Top Gear UK Season 19 Confirmed to Start Filming with Five-Episode Run
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May return for a shorter Top Gear series, with new cars and features scheduled to air from 27 January 2013.
Filming for Top Gear UK’s nineteenth season is officially underway, with ticket listings confirming five new studio dates at the Dunsfold Aerodrome and a broadcast debut set for Sunday 27 January 2013. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are all confirmed to return for what will be the show’s shortest season to date.
The official ticket vendor Applause Store has published five filming dates, beginning on 23 January and concluding on 20 February. This points to a season of just five episodes, with the finale expected to air on 24 February. This is a notable reduction from previous years, when the show typically ran for six or more episodes per series.
Among the headline features, viewers can expect a widely reported US road trip, which many anticipate will serve as the delayed Christmas Special, now scheduled for February. Other segments confirmed for Season 19 include James May driving a yellow Lexus LFA, Jeremy Clarkson behind the wheel of the new Aston Martin AM 310 Vanquish, and Richard Hammond testing the latest SRT Viper. The show will also feature a review of the Pagani Huayra and a fresh challenge for the Toyota Hilux Invincible.
Cars and challenges lined up for Season 19
The new series promises a mix of high-profile cars and ambitious challenges. Confirmed appearances include the Ferrari F12berlinetta, the Toyota 86, the new Ford Focus ST, the Jaguar F-Type, the latest Porsche 911, a new Lotus model and the new Range Rover. There are also hints of a feature on a special McLaren (not the P1) and the Peugeot Onyx concept. Kris Meeke teams up with James May for a rally in a Bentley Continental GT, while another cross-Europe race will pit car against public transport. A Dacia Sandero review is also set to appear.
- Aston Martin AM 310 Vanquish
- SRT Viper
- Pagani Huayra
- Lexus LFA
- Ferrari F12berlinetta
- Toyota 86
- Ford Focus ST
- Jaguar F-Type
- Porsche 911 (991)
- Lotus (new model)
- Range Rover (latest generation)
- McLaren (special feature)
- Peugeot Onyx concept
- Bentley Continental GT (rally)
- Dacia Sandero
For details on the Christmas Special and its delayed broadcast, seeTop Gear Season 19 Christmas Special Begins Filming, Airs in February.
Shorter run and broadcast schedule
The compressed filming schedule means Top Gear Season 19 will air over less than a month, a departure from the show’s usual format. While some fans may be disappointed by the shorter run, the line-up of cars and challenges remains extensive. The delayed Christmas Special, now expected in February, extends the series’ reach beyond the standard episodes.
