Israelis are ready to start their engines. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May – presenters of the Emmy-award-winning BBC TV series Top Gear about motor vehicles were seen crossing into Israel from Jordan on used roadsters in mid-October.
The crew was reportedly in Israel to film an episode of the show to be aired during the coming season and the trio was said to be on its way to Jerusalem. During the journey, the presenters would complete various tasks and improve their cars in the amusing and entertaining style for which the program has become famous.
While receiving acclaim for its visual style and presentation, the show has also drawn considerable criticism for its content and comments made by its presenters.
Images of the cars being brought into Israel showed some modifications for the Middle East environment. One vehicle was painted in camouflage colors and another had a nargileh pipe attached to its door.
During the coming season, to be aired in Britain in a few months, viewers will learn exactly what Clarkson, Hammond and May thought about Israel’s roads.
Estimated to have 350 million viewers worldwide, first run episodes of Top Gear are broadcast in the UK on BBC Two and the program is also aired in the US, Canada, Ireland, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and Latin America.
The show’s popularity has led to the creation of two international versions, in Australia and Russia.
A recent segment on the US television news magazine 60 Minutes was said to pull in 16 million viewers.