Thursday, 23 April 2009

Top Gear: What it takes, how to get tickets, and when it's back

When I tweeted, 'What shall I make my next blog post about?', nearly all of the responses where demands for Top Gear related things. Well, except Cdanby184, who suggested Boobs. Anyway, I thought I'd tell you what it takes to be a presenter on the show (which, by the way, probably won't happen to you in a million years. But don't give up!), how to get Tickets, and when Series 13 will start.

Firstly, series 13 will start in June some when if we can film it all on-time. Due to the typical problems, this will probably be changed to July, but I am just passing on what the Editor said.

Secondly, the Top Gear ticket system baffles many. As we've said many times, it would take almost 19 years to clear the waiting list for tickets, which is slowing getting bigger anyway. But just because you were first on the waiting list, doesn't mean that you're first to get tickets. It's more or less a lottery I suppose. So if I were you, I'd get myself on the waiting list anyway. You never know.......

Finally, to become a Top Gear presenter, you need the following things:
  • A huge knowledge of cars. Be it how they work, what their exact figures are or how much POOWWWEEERRRR they have.
  • Humor
  • A huge batch of insults for cars you don't like. And James May
  • Stilts (if you're only 4' tall)
  • And a passion for cars. That passion is what drives Top Gear. Without that, there would be no Top Gear. Well, there would, but it would be shit and no-one would watch it.
That concludes today's post. I suggest you follow my Twitter to find out what I'm doing more often. It can be found at http://twitter.com/richard_hamster.
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34 comments:

  1. Emma Badcock23 April 2009 at 10:24

    gah so i would definatly need stilts... and a knowledge of cars ... and a passion for cars ...

    well that life-long dream lasted about 5 seconds :(

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  2. John Taylor23 April 2009 at 10:26

    Thanks very much - I'm a big fan here, across the pond - look forward to more and I'll be following on twitter!
    Thanks, again!

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  3. Unknown23 April 2009 at 10:28

    Can't wait for the next series!!
    Twitter.com/peter__law

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  4. Anonymous23 April 2009 at 10:30

    Well I have the passion for cars, I am tall enough and I sure as hell can come up with plenty of insults for cars I do not like. But I am American so I am out anyway. I would like tickets but since the odds of me getting tickets and being in England at the same time are slimmer then the 8 planets all aligning that too shall never happen. Well, since I will never be able to host the show, be there for a live filming then I will have to stick to watching all three of you on BBC America or the internet.

    thanks for the post Hamster!

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  5. Unknown23 April 2009 at 10:30

    Can't wait for series 13!!

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  6. Jonezy Alz23 April 2009 at 10:35

    I've been trying to get tickets since about 2003 and no such luck for me, now Ive moved to the other side of the world but it would be well worth a trip back!
    Thanks for the info on becoming a TG presenter, I think I have more chance of winning the lottery in which I don't play!

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  7. Babaloo23 April 2009 at 10:45

    Don't tell me there's a vacancy!
    Also: Interestingly enough, all three presenters are male. Is that another prerequisite? (Just curious, that's all.)

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  8. Unknown23 April 2009 at 11:01

    I would def need stilts.. only 4ft 11.5

    Thanks for the post!

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  9. Anonymous23 April 2009 at 11:23

    Thanks for explaining the ticket situation, I registered 5 years ago for tickets (group of 3 girls and 2 blokes) and still haven't got tickets.

    Somehow I think that winning the euromillions would be easier!

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  10. Unknown23 April 2009 at 12:03

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11. Anonymous23 April 2009 at 12:13

    California Loves TOP GEAR

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  12. Unknown23 April 2009 at 12:16

    Cant wait for the next series, been watching old episodes on DAVE, how sad is that!

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  13. Unknown23 April 2009 at 12:54

    Oh I have been waiting for tickets for 6 years, got married and had a baby since then, now not hopeful I will ever make it to Top Gear!

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  14. Lizzkins23 April 2009 at 13:20

    Hmmm... maybe with my boyfriend and I combined we would make a good presenter. I've got the insults, he's got the knowledge, and if I sat on his shoulders the stilts would be taken care of. Ha!

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  15. Unknown23 April 2009 at 13:39

    I´m not interested in cars, but I do love Top Gear. I even suprise myself there.

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  16. GreenAsIGrow23 April 2009 at 13:41

    Hey Richard,
    Your one of my favorite Tv Show Hosts!! Did you catch any of the episodes of a show called "Coming Of Age" I see Jazzer(Clarkson) was there in a cardboard cutout Quite frequently. I Laughed so hard when I saw that show.
    We in America can't wait to see you guys back on the air. Hope to see some great American Muscle cars again.Good Luck in your upcoming Season!
    catch me on twitter http://twitter.com/nj4x4fever

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  17. Phoenixx23 April 2009 at 13:52

    Howzit Rich, one of your fans from South Africa here! Fantastic to have some live words from you. Would you believe that we're still on Series 11 here? Yes, I watched TG vs. Germans tonight. Lol. True TG style then.

    Please come down here whenever you like, I mean you've seen how many fans you by way of MPH, as it is always a pleasure to have you in the country. I even noticed Oliver was from Gauteng eh? Have you still got the GP license plates laying around somewhere? Lol.

    If you want, get me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stevefromafrica

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  18. weeziebme23 April 2009 at 15:15

    Series 13? OMG, I need to catch up then. I'm still on series 10 I think...or maybe it's 11? Heck, now I'm all confused. Has the show ever done the Baja 500 yet? Saw that on cable and it looked interesting. Know the CEO but never made the trip down for the race.

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  19. possum23 April 2009 at 16:25

    Love Top Gear here in Australia. Best show on the telly. Hope there will be plenty more.
    P.S It's finally raining here in Victoria, YAY!! Wendy

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  20. chemist251723 April 2009 at 17:46

    Top Gear is quite simply the reason that television was invented.

    Being an Aussie, it is also great to watch 3 guys who have a passion for cars and a killer sense of humour!

    Hammond, May and Clarkson almost make you want to be English so you can be proud of all this British.

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  21. somebogger193223 April 2009 at 18:52

    Season 13 on July..!!! please make it on June.

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  22. Anonymous23 April 2009 at 20:32

    Thanks for posting. I love top gear and am happy hearing about it but would love to know more about you (and the other two if they'll let you). Where did you grow up? What does Mindy think of the others and all the travel you do? Have you run through any floods lately? You know , all the stuff that's none of my business.

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  23. ruthparker23 April 2009 at 22:19

    I don't really have a great passion for cars but I love Top Gear. I think you Richard and your fellow team really make top gear worth watching. You are the icing on the cake.

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  24. 2seats2few24 April 2009 at 01:24

    I too love cars I too am vertically challenged 5'3 and shrinking I too am called Richard, so there is no chance of me becoming a top gear presenter cause we are too similar, therte is no point in me trying to get tickets as I wouldnt be able to see anything anyway so I will just watch you and top gear from the comfort of my own home on the upside I am small enough to fit into my lotus elise easily Looking forward to the new series

    good luck

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  25. Soul Bro Ryu24 April 2009 at 01:47

    As a Yank viewer of Top Gear, not only is going to a taping of the show way out of question, Clarkson would probably ridicule my big American backside right out of the studio.

    Just kidding, but I absolutely dig the program, and I'm envious of you Brits that get to watch it as it airs. We get to see it months later and (slightly) edited on BBC America. A small price to pay I guess, since it's usually you cats that have to wait for entertainment from the U.S.

    I hope Series 13 is the best yet and I can't wait to see it over here in the Colonies. Until then, Richard, I'll catch you on reruns of Brainiac on G4.

    (I nearly flipped when I realized that was you on that show too) ^_^

    Peace & Props,
    Soul Bro Ryu
    http://www.Twitter.com/SoulBroRyu

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  26. Kyrahna24 April 2009 at 03:58

    Hahaha, it will take about 19 years to save up for a ticket! But ah well, can't win the lottery without buying a ticket first, so I'm on the waiting list.......hopefully won't take 19 years.

    Ooo, new season galore!! Can't wait \o/ Although I'll have to fight everyone for TV time, (they're not such big TG fans...freaks)
    I actually got my love of cars (and oddly enough cities) from TG, so thanx be to you guys (I was a country gal me...still am, just with a maverick suv now, YAY XD)So thanx be to you three!! :D

    Oh, I could be a TG presenter, firey!! Well, that or a member of the laughin academy....

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  27. Official Rob Shepherd24 April 2009 at 04:54

    Would a insane hatred of "fifth gear" get me a bit closer presenters list? Just wondering.

    Oh and does James May actually sacrifice the neighbours dog to keep that hairstyle? Looks like it will bite some-one on more than one occasion.

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  28. Anonymous25 April 2009 at 08:16

    can't wait for the new series, and even more excited for when we get to see it here, 'down under':D

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  29. Emmy25 April 2009 at 11:10

    I am one of the million people who can be found on the Top Gear ticket waiting list, and if I've understood it right it seems like you need a combination of luck and the ability to react fast. I guess I'll be praying for both!

    And I do hope you'll forgive me for borrowing a catch phrase from Top Gear for my blog title. In my defense it does sum me up quite well ("Ambitious, but rubbish"), and I am an avid Top Gear fan who was born into a family of car mechanics.

    Keep up the good work on Top Gear, maybe I'll be in the audience during series 13.

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  30. Neil Griffith26 April 2009 at 10:20

    Are you ever coming to Canada? We have a terribly low speed limit, long dreadfully dull roads, and we never made our own cars. (Except for one, but I really shouldn't bring it up, it brings up all kinds of hurt feelings and such.)

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  31. EddaK28 April 2009 at 01:07

    I have no idea what series we're on in Iceland but I watch religiously...
    Love it.

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  32. ceekay2729 April 2009 at 12:45

    My 8 year old son WILL be the next top gear presenter - He has humour, passion for supercars, knows top speeds, prices, and way too much useless information about cars! And... he is very sarcastic about cars that he hates... Just reminds me of you and Jeremy. You'd better move over!!

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  33. M.E and Me!4 May 2009 at 14:44

    What prompted the presenter information?

    Looking forward to the nest series!

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  34. M.E and Me!5 May 2009 at 14:03

    correction "next"

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