I live in Mexico and I remember watching Top Gear for the first time on a TV at a Bennigan's restaurant in my city town. I didn't even know what it was but I was instantly hooked... Then went home, searched it (I don´t remember how since I didn't even knew the name of the show) and found some clips. Then, it was a real challenge to get the episodes in the web (because it didn't broadcasted in Mexico) but I watched all the series until it's end. It was quite something and really impacted my life. It's great to get to see the people who made all this possible. Thanks!

On the subject of guests, worth mentioning that Michael Gambon sadly passed away this week.

@mickylawless1941

8 ай бұрын

Oh no! Ever so sad news. Loved Michael's Maigret series.

@colin5577

8 ай бұрын

Awwwwww. 😔

@EazyDuz18

8 ай бұрын

who?

@Anorak1795

8 ай бұрын

@@EazyDuz18professor dumbledore’s replacement actor who played the part in all but 2 of the Harry Potter films the first two played by Richard Harris

@Al_Pollock

8 ай бұрын

@@EazyDuz18the guy who the second to last or last corner of the top gear track is named after.

Hi Ben, I hope the "some say" segments become a permanent thing, I really enjoyed both of them so far. Brilliant stuff 👍🙂👍

@lowstrife

8 ай бұрын

I actually have to give the best one to LeBlanc S23E04 "Some say he thinks Brexit... is some form of laxative" I fucking hated that season but goddamn that was a great moment lol. The audience reaction was great too - it was such a delayed burn, which didn't stop lol.

Ben, i now fully understand why you were hidden behind a helmet . You would have stolen the thunder mate. The big 3 as a unit is awesome - but you as a standalone act - bloody brilliant mate. What a pleasure to watch . Cant wait for the next episode .

@AlexKall

6 ай бұрын

I agree, I look forward to the next one!

@acarter028

5 ай бұрын

Just reading your comment I reckon you are an Aussie

@kabelotshita4510

4 күн бұрын

Well that’s a lie 😂😂

Hell yeah, was waiting for part 2! Honestly listening to Richard Porter's and others stories is more exciting than interviews with the Trio themselves.

@BenCollinsDrives

8 ай бұрын

He knows things..

@sjoroverpirat

8 ай бұрын

Aren't you the guy that always comment on bellular stuff?

@MichaelLoda

8 ай бұрын

Lol I write a comment under his videos like once a year maybe@@sjoroverpirat

@andrewholt3849

8 ай бұрын

@@BenCollinsDrivesjo

@StephenButlerOne

8 ай бұрын

Love his podcast too. Brilliant. Smith and sniff.

Took me a while, but i finally got the "Perry, he was a really good guy" dig at about the 4th shot... I knew perry was the first stig, i just didnt catch that they were having a shot at ben...

Just found your channel. Ben, you made every Sunday night for me, just the way you played the whole role of the stig was amazing. Grand Tour just never had the same feel as Top Gear and that came down to the crew and writers. In years to come we as Brits can look back at Top Gear the same way we do at Only Fools and Horse, Britsh classics. Great Thanks

"Perry, such a great guy" just doesn't get old... 😂

Loving it. Alway loved Rich Porter, but my god Jim Wiseman is hilarious as well and as you see the talent on screen, to see the behind the scenes talent and you can now understand see their ability and what they brought to the show.

@stotheh

8 ай бұрын

The DVD commentaries with some of the crew are excellent. Had to dig out the Vietnam special disc to rip the commentary audio as it's so good

Of course the Plate BELL END could have been interpreted as a dig at the end of the General Belgrano being sunk by a British Nuclear Sub.

@jkliao6486

5 ай бұрын

Reminds me of that Phineas and Ferb episode where Carl said if you rearrange what they said and write it out backwards and add an "e" to it, it says we help Dr. Doofenshmirtz to rule the world.

@YegoYTP

4 ай бұрын

@@jkliao6486 My favourite Phineas and Ferb characters were Jeremy, James and Richard

I figured it wasn't shenanigans, too subtle, and no three stooges' reactions to it as they followed each other. Not like the episode where they went to Alabama, mucked around, and about found out. I live in Texas, and just rewatched that one the other night with my wife. We were surprised they didn't get it worse.

@ELXABER

8 ай бұрын

To the writers, TG is one of my favorite shows, as an American who is nearly 50. The Stig was a brilliant character in delivery. It drove home the point it was a race driver, and that was the focus, but had fun with the character, like a mythical automaton.

@Hagar934

8 ай бұрын

I was surprised too those inbred muppets would probably have mistaken James may for one of their cousins and shagged him 🤣

Absolutely love the banter incl references to Perry, who by the way was also a very good racing driver.

Absolutely. Brilliant. I could see this being a regular segment, Ben. Stories must abound. Please do more! Loved this.

Superb stuff, Ben. Congratulations on a brilliant 2-parter. More of this style content will ramp-up your viewings and subscribers significantly. Good job.

I'm absolutely loving these videos! Thank you for taking the time to share these stories

This was great! You always knew there was contributions by a whole team involved in the brilliance of top gear but, especially if you’re outside of the UK, you have no idea who they were- so great to hear the background stories and to put faces to the names!

Man, I need to get Richard's book. It's funny, I've gone completely backwards. I did find Top Gear until KZread during the pandemic here in the US and I've been devouring Clarkson/May/Hammond content since. And I found Richard through Jonny Smith. Now I'm like, "wait, he WHAT?" Haha. Excellent chat. Love the channel, Ben!

Great stuff, absolutely brilliant. Please do more of these. It's the sort of stuff I geek about. The behind the scenes and stories. Great job Ben.

Absolute gents! This is great. Thanks for doing it. The best times, when things were a little simpler. Hats off to you all for creating something special that we all grew up to and inspired to be like (especially if you were a petrol head)

Great series Ben! It's great to hear from the people behind the scenes.

Thank you Ben. I love these things. I’ve also been in the studio audience for one or two episodes. And I just bumped in to you and Richard Porter at festival of speed on the Friday. That didn’t get rained out. Keep up the good work. I love this behind The Scenes discussion

Top Gear was one of the best things of my twenties/thirties. I'd mourn the end of a season and be practically giddy at the trailers for the next. Brilliant people came together and made something more than the sum of their parts, some of the most remarkable TV ever made. And for me it's a feat which can't be repeated. It started with the Winter olympics - I was crying with laughter, and keep watching every so often. And those manufacturer / model (Lancia, Saab etc) pieces are art in their own right. Top Gear transcended being a show, it's become important history.

@roryrobinson7136

2 ай бұрын

I think we were all the same about the end and the start of a new season of TG My mates hated it because I'd only go to the pub once the episode of Top Gear ended and they weren't into cars like I was

Just found your channel, Ben, and I have to tell you how much I've enjoyed watching the two videos in this series. You did a masterful job hosting, a true Jack Of All Trades when it comes to cars...amazing behind the wheel and in front if the camera! Your two guests were fantastic as well! I really enjoyed learning the behind the scenes history of Top Gear. The chemistry between the three of you is very evident...would love to see more of the three of you! Thanks for the videos!!

Oh wow. What a treat to watch. TG was big part of my life. Really influneced a generation and brought in front of TV a total motoring ignorants too. My mum an aunt that where in their 50s and destinguinshing one car from another only by the color is an incredible acheivement. Thank you. By the way. Why book „Man in a white suit” is a polish translation?

LOL@long day and drunk...we all know how Jeremy is after a long day, so give him a wet whistle and a tray of crisps and nobody gets punched in the lips. Simple :) You guys knew how to work with him , back in the day. This is the best interview I've ever watched.

The part about youtube clips was so true. Saw clips of this insane show on youtube and couldn’t get enough. Amazingly Netflix had it at that time and id watch it non stop. Was horribly depressed then and in bad shape all around. I used to watch it every night laughing myself into exhaustion and falling asleep. The show got me through so much.

Loving this series. The Clarkson/May/Hammond Top Gear is my favorite show of all time and it's great to hear these behind the scenes stories.

I love hearing little things about the behind the scenes of Top Gear.

Mega show and history love it! top gear was a way of life when we watched it! really really enjoying the history and looking back to those marvelous times -keep em coming! Need to see Ben working the wheel more and some white knuckle passengers ! Clarkson May or the Hamster would be fab!

Love the little "Perry's a great driver" digs at Ben throughout the two parts. I think the "get on board" song was from the 70s TV show the Double Deckers?

When the space shuttle segment was uploaded on KZread, someone from NASA commented that this clip was making rounds at their computers and that a lot of people saw it

The talent from top to bottom that were involved in top gear made this show so special.

These 2 episodes were absolutely legendary. Thank you

THANK YOU for doing the clickbait in the beginning of the video. That is truly something different on KZread 👍👍

Looking forward to the next time you three get together & regale Top Gear stories ❤️ Best of luck with the channel Ben 😎👍🏻🏁

This is an epic series and really enjoyed it so far. Just started reading and on that bombshell as well. Must have watched the Aston Martin race 80 odd times and was one of my favourites, as was the Argentina special. I always believed like many others that the reg plate was faked 😂. Looking forward to the next instalment 👍

At 17:53 when talking about Tom Cruise there appears to be a cut in the audio and video but you can still hearing Richard or Jim i think say "i thought he was on something"? In fact that might even be YOU Ben? Now that literally HAS to be about Cruise as i`ve seen interviews where he appears coked up? Was this removed for legal reasons and can we hear an uncut version please? Hahaha!

@samuelgarrod8327

2 ай бұрын

Who cares?

Hi Ben another good video. On a side note theres a KZread channel called GCN, they have a test driver who rides light weight bikes uphill, they call him the "Twig".

@BenCollinsDrives

8 ай бұрын

lol another cousin

@markgallagher5908

8 ай бұрын

@@BenCollinsDrives The Stigs two wheeled cousin nonetheless. You must have a very large family.

Compelling stories, utterly brilliant thank you. Shame the best stories never get told, legal bills would probably be horrific!

Looking forward to part three.. Living the dream Ben,, keep it side ways in the right direction...

What a cracking group! Let's have another please, would love to hear more about the polar special, bolivia etc

Awesome to hear all these stories! Can't wait for the next one!

Top gear will always live on in my heart as my favourite show ever. Loved every single season right on to the end. Could listen to the guys involved talk about all the BTS for days and never get bored

Brilliant interview. What a fascinating insight into the show that we all loved and watched religiously every Sunday night. Wonderful to hear the back story to many of the episodes and events at last.

Fantastic follow up to the first part. Can't wait for the next one.

Happy Days. Love the behind the scenes stuff. Shows the human element that really drives the interest 👌.

Hi Ben, thanks for everything it has been a pleasure watching you over the years. I just wanted to let you know I would love to be in a seat next to you going around Silverstone, that is on my bucket list of things to do...

Excellent interviews really enjoyed both parts.

Gold and great to actually see the production crew. Best show ever and loved the humour.

Love the constant jokes about Perry! He was a great guy and a really great driver… EVERYTIME 😂😂😂

Some say I never thought I'd actually see and listen to the legendary stig discussing my most rewatched tv show in awesome details but here we are. Somehow the second part was even more interesting then the first one.

@Ben -- in case you're counting, I got here because Richard mentioned you on the latest Smith and Sniff podcast. (Very much enjoyed the two parter!)

Great video series Ben, I could listen to this every week, highly entertaining.

Some say this is the best new podcast they've heard in ages... all I know is they're right. Subscribed.

Absolutely loved this - you guys were, are and always will be fabulously entertaining...

Awesome podcast, and guests couldn't wait for part 2❤❤❤❤❤

Thanks for the great content Ben. Enjoyed having lunch in your vicinity at PH Live Knebworth.

great show, id like to see same thing with Clarkson Hammond and May being guests. love hearing the stories

Both these guys are great. I knew Richard (not literally) via SniffPetrol and things, but Jim was new to me. Both hugely entertaining. Could listen to stories for hours. Need more of these if possible (and I accept you need to be Ben Collins rather than 15 year old stories, so sorry about that).

Absolute gold Ben .The new three amigos. Richard porter could do a one hour monologue on a Morris Marina hubcap, he is my kind of nerd. 👍👍👏👏

Great video, one of the best , enjoyed recalling those best TG moments!

Absolutely brilliant Ben, so very revealing with great humor!! Natural comedy without trying to be funny!!

Now this is a great content Ben! Great upload!

Thank you so much for doing this, please do more.

That City Rover story is amazing!! Love these stories!

That Daltry line is superb

I think i remember when i was collecting a Press car from Clarkson , i always got Wilmans voicemail saying F.Off leave a message ! I never bothered Him. He would always get my anxiety going higher than Concorde .... 😂😂It is burned in my brain today .

Top stuff, I like these interviews with the ex Top Gear staff so much

love it as ever, would love to see one of these where you interview Abbie Eaton! or Johnny Smith! Richard Porters podcast costar!

Excellent episode. A truly engrossing chat. Fabulous.

Top gear was just the best show ever with the banter and everything. Thank you for all your efforts and brilliant show 😃👍🏼

These are wonderful! Please don't stop making these. I love listening to these while I work.

@BenCollinsDrives

7 ай бұрын

Noted!

This Perry guy really does sound amazing

Hi Ben, that was brilliant, a fascinating insight into the Top Gear that once was.

Brought a good percent of the DVDs and still watching it on Prime for the third time still haven't got bored of it

It shows how magical Top Gear was, when a show like this can exist and it is every bit as entertaining as the show it's self.

Best interview on KZread!

Loved these interviews!

You, Sir, Ben Collins, tje legend, calling those two writers/nerds/comedians/serious-thinkers, what they are, legends is also legend. Thankyou!

Absolutely loved this. Thank you so much for the brilliant content Benjamin. My only gripe is it wasn't long enough. 😁 Any content on the cutting room floor you care to share lol?

It would be good to get you three together with Clarkson, Hammond, May and Andy Wilman just talking about Top Gear and The Grand Tour - the stories must be epic.

There was a time when, if you were a petrolhead, Top Gear was everything to you. I think the pinnacle of the show was the DB5 race (which also had an Exige stopping an Apache gunship getting missile lock around the track to the tune of Motorhead's Ace of Spades IIRC) and that popularity continued for a few more years. Then it kind of got a bit fat and samey, like Elvis in his Vegas years and a bit embarrassing. Never watched The Grand Tour. All my motoring content is on YT now. Beautifully frank interview - enjoyed this a lot...

@AutoAndChill

8 ай бұрын

I like fat Elvis

There were so many stories I was expecting a part 3. Fantastic episodes that compliment both books. I think I will re-read those books again.

@boxlessthinker1973

6 ай бұрын

Me too! Glad to hear new details on how they managed the incredible logistical challenges of keeping the extraordinary races close! What an incredible collection of talent on TG. Super talented people, great cars (usually), and extremely hard work. We miss it here in America, the American versions were nice but it is impossible to recreate the team and hard work that still makes us laugh during reruns.

The James May City Rover segment is pure TV gold!! 2, 4, 6, 8 James May, James Maaaaaaay!

I saw the cars parked on a secondary parking lot, I also saw Clarkson outside the arrivals door at the airport in Bariloche.. as an Argentinian and also a fan of the show, i wish i would have noticed the plates..

Really enjoyed this insider series. Well done!

Ben that was fun, so many memories and laughs to satisfy my inner voyeur :-) Love the format and familiarity!

The news is a great segment. The Dacia Sandero bit was one of the funniest things on the show.

The biggest show EVER! Nice to listen to the back side of the show. Thanks Ben

Behind the curtain! Great video Stiggy! Some say brilliant!

Love these insights guys, awesome stuff 👍🏼

Really enjoyed listening to you chatting about top gear.

Another great chat!!! Loved learning even more behind the scene stuff!

My favourite some say is "some say the stig cut that man's hair" *clarkson points at the guy's crap haircut 😅

We never found out which was faster out of the holy trinity around the track :( and we never got to see Ben do another lap around the track with the resurfaced track to see if he could match Dani Ric and Lewis Hamilton

Ben you are the perfect talk show host! You ask questions and then let the guests talk. If things lull you get the talk going again. There are so many, particularly on KZread that are so narcissistic that they just can not let another get any of the attention. Steve-O and Joe Rogan for example, plus i think that was why Clarksons talk show attempts also failed.

@tillyfoxtrotter

8 ай бұрын

Agreed Ben is a great host, intelligent and concise. Clarkson was a truly appaling talk show host.

Excellent stuff, could watch for hours

Excellent 👍 remembering TopGear. I watch from very first episode with my dad. Good times

Absolutely loving your channel Ben 👍😊

This was great. Really enjoyed this.