Fifth Gear

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This article is about the British TV show Fifth Gear. For the Brad Paisley album, see 5th Gear (album). For the 1989 computer game, see 5th Gear (video game).

Fifth Gear
Former titlecard from 2005 to 2016
Also known as5th Gear (2002–05)
Fifth Gear Recharged (2021–)
GenreMotoring
Directed byPhil Hawkins
Presented byTiff Needell
Vicki Butler-Henderson
Tim Shaw
Tom Ford
Adrian Simpson
Quentin Willson
Jason Plato
Jonny Smith
Jon Bentley
Rory Reid
Sid North
Grace Webb
Jimmy de Ville
Quest
(2018–)
Release8 April 2002 (2002-04-08) –
present

Fifth Gear is a British motoring television magazine series which has been broadcast since 2002. Originally shown on

Quest. Following a 2021 relaunch, with an emphasis on electric cars, it has been branded as Fifth Gear Recharged.[2][3] The show is currently presented by Vicki Butler-Henderson, Sid North,[4] Karun Chandhok[5] and Jason Plato[6] with Grace Webb and engineer Jimmy de Ville also involved in reports. Its former presenters include Quentin Willson, Adrian Simpson, Rory Reid,[7] Jonny Smith, former racing driver Tiff Needell and Car SOS host Tim Shaw
.

Fifth Gear was first broadcast on 8 April 2002, featuring the same format and many of the same presenters, including Willson, Needell, Butler-Henderson and Simpson, as the BBC's Top Gear.[8][9][10] Channel 5 originally wanted to carry on using the Top Gear name, but the BBC refused as it still operated the Top Gear magazine; the BBC relaunched Top Gear with a drastically revised format later in 2002, placing a strong focus on comedy and general entertainment.[11] Fifth Gear has been referenced in Top Gear, such as when a barn fire damaged Top Gear property, host Jeremy Clarkson satirically claimed that Fifth Gear had "burned our furniture."[12]

Needell announced Fifth Gear's cancellation on 24 May 2016.[13] On 14 June 2018, Needell announced on his official Twitter account that he had been doing some filming work for a new series of Fifth Gear which aired in September 2018 on Quest,[14][15] but by 2019 had left the show to join Lovecars.com and their ITV4 programme On the Road.[16][17][18]

Repeats of Fifth Gear also started being broadcast on

Discovery Turbo, with early episodes of the show being streamed '24/7' via the British feed of Pluto TV in 2019.[19]

Format

The first seven series consisted of a 23-minute programme, not including approximately seven minutes of adverts.[8] The eighth series returned in the autumn of 2005 in a longer format of 45 minutes, and the ninth series (which went to a 13-week run) was increased to a one-hour airtime slot (approximately 46 minutes excluding adverts). For series 17, the show had reverted to the original format of 23 minutes, which including adverts takes the show to half an hour. In Series 21, the show reverted to the previous one-hour airtime slot.

Locations

At the start of series 10, the show introduced between-feature links filmed at the

North One
Television, part of the All3Media group).

In series 14, a location change from the Ace Cafe meant link sequences were filmed instead at the Millbrook Proving Ground, along with some of the vehicle testing features.

Presenter line-up

  • Vicki Butler-Henderson (2002–2016, 2018–present)
  • Jason Plato (2004–2014, 2018–present)
  • Sid North (2023)
  • Grace Webb (2021–present)
  • Jimmy de Ville (2021–present)
  • Karun Chandhok (2021–present, previously seen on the programme as a guest)

Former presenters

Short-lived stints

In 2005, the show's producer,

Tim Shaw became a presenter on the show for series 14. In October 2010, Ben Collins, formerly The Stig on BBC's Top Gear, came to Fifth Gear for series 18.[20]

Shoot-outs

Fifth Gear claimed to be 'world renowned' for its 'infamous' shoot-outs, between similarly priced, similarly powerful cars, or, recently, cars versus bikes. These shoot outs took place at the Anglesey Circuit on the Isle of Anglesey close to Aberffraw. During the refurbishment of Anglesey, shoot-outs were switched to Castle Combe Circuit.

2002 (Series 1 and 2)

  • Seat León
    Cupra R

2003 (Series 3 and 4)

2004 (Series 5 and 6)

2005 (Series 7 and 8)

2006 (Series 9 and 10)

2007 (Series 11 and 12)

2008 (Series 13)

2009 (Series 14)

2010 (Series 17)

2010 (Series 18)

2011 (Series 19)

2011 (Series 20)

2012 (Series 21)

2013 (Series 22)

  • Week 1: Vicki in the new
    Porsche Boxster S against a jet plane, Tiff tests the difference between used and new tyres. Jonny goes to Trollstigen to test Ford Focus ST. Jason tests Audi S8
    .
  • Week 2: Jason tests the brand new Pagani Huayra, Tiff tests the new Porsche 911 cabriolet to find out if it's quicker than the Audi R8 Spyder. Vicki tests a super car off roader. Johny reveals the three classic cars that could be a better investment than gold.
  • Week 3: Vicki in the brand new
    Mercedes CLS
    63, both cars are tested to the limit. Jason tests a brand new supercar made in the Netherlands. Johny spends a night in the Swiss alps to demonstrate how your car can keep you alive. Tiff tests the Frontline MG LE50.
  • Week 4: Tiff and rally driver Kris Meeke find the ultimate hot hatch (VW Golf GTI vs Renault Sport Megane vs Ford Focus ST vs Astra VXR), Vicki is in Germany to test the Audi RS 4, Jonny finds out how the world's most powerful simulator has become F1's secret weapon. Jason reveals the ultimate secondhand sports car you can buy on a budget.
  • Week 5: Jonny jumps into the world of professional drifting, the team test the Audi S7 to the extreme, Vicki takes part in a world record attempt: the largest parade of Ferraris, Tiff tests filling tyres with nitrogen and Jason tests the new Mercedes SL.
  • Week 6: Vicki races rally driver Andreas Mikkelsen in three speed challenges, Jason tests the new BMW M6, Tiff finds out what the ultimate small car is and Jonny shows the essential DIY skills that will allow you to save money.
  • Week 7: Vicki tests the new
    Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
    , Jonny attempts to become the fastest drag race passenger, Tiff and Jason race each other in a dog fight find to find out which of the latest entry level hot hatches is the greatest, and the team test the latest car safety systems.
  • Week 8: Vicki visits Pininfarina headquarters in Italy and tests the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale, Jonny tests the modern-day Morgan three-wheeler, while Jason looks for the best Bluetooth gadget to use while driving together with Suzi Perry.
  • Week 9: Tiff takes on Sabine Schmitz in a battle between the Porsche 911 and the BMW M6, Jason tests the new Morgan Plus 8, Vicki goes off-road with the latest version of the Range Rover Evoque and Jonny is in the lab to test fuel saving gadgets.

2013 (Series 23)

Team Test

In Series 19, a new segment was introduced, called the Team Test. This is where Tiff, Jason, Jonny and Vicki all did a group test on an important new car. They all scored the car out of 10, and added their scores together to get the score for the car.

Show history

2009 cancellation and return

Channel 5 executives had been quoted as saying, "Five is proud of Fifth Gear's contribution to the channel but after 16 series, feels it's time to try something new."[21] On 27 November 2009, Jeremy Clarkson mentioned on The Chris Moyles Show that it was a shame that Fifth Gear had been cancelled.

In late December 2009, however, presenter Jonny Smith suggested via Twitter that the show could return for another series early in 2010.[22] On 8 January 2010, Smith tweeted: "Fifth Gear IS coming back!", and in his next tweet, he said "Wow, such quick responses! Basically, we all know there's room for two car TV shows. FG will simply be a reviews based visual car magazine." Tiff Needell also tweeted saying "Home to the news that, after much negotiating Fifth Gear looks like it will after all be returning to your screens sometime in the Spring!" and also hinted the show will have a new format in his next tweet "Glad so many of you are delighted by the Fifth Gear news — and, yes the format will be moving away from the stupid ... but still having fun!"[23]

On 17 January 2010, Vicki Butler-Henderson and Tiff Needell confirmed at the Autosport International Show that Fifth Gear will be returning in Spring 2010. The pair featured a car shootout in Fifth Gear style in the live arena show and said several times to the audience that the show would be back on air in Spring and to ignore the cancellation rumours.[24]

The series started on 3 June 2010. The series ran for 10 episodes and the first one had Lewis Hamilton as a guest. On 1 October 2010, it was announced that Ben Collins (who played the original White Stig on Top Gear) would join the show.[20]

Second cancellation and return

On 14 May 2016, Tiff Needell announced the cancellation of Fifth Gear following its last episode repeat airing on

Quest TV channel.[26]

Fifth Gear is now[when?] being broadcast in the United States on the MotorTrend channel. Season 27 started on February 15 (episode 2, but episodes 1 and 3 are scheduled on Feb. 22nd).

Fifth Gear Recharged

In 2021, the show was relaunched as an electric car show under the amended title of Fifth Gear Recharged.[27] Former Top Gear presenter Rory Reid, joined the presenting team of Vicky Butler Henderson, Jason Plato and Karun Chandhok (with the former Formula One driver and Sky F1 pundit now being part of the core presenting team and not a guest), while consumer journalist Grace Webb and engineer Jimmy de Ville will contribute to the show in guest roles (Jonny Smith has left the series to present The Late Brake Show webshow). As well as testing purely electric cars such as the Cupra Born, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Polestar 2 and ATAE Munro Mark 1,[28][29][30] the show will also feature hybrids such as the Peugeot 508 PSE.[31]

Episodes

See also: List of Fifth Gear episodes

The Fifth Gear Awards

Each year for a few series, the programme gives out various Car of the Year type awards:

2004

2005

2006

2007

  • Best small car – Fiat 500
  • Best family car – Ford Mondeo
  • Best fast car –
    Audi R8
  • Car of the year – Audi R8

Accidents

During recording for Series 12, Episode 7,[32] two accidents took place while on set.

  • On 27 September 2007,
    Bedford Rascal van. Tom Ford was recording a piece about drifting. He and co-host Jonny Smith were racing each other in a D1 Grand Prix style around a private track. After winning the event, Ford was performing a victory drift that went wrong, put his van (painted to resemble the A-Team
    GMC Van) up on two wheels and into a safety barrier.
  • On 9 October 2007,[35] BTCC driver Jason Plato suffered multiple burns when a Caparo T1 he was driving at Bruntingthorpe proving ground burst into flames.[36] The car, capable of 200 mph (320 km/h), burst into flames at an estimated 150 mph (240 km/h). Plato said: "There was a slight loss of power, I looked in the mirror and saw some smoke, there was a slight smell of oil and then suddenly there was this intense heat. The car spontaneously erupted into a ball of flames and I was sat in the middle of a fireball." The presenter was initially taken to Market Harborough and District Hospital by former BTCC driver Phil Bennett before being treated at Kettering General Hospital. He later received specialist burns treatment at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. The incident was mentioned during Top Gear's discussion of the Caparo T1 the next year.

Both accidents were shown on the episode.

International airings

Fifth Gear has been broadcast on the

Velocity on Wednesdays after Wheeler Dealers
as of 3 October 2012.

Fifth Gear began broadcasting in Australia in November 2009, on

7Two
).

Fifth Gear started Canadian broadcast on

Discovery Channel Canada
in 2008, beginning with 2006 series. This version ran in half-hour format.

Fifth Gear was also telecasted in Asia-Pacific in Discovery Turbo. It aired the 60 minute version.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Fifth Gear Finds New Home". Broadcast Now. Broadcast Now. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  2. ^ "'Fifth Gear' to Relaunch as Electric Vehicle Format; Signs Former 'Top Gear' Host Rory Reid". 13 October 2021.
  3. ^ "North One amps up Fifth Gear Recharged for Discovery". 13 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Sid North's day with the insane 1,180bhp Ariel Hipercar | Fifth Gear by Fifth Gear | AllCarVideos.net, all your favorite youtube channels in one page!".
  5. ^ "New Fifth Gear TV show to focus on electric cars". 14 October 2021.
  6. ^ Karr, Anthony. "Fifth Gear Will Be Back In September". Motor1.com. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Fifth Gear to Rebrand into Electic [sic] Motoring Series". 14 October 2021.
  8. ^ a b Gallagher, William (9 April 2002). "Top Gear finds a new home". BBC News Online.
  9. ^ Timms, Dominic (15 November 2001). "Top Gear drives over to C5". Broadcast. Emap Media.
  10. ^ "Top Gear team switch lanes". BBC News Online. 15 November 2001.
  11. ^ "Top Gear Versus Fifth Gear: Which British Car Show Is Better? — EDEDITION.com". www.ededition.com. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Top Gear burns! Props destroyed". Autoblog. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Tiff Needell's "Fifth Gear" Has Been Cancelled". Road & Track. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  14. ^ "Yes, after a three year break we're back". 14 June 2018.
  15. ^ "Fifth Gear will return to TV in September". 13 September 2018.
  16. ^ "Discovery announces new series of Fifth Gear on Quest". 9 September 2019.
  17. ^ "On the Road - S1 - Episode 2". Radio Times.
  18. ^ "On the Road - S1 - Episode 3". Radio Times.
  19. ^ "ALL CHANNELS | Pluto TV | Watch Free TV". www.eu-landing.corp.pluto.tv. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019.
  20. ^ a b Sweney, Mark (10 January 2010). "'The Stig' joins Channel 5's Fifth Gear". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  21. ^ "Fifth Gear cancelled — CONFIRMED". AUSmotive.com. 19 October 2009.
  22. ^ "Fifth Gear looks set for 2010 comeback". AUSmotive.com. 29 December 2009.
  23. ^ "Breaking news: Fifth Gear is coming back". AUSmotive.com. 8 January 2010.
  24. ^ "Fifth Gear: Web TV — Behind the Scenes at Autosport International". youtube.com/fifthgear. 26 January 2010. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.
  25. ^ Perkins, Chris (24 May 2016). "Tiff Needell's "Fifth Gear" Has Been Cancelled". Road & Track. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Fifth Gear returns after multi-year hiatus". Autoblog. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  27. ^ "Fifth Gear Relaunches with Rory Reid to Focus on Electric Vehicles". 15 October 2021.
  28. ^ "The ATAE Munro Isn't Looking To Reinvent Off-Roading, It's Just Trying To Electrify It". Carscoops. 2 April 2021.
  29. ^ "2022 ATAE Munro: Rugged electric 4x4 enters testing phase".
  30. ^ "Munro EV Is A No-Frills Off-Roader From Scotland, Coming In The US In 2023 | Carscoops".
  31. ^ "508 PEUGEOT SPORT ENGINEERED | Hybrid sports car by PEUGEOT". www.peugeot.co.uk.
  32. ^ Fifth Gear: Behind the scenes Archived 17 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 28 May 2008
  33. ^ "Fifth Gear presenter crashes while drifting van". Motor Authority. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  34. ^ Fifth Gear star Tom Ford hurt in crash Autotrader.co.uk News — Accessed 10 October 2007
  35. ^ "Jason Plato injured when Caparo T1 bursts into flames at 150 mph". Autoblog. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  36. ^ Plato injured as Caparo T1 bursts into flames Archived 11 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine Crash.net News — Accessed 10 October 2007

External links

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