The following is a complete episode list of the BBC television series Top Gear that ran from April 1977 to December 2001, a total of 524 episodes. After the cancellation of the series in 2001, the BBC were convinced into running a revamped show with a new format, which became the widely popular series of the same title launched in 2002.
Episodes Top Gear was a series of programmes broadcast by the BBC covering motor related issues, new car model reviews, motor show previews, fuel economy, safety, the police, speeding, insurance, consumer advice and used car sales tips among other issues. Many presenters featured over the course of the series, most notably Angela Rippon, Noel Edmonds, William Woollard, Chris Goffey, Judith Jackson, Sue Baker, Tiff Needell, Jeremy Clarkson, Quentin Willson and Vicki Butler-Henderson.
When it became a network show, it was broadcast on BBC 2 on Thursday nights for Series 1, then on Tuesday nights between Series 2 and Series 17, then reverting to the original Thursday timeslot from Series 18 to the end of its run. In all, 524 episodes (515 plus the nine regional shows) were broadcast between 1977 and 2002, with a large majority of that figure being Top Gear itself.
The original series of the Top Gear programme was broadcast in BBC Midlands region only. There were fourteen programmes, the first of which went out on BBC 1 Midlands, on 22 April 1977, at 10:45 PM. The first episode was pushed back half an hour due to a re-run of Sailor. On the 10th March 1977, this was notably listed on the Black Country Evening Mail, with the title being "Looking for a lady in Top Gear":
WANTED... a mechanical girl. The BBC at Pebble Mill are conducting the search but it's not a robot they want. Producer Derek Smith is looking for a lady to help present BBC Midlands' new regional motoring programme Top Gear. She must have a reasonably good knowledge of how a car works and a lively interest in transport. The new monthly programme starts on April 22 (BBC1, 10.15). Derek Smith says: "We want to cover every aspect from the point of view of the road user... two wheels or 16, it makes no difference." "We shall cover fuel economy, safety, the police, speeding, insurance, second hand cars, holiday touring and so on." "Special features will include a car-care item and a driving competition to find the Top Gear driver of the year."
The dates for the BBC 1 Midlands run of Top Gear are as follow ("RMD" code stands for "Regional Midlands"):
- 22nd April 1977 - RMD9037D - Angela Rippon drives up the M1 in her Ford Capri, at a steady and safe 70 miles per hour, talking about the correct use of mirrors on the motorway, and Tom Coyne interviews William Rodgers, the minister of Transport, who reveals his hopes for the introduction of seat belts and curbs on drink-drivers. Sindrom Hull reports on how the police catches speeding motorists, and Mike Woodhead with BBC TV producer John Burkill participate in a economy run. - 20th May 1977 - RMDxxxxY - Angela looks at the whole problem presented by the 40 million tons - including five million tons of dangerous waste - we move around every year. She calls them "loads of trouble." They are the lorries and tankers which transport dangerous material. And with 600 different chemical substances regularly in transit on our roads, the potential danger is there. "Drivers get little or no training about the stuff they carry", she said. "Or the action to take in emergencies." "They seldom follow prescribed routes and overnight parking in back streets could make them potential bombs." Joining Top Gear tonight is Mary Johns, a journalist from Kempsey, near Worcester. Her job is to show how to do your own car-care with some simple, but important jobs even the mechanical duffers can do. Plus, behind the scenes with motorway police patrols and car & caravan spot checks with Tom Coyne. - 24th June 1977 - RMDxxxxY - Tom Coyne introduces this motoring contribution to the Silver Jubilee scene. When the Queen was crowned, Britain's best selling car was the Morris Minor and the most coveted was the Jaguar XK120, but the biggest technical revolution of them all was to be the Mini. In these 25 years motorists have lost starting handles and opening windscreens and gained 10,000-mile service intervals and long-life guarantees. Angela Rippon reports on the problems of motor-cyclists, Mary Johns and Stan Evans deliver another piece of consumer advice on car maintenance and a look at 25 years of cars (1952-1977) with Tom Coyne. - 29th July 1977 - RMDxxxxY - Angela Rippon brings viewers up to date on the "Queensway row." Two months ago when a lump of concrete fell from Birmingham's ring road onto a parked car beneath it sent reverberations through the city which are still being felt today. A Sunday newspaper commissioned an engineering consultant, Mr. Bernard Clarke, to make a report and his conclusions were that the ring road was falling apart. Three reports have now emerged from the city's engineers which conflict with the original. What is the true situation? Plus, Tom Coyne reports on car customisation with enthusiasts. - 26th August 1977 - RMDxxxxY - The Top Gear Forum with Dr. Peter Gloyns (Accident Research Unit, Birmingham University), Philip Knights (West Midlands Chief Constable), Duncan McKenzie (British Insurance Association), and Ron Ruscoe (Motor Agents Association). With Tom Coyne. - 13th September 1977 - RMDxxxxY - Angela Rippon performs a winter driving technique practice on the Staffordshire Police skid pan, and reports on the problems with Pershore's town sign. Mary Johns and Stan Evans continue their usual car-care advice, and the Midlands motorway patrol police introduce the new motorway signs, as to what they mean for the motorist. - 27th September 1977 (Top Gear Special) - RMDxxxxY - Special edition on stopping a car thief and what to do after a motoring accident. With Joan Palmer and Mike Woodhead. - 11th October 1977 - RMDxxxxY - Angela Rippon reports on tachographs in lorries, Mike Woodhead reports on the Veteran Car Run to sample vintage champagne in France with Mike Broad, Mary Johns provides advice on tackling a mis-firing engine, and Tom Coyne reports on car customization. - 25th October 1977 (Top Gear Special) - RMDxxxxY - A debate for and against seatbelt usage with Dr. Murray Mackay (Accident Research Unit, Birmingham University) and Jackie Stewart. With Joan Palmer and Mike Woodhead. - 15th November 1977 - RMDxxxxY - Tom Coyne reports on the Design-A-Poster competition result, Mike Broad and former Wheelbase presenter Judith Jackson preview the 1977 Lombard RAC Rally with commentary, and Tom Coyne alongside Judith Jackson provide consumer advice on car care. - 2nd December 1977 - RMDxxxxY - Angela Rippon provides commentary on this year's brand-new London Motorfair and Tom Coyne reports on car customisation. Angela could not provide commentary at Middleton Hall due to her news-casting duties, after being named "Show Business Personality of the Year", with the most-quoted nickname on newspapers (like the Atherstone & Coleshill Herald) being "Legs". - 3rd January 1978 - RMDxxxxY - 20 Miles to the Magnum: A look back at the Veteran car run to France. Presented by Tom Coyne. - 31st January 1978 - RMDxxxxY - The Top Gear Forum with Dr. Peter Gloyns (Accident Research Unit, Birmingham University), Philip Knights (West Midlands Chief Constable), Duncan McKenzie (British Insurance Association), and Ron Ruscoe (Motor Agents Association), answering questions given by the audience. With Tom Coyne. - 3rd March 1978 - RMDxxxxY - Rippon on the Road: Angela Rippon looks back on the first year of Top Gear in reports and highlights.