RUMOR: Former Top Gear Employee Says Stunt Drivers Do Clarkson's Stunts, But Do YOU Care?

Long-held as the benchmark for automotive programing, and with speculation insisting there are over 300 million GLOBAL viewers, Top Gear is a powerhouse for the BBC.

But with that title comes a gigantic magnifying glass from onlookers.

A British tabloid, Daily Mail, recently published a story citing former employees of the program saying that the presenters are merely that and Top Gear hires professional drivers to take the reigns for nearly 80 percent of the time.

That's a bold statement and it gives us a clear look into the production of the show; however, even if it's true, do YOU care?

I mean, it wouldn't be surprising that an aging British bloke with a large beer gut couldn't do all that we see on Top Gear's final cut but what say you?

Now, British tabloid Daily Mail has put up a story claiming that Clarkson’s stunts are not always performed by him, but by professional racing drivers. The newspaper cites two unnamed sources, one of which is said to have worked for Top Gear for more than five years. 

For example, once source claims that an April 2008 clip showing Clarkson driving a Lamborghini Murcielago to over 200 mph (322 km/h) and eventually reaching 207 mph (333 km/h) was not actually performed by him but by Formula 3 racer Aaron Scott. The latter declined to comment.

“It’s been going on for years,” said one of the unnamed sources. “The fact is the presenters on Top Gear are presenters, not professional drivers. So why would you get them to do a job than an expert can do better, faster and in one take?”

[Source: Carscoop]

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Joe_Limon - 8/17/2011 10:10:30 AM

+7 Boost

Wait, Clarkson does stunts? Wait, Clarkson needs a stunt driver to do those stunts? lmao!

veyron1001 - 8/17/2011 11:14:59 AM

+1 Boost

What a stupid analogy

lewishamiltonpimp - 8/17/2011 4:19:56 PM

+1 Boost

Yeah, that's pretty dumb.

Designer1 - 8/17/2011 12:39:31 PM

+1 Boost

5th Gear Tiff does his own driving and stunts, so Clarkson should also do his own stunts otherwise he should shut up and leave the car business if he 's really not the one doing all the driving.

Of course I care and every car enthusiast should care. This is not supposed to be a TV show with actors, but it's a TV show of real drivers and enthusiasts, and if they're not, then they should simply leave.

So to those who don't care about Clarkson not doing his stunts, I'm sorry to say but then you either don't get the idea of the show, or you shouldn't call yourself a car enthusiast.

SSP350 - 8/17/2011 12:52:30 PM

+1 Boost

I agree. How can you make judgement about any cars if you're, simply, not driving it? lol

M35MT - 8/17/2011 1:19:13 PM

+1 Boost

well we already know that James May's stunt man is the stig...but they make that obvious everytime.

kkkat - 8/17/2011 2:21:22 PM

+1 Boost

so did he drive the F1-like lotus?

JUGNU - 8/17/2011 5:52:01 PM

+1 Boost

Top gear is entertainment first cars second. Though they show Clarkson doing many stunts like hitting walls, doing 200mph, army firing bullets at EVO...etc. I doubt Clarkson does those dangerous stunts. He does some but not all.

irishmike - 8/17/2011 9:17:36 PM

+2 Boost

This show is not for enthusiasts, it is for idiots. And Jeremy is one, as well.

truckman - 8/18/2011 2:11:27 AM

+2 Boost

Clarkson is a great entertainer, I think it would be more entertaining if he were more up front about his stunt driver,e.g. just before a stunt he would say this is a job for my stunt double, and maybe his stunt double would be wearing a fat suit...