The O.G. (British) Top Gear is coming back soon I guess, “with a socially distanced twist,” per the show’s Twitter account. What they mean is that the show’s signature crowded studio has been swapped for a drive-in movie style setup, with audience members in and around their own cars. Looks like one of the coolest things the show’s done, actually.
Lights????camera ???? action ????
Brand new #TopGear, coming soon with a socially distanced twist. Yep, the audience are still here, and we’re still at Dunsfold. Just outside, hoping that for once the British weather commits to the forecast.
Coming soon to @BBCOne and @BBCiPlayer pic.twitter.com/rEoTN6q9yd
— Top Gear (@BBC_TopGear) September 9, 2020
Peek through the replies in that thread to see some pictures from the perspective of audience members. It’s fun!
Since it doesn’t seem like pandemic conditions are going to soften any time soon (ever?) I guess we can expect a lot of performances to try and work out solutions like this, but it’s pretty on-brand for a car show and in fact, I think this actually seems cooler than the standard “clumps of people standing around” setup the BBC has run since the Clarkson days.
I’ve never been an exceedingly faithful viewer of the show but I’ve liked some of the stuff I have seen with the current cast. Here’s to a good fresh outdoor season.