicate it.
I am not really in to cars, but Top Gear certainly became more 'entertainment' than serious car show; the mental bike racer (name totally escapes me, but an acquaintance made a documentary about the race he took part in? Guy something?) anyway; he seemed like the natural choice to be the new host. Knowledgeable, personable, and younger. The Top Gear image needed to change desperately from the 'old men down the pub chat', they have basically swapped Clarkson et al, out for a slightly younger equally as annoying (in a different way) imitation, who does not have the same background.
I still think the show needs time, I just think the worst thing is that it is a waste of a fantastic opportunity.
It is catering to audiences, rather than trying to get audiences to 'evolve' their habits and expectations (in my humble opinion), and the fact that Top Gear was stale and when an opportunity arose to try something 'new' or even a slightly new format, the BBC opted to stay with what it new and try to replicate it.
I am not really in to cars, but Top Gear certainly became more 'entertainment' than serious car show; the mental bike racer (name totally escapes me, but an acquaintance made a documentary about the race he took part in? Guy something?) anyway; he seemed like the natural choice to be the new host. Knowledgeable, personable, and younger. The Top Gear image needed to change desperately from the 'old men down the pub chat', they have basically swapped Clarkson et al, out for a slightly younger equally as annoying (in a different way) imitation, who does not have the same background.
I still think the show needs time, I just think the worst thing is that it is a waste of a fantastic opportunity.
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People saying that Jenson should be on the show. He's a multi multi millionaire F1 driver, he's a little out of the budget for the bbc, even with the astronomical salaries they pay for their turds like Chris Evans already.
