{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Use British English|date=December 2014}} {{Infobox television season | series_number = 22 | bgcolour = #B87BF6 | image = "Top Gear Series 22 Promotional Artwork, 2015.jpg".jpg | image_upright = 1.13 | image_alt = | caption = Promotional poster | starring = {{Plainlist| *[[Jeremy Clarkson]] *[[Richard Hammond]] *[[James May]] *[[The Stig]] }} | num_episodes = 8 | network = [[BBC Two]] | first_aired = {{start date|2014|12|27|df=y}} | last_aired = {{end date|2015|6|28|df=y}} | episode_list = List of Top Gear (2002 TV series) episodes }} Series 22 of ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'', a British motoring magazine and [[factual television]] programme, was broadcast in the United Kingdom on [[BBC Two]] during 2015, consisting of eight episodes - seven of these were aired between 25 January and 8 March, while the eighth was aired on 28 June following a disruption in production; two additional episodes were planned but never produced. The series was preceded by a two-part special focused on the presenters conducting a road trip across [[Argentina]], titled ''[[Top Gear: Patagonia Special]]'', and aired during 2014 on 27–28 December.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Denham|first1=Jess|title=Christmas TV 2014: BBC announces schedule|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/christmas-tv-2014-bbc-announces-schedule-from-call-the-midwife-to-mrs-browns-boys-9881566.html|access-date=29 November 2014|work=[[The Independent]]|date=25 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Top Gear Patagonia Special: first details |url=http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2014/11/25/top-gear-patagonia-special-first-details/ |work=TopGear.com |access-date=3 December 2014 |date= 25 November 2014}}</ref> This series' highlights included the presenters conducting a race across [[St. Petersburg]], creating home-made ambulances, a recreation of a famous [[Land Rover Defender]] advert, and a road trip across [[Australia]] in GT cars.
This series was the final to feature [[Jeremy Clarkson]], [[Richard Hammond]] and [[James May]] as the programme's presenters, and [[Andy Wilman]] as its executive producer, after an incident during production of the twenty-second series, involving accusations of physical and verbal abuse, led to the [[BBC]] dismissing Clarkson from the programme. The BBC's investigation into the accusations suspended production after the seventh episode, with his fellow presenters resigning in April 2015, however Hammond, May and Wilman agreed to produce a final episode featuring two films that were planned to be shown before production was disrupted. The two-part special that had preceded this series also drew international attention when the presenters faced threats during filming after Patagonian residents claimed one of the presenters' cars' number plates carried a deliberate reference to the [[Falklands War]].
To mark the end of the trio's era of presenting ''Top Gear'', the BBC produced a two-part compilation special, titled ''Top Gear: From A-Z'', which aired on 26–30 December 2015, and was narrated by comedian [[John Bishop (comedian)|John Bishop]]. The special featured the best moments of the past twenty-two series of the programme, and included comments by a number of celebrities and sporting personalities about the presenters' work.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06tgz5s|title=BBC Two - Top Gear, From A-Z, Part 2|work=BBC}}</ref>
==Production== News that production of the series was being planned was hinted by Clarkson on [[Twitter]] on 29 April 2014,<ref>{{cite web |last=Clarkson |first=Jeremy |author-link=Jeremy Clarkson |title=Status |url=https://twitter.com/JeremyClarkson/status/461168818325581825 |publisher=[[Twitter]] |date=29 April 2014}}</ref> before he later confirmed on 7 July that year that he was going to Morocco to start filming for the show,<ref>{{cite web |last=Clarkson |first=Jeremy |author-link=Jeremy Clarkson |title=Status |url=https://twitter.com/JeremyClarkson/status/486048797177704448 |publisher=[[Twitter]] |date=7 July 2014}}</ref> with a media outlet in Australia further revealing on 24 October and 29 October that the trio were filming within the country's [[Northern Territory]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Top Gear trio spotted driving three luxury performance cars through the Northern Territory |url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/top-gear-trio-spotted-driving-three-luxury-performance-cars-through-the-northern-territory/story-fnk0b1zt-1227097775312 |publisher=[[Northern Territory News]] |date=21 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Top Gear star Jeremy Clarkson loses stealth race to the NT News |url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/entertainment/top-gear-star-jeremy-clarkson-loses-stealth-race-to-the-nt-news/story-fnk0b1gl-1227107164662 |publisher=Northern Territory News |date=29 October 2014}}</ref>
While Wilman had stated in the January 2015 issue of ''[[Top Gear Magazine]]'' (issue #265) that Series 22 was to contain 10 episodes in its broadcast, only seven were actually aired; the series abruptly ended after the seventh episode in the wake of Clarkson's suspension, with the [[BBC]] opting to pull the last three episodes from its schedule until its investigations on the presenter's assault was completed. Following their decision not to renew Clarkson's contract, the Director General [[Tony Hall, Baron Hall of Birkenhead|Tony Hall]] announced that the broadcaster intended to show the three pulled episodes after it had debated on how to do so,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/A-message-from-TopGearcom-2015-03-27|title=A message from TopGear.com|work=Top Gear}}</ref> although all that was left for use was two filmed vehicle challenges. Furthermore, Hammond and May, along with Wilman, had announced their decisions not to return to the show, leading to a re-think on the matter. After debating how to end the series, the BBC decided to air the two completed films as part of an extended special episode, with Hammond, May and Wilman asked to postpone their departures from the show to help with producing and hosting it; the official website of ''Top Gear'' hinted on 8 June 2015 at this having happened by announcing that the filmed segments were to be shown later that year;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/top-gear-tv-series-22-remaining-episode-trailer-2015-06-08|title=All-new Top Gear episode airs tonight!|work=Top Gear|date=25 June 2015}}</ref> it was not until a week later, on 15 June, that the BBC officially confirmed that the segments had been allocated to a 75-minute special that was under production. Production of the episode led to studio segments being filmed, though no audience was invited to be at the show's studio at [[Dunsfold]] on the day of filming. The final episode of the series was eventually scheduled and aired on 28 June.<ref name="bbc.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-33153633|title=Top Gear: Jeremy Clarkson's final episode scheduled|newspaper=BBC News|date=16 June 2015}}</ref>
==Episodes== {{Main|List of Top Gear (2002 TV series) episodes}} <onlyinclude>{{Episode table |background=#B87BF6 |overall=5 |series=5 |aux1=24 |aux2=34 |aux3=11 |airdate=11 |viewers=10 |country=UK |aux1T=Reviews |aux2T=Features/challenges |aux3T=Guest(s) |viewersR=<ref name="BARB10">{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-10?|title=Weekly Top 10 Programmes|publisher=[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]]}}</ref> |episodes= {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 22 | EpisodeNumber = 168 | EpisodeNumber2 = - | Aux1 = N/A – [[Top Gear: Patagonia Special|Patagonia Special]] | Aux2 = Drive from [[San Carlos de Bariloche|Bariloche]] to [[Ushuaia]]: <small>([[Porsche 928|Porsche 928 GT]] • [[Lotus Esprit#V8 (1996)|Lotus Esprit V8]] • [[Ford Mustang Mach 1#First generation (1969–1970)|Ford Mustang Mach 1]]) </small> | Aux3 = None | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2014|12|27|df=y}} | Viewers = 7.21 | ShortSummary = In a two-part special, the presenters pay tribute to the 60th anniversary of the [[Chevrolet small-block engine|small-block]] [[V8 engine]], by travelling across [[Argentina]] in three V8-powered cars - Clarkson drives a [[Porsche 928|Porsche 928 GT]], Hammond drives 1971 [[Ford Mustang Mach 1#First generation (1969–1970)|Ford Mustang Mach 1]], and May drives a [[Lotus Esprit#V8 (1996)|Lotus Esprit V8]]. In the first part, the trio travel towards [[Butch Cassidy]]'s final resting place, before setting off to reach [[Ushuaia]] in [[Tierra del Fuego]], encountering difficult terrain, problematic obstacles, and a route that requires them to head through [[Chile]] to be able to head south. | LineColor = B87BF6 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 22 | EpisodeNumber = 169 | EpisodeNumber2 = - | Aux1 = N/A – Patagonia Special | Aux2 = Drive from [[San Carlos de Bariloche|Bariloche]] to [[Ushuaia]]: <small>([[Porsche 928|Porsche 928 GT]] • [[Lotus Esprit#V8 (1996)|Lotus Esprit V8]] • [[Ford Mustang Mach 1#First generation (1969–1970)|Ford Mustang Mach 1]])</small> | Aux3 = None | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2014|12|28|df=y}} | Viewers = 7.38 | ShortSummary = The trio continue heading southwards for [[Ushuaia]], as they make their way through [[Chile]]. In the second part, the presenters have fun on a dirt-track recreation of [[Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari|the Imola racetrack]], collect supplies for a planned car football match, before enduring rough terrain and icy mountains to get to their destination. However, when they arrive, the group quickly find themselves facing a difficult time with the locals, and recall how badly things went, and how their film coped trying to get back to Chile against dangerous mobs of protestors. ''Notes'': In homage to [[Butch Cassidy]], all credited crew members and presenters have their first names replaced with "Robert Leroy", while the closing credits are played out with a different theme tune. In addition James May was injured during filming for this episode suffered three cracked ribs during filming. He sustained the injuries trying to mount a horse. | LineColor = B87BF6 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 22 | EpisodeNumber = 170 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Aux1 = [[Lamborghini Huracán]] • [[Renault Twizy]] | Aux2 = Race across the urban landscape of [[St Petersburg]] | Aux3 = [[Ed Sheeran]] | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2015|1|25|df=y}} | Viewers = 6.41 | ShortSummary = To see if the car can reclaim its honour after its loss in the race across London, the trio head to [[St. Petersburg]] to see if May, driving a [[Renault Twizy]], can reach the finish line before Hammond can on a £9,000 bicycle, before Clarkson can on a hovercraft, and before [[The Stig]] can on public transport. Elsewhere, Hammond tests out the new [[Lamborghini Huracán]] on the track, while [[Ed Sheeran]] is the latest star to be doing a lap in the [[Vauxhall Astra#Sixth generation (2009–present)|Vauxhall Astra Tech Line]]. | LineColor = B87BF6 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 22 | EpisodeNumber = 171 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Aux1 = None | Aux2 = Australian [[Northern Territory]] road trip in GT cars: <small>([[BMW M6#F06/F12/13 M6 (2012–2018)|BMW M6 Gran Coupe]] • [[Nissan GT-R#2010 facelift|Nissan GT-R]] • [[Bentley Continental GT#Continental GT V8 S (2014–2018)|Bentley Continental GT V8S]])</small> | Aux3 = [[Kiefer Sutherland]] | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2015|2|1|df=y}} | Viewers = 6.56 | ShortSummary = The trio conduct a four-day road trip across the [[Northern Territory]] in Australia with three modern Grand-Tourer cars - Hammond in a [[Bentley Continental GT#Second generation (2011–2018)|Bentley Continental GT V8S]], May in a [[Nissan GT-R#2010 facelift|Nissan GT-R]], and Clarkson in a [[BMW M6#F12/13 M6 (2012–present)|BMW M6 Gran Coupe]]. On their journey, beginning in [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]], the trio test their cars on speed, braking and handling, before facing their final test on a 3.2 million acre (13,000 km<sup>2</sup>) [[Station (Australian agriculture)|cattle station]] of [[Wave Hill Station|Wave Hill]] by using their cars to herd cattle. Elsewhere, [[Kiefer Sutherland]] sees how good his lap was in the reasonably priced car. | LineColor = B87BF6 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 22 | EpisodeNumber = 172 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Aux1 = None | Aux2 = Homemade ambulance challenge: <small>([[Porsche 944#944 Turbo (951/952)|Porsche 944 Turbo]] • [[Ford Scorpio#Second generation (1994–1998)|Ford Scorpio Cardinal]] • [[Chevrolet Van#1992|Chevrolet G20]])</small> | Aux3 = [[Daniel Ricciardo]] | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2015|2|8|df=y}} | Viewers = 6.14 | ShortSummary = The presenters attempt to make their own ambulance to replace the standard model used by the [[National Health Service|NHS]], on a budget of £5,000 - Clarkson bases his on a [[Porsche 944#944 Turbo (951/952)|Porsche 944 Turbo]], May converts a [[Ford Scorpio#Second generation .281994.E2.80.931998.29|Ford Scorpio Cardinal]] [[hearse]], and Hammond customises a [[Chevrolet Van#1992|Chevrolet G20]] van. The trio soon receive challenges to test their creations on their medical capabilities, which concludes with a race between the three to see who can deliver a patient from an "accident" to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, [[Formula One]] driver, [[Daniel Ricciardo]] sees how fast he can be in the [[Suzuki Aerio|Suzuki Liana]]. | LineColor = B87BF6 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 22 | EpisodeNumber = 173 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Aux1 = [[Mercedes-AMG GT|Mercedes-AMG GT S]] • [[BMW M3#F80 M3|BMW M3]] • [[BMW i8]] | Aux2 = Hammond pays homage to the [[Land Rover Defender]] | Aux3 = [[Margot Robbie]] • [[Will Smith]] | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2015|2|15|df=y}} | Viewers = 6.24 | ShortSummary = Clarkson tests out the new [[BMW M3#F80 M3|BMW M3]] and the new [[BMW i8|i8]] to see which he would drive back home from [[Whitby]], while May heads to the track to see how good the [[Mercedes-AMG GT|Mercedes-AMG GT S]] is. Elsewhere, as a tribute to the [[Land Rover Defender]] as its production comes to an end, Hammond sees if he can replicate a stunt the car did by heading to the [[Claerwen]] dam in [[Wales]] and using a Defender to climb to the top of it, while [[Margot Robbie]] & [[Will Smith]] talk about their roles in film ''[[Focus (2015 film)|Focus]]'', before seeing who was fastest in the Astra. | LineColor = B87BF6 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 22 | EpisodeNumber = 174 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Aux1 = [[Chevrolet Corvette (C7)#Corvette Stingray Coupe, 3LT interior package, Z51 Performance Package|Chevrolet Corvette Stingray]] • [[Porsche Boxster/Cayman#Cayman GTS|Porsche Cayman GTS]] • [[LaFerrari]] | Aux2 = May and Clarkson look at the weird and wonderful history of [[Peugeot]] | Aux3 = [[Olly Murs]] | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2015|2|22|df=y}} | Viewers = 6.04 | ShortSummary = Clarkson and May pay homage to one of the most innovative and brilliant car makers, [[Peugeot]], by looking back at some of the items they made before becoming involved with cars, taking a look at some of their great creations, including the [[Peugeot 504]], the [[Peugeot 205#205 Turbo 16 (T16)|205 T16]], and the [[Peugeot 205#205 GTI|205 GTI]], and then take a drive as modern Peugeot drivers in a [[Peugeot 307#Engines|Peugeot 307 CC]] and a [[Peugeot 407]] to show how bad it was for the car maker to change from making sporty cars to terrible ones. Elsewhere, Hammond reviews the new [[Chevrolet Corvette (C7)#2014 model year|Chevrolet Corvette Stingray]] comparing it to the [[Porsche Boxster/Cayman#Cayman GTS|Porsche Cayman GTS]], May finds out how good the [[LaFerrari]] is against its main rivals, the [[McLaren P1]] and the [[Porsche 918]], while [[Olly Murs]] is the latest star in the reasonably priced car. | LineColor = B87BF6 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 22 | EpisodeNumber = 175 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Aux1 = [[Lexus RC#RC F (2014–)|Lexus RC F]] • [[Lexus LFA]] | Aux2 = Hammond is dropped into [[British Columbia]], Canada to test a watch with a built-in emergency beacon: <small>([[Ford F-Series (twelfth generation)#SVT Raptor|Ford F-150]] [[Hennessey Performance Engineering#VelociRaptor SUV/Off-Road Truck|Hennessey VelociRaptor]] • [[Chevrolet Silverado#Third generation Silverado / Fourth generation Sierra (2014–2018)|Chevrolet Silverado HD]])</small> | Aux3 = [[Gillian Anderson]] | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2015|3|1|df=y}} | Viewers = 6.15 | ShortSummary = In order to test the effectiveness of a [[Breitling SA|Breitling]] Emergency watch, Hammond is chosen as the "rescue victim" and dumped on Wolf Mountain in [[British Columbia]], Canada, with an emergency beacon and supplies. His colleagues soon attempt to find him once the beacon is activated, but take their time with two of the best selling pick-up trucks in America that they pick for the job - Clarkson attempts the task in the Hennessey VelociRaptor, a tuned version of the [[Ford F-Series twelfth generation#SVT Raptor|Ford F-150 SVT Raptor]], while May selects the [[Chevrolet Silverado|Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD Duramax Z71]]. Meanwhile, Clarkson tests out the new [[Lexus RC]] F and the [[Lexus LFA]], while [[Gillian Anderson]] is the latest star in the driving seat of the Astra. | LineColor = B87BF6 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 22 | EpisodeNumber = 176 | EpisodeNumber2 = 7 | Aux1 = [[Jaguar F-Type#F-Type Coupé (2014–present)|Jaguar F-Type R]] • Eagle Low Drag GT • [[Mazda MX-5#Fourth generation (ND)|Mazda MX-5]] | Aux2 = May competes in a world rallycross race alongside [[Tanner Foust]] (U.S. ''[[Top Gear (U.S. TV series)|Top Gear]]'' host). | Aux3 = [[Nicholas Hoult]] • [[Tanner Foust]] | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2015|3|8|df=y}} | Viewers = 5.84 | ShortSummary = May heads to [[Lydden Hill Race Circuit]] to participate in the [[FIA World Rallycross Championship]] (with a little help from his fellow hosts) and finds himself competing against ''[[Top Gear (U.S. TV series)|Top Gear USA]]'' host, [[Tanner Foust]]. Meanwhile Clarkson heads to the track to look at the beauty of the new [[Jaguar F-Type#F-Type Coupé (2014–present)|Jaguar F-Type R]] before seeing how it compares to a recreation of a one-off E Type racing prototype - the Eagle Low Drag GT, Hammond heads to [[Spain]] to test out the new [[Mazda MX-5#Fourth generation (ND)|Mazda MX-5]], and [[Nicholas Hoult]] talks about his role in the film ''[[Mad Max: Fury Road]]'' before seeing how he did as the latest star in the Vauxhall Astra. | LineColor = B87BF6 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 22 | EpisodeNumber = 177 | EpisodeNumber2 = 8 | Aux1 = None | Aux2 = Find a cheap car that still lives up to the title of classic: <small>([[Fiat 124 Sport Spider|Fiat 124 Spider]] • [[Peugeot 304#Cabriolet|Peugeot 304 S Cabriolet]] • [[MG MGB#GT|MGB GT]])</small> • Living the sports utility vehicle lifestyle for less than £250: <small>([[Isuzu MU#Second generation (UER25FW, UES25FW, UES73FW; 1998–2004)|Vauxhall Frontera Sport RS]] • [[Mitsubishi Pajero iO|Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin]] • [[Jeep Cherokee (XJ)#XJ in Europe|Jeep Cherokee]])</small> | Aux3 = None | OriginalAirDate = {{start date|2015|6|28|df=y}} | Viewers = 6.92 | ShortSummary = Hammond and May host a special episode featuring two films that had been completed prior to the dismissal of Clarkson. In the first film, the pair and Clarkson each try to live as classic car enthusiasts with a particular classic car - Hammond picks a [[MG MGB#GT|MGB GT]], Clarkson chooses a [[Fiat 124 Sport Spider]], and May drives a [[Peugeot 304#Cabriolet|Peugeot 304 S Cabriolet]] - testing out their choices, before modifying and improving their cars, and competing against each other to see whose choice is the best. In the second film, the trio see which is the best second-hand 4x4 SUV on a budget of £250 - Clarkson picks a [[Isuzu MU#Second generation (UER25FW, UES25FW, UES73FW; 1998–2004)|Vauxhall Frontera Sport RS]], May chooses a [[Mitsubishi Pajero iO|Mitsubishi Shogun Pinin]], and Hammond drives a [[Jeep Cherokee (XJ)|Jeep Cherokee]] - facing a series of challenges that concludes with a race in which the loser must conduct an awkward after-dinner speech at their destination.
''Notes'': This episode's studio segments were filmed without a studio audience, and featured a model of an [[elephant in the room]] symbolising Clarkson's absence. The closing credits are played out in silence. Clarkson provided voiceover work for this episode as it fell under his old contract. Clarkson despite not being present during studio links was still officially credited as a presenter for the episode.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Methven |first1=Nicola |title=Jeremy Clarkson records Top Gear voiceover at BBC in his final session on motoring show |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/jeremy-clarkson-filming-top-gear--5882730 |work=The Mirror |date=14 June 2015}}</ref> In 2022, Richard Hammond revealed that his MGB GT from the classic car segment of this episode had been modified into a car that is intended to be entered into classic car races.<ref>{{cite news |title=Richard Hammond has turned a Top Gear legend into a race car |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMLhQWB2b34 |work=DriveTribe |agency=YouTube |date=3 November 2022}}</ref> | LineColor = B87BF6 }} }}</onlyinclude>
==Criticism and controversy== {{Main|Top Gear controversies}}
===Filming of Patagonia Special=== During 2014, in September and October, filming of the ''Top Gear'' special in [[Argentina]] was being done by the presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, alongside a crew of 29 people, with the group using three cars for a road trip across the country and its neighbour of [[Chile]].<ref name="Autoblog">{{cite news|url=http://autoblog.com.ar/2014/09/top-gear-argentina/|work=Autoblog|title=Primicia: Top Gear grabará un episodio en la Patagonia argentina|language=Spanish|date=16 September 2014|access-date=9 October 2014}}</ref> However, controversy arose when an incident occurred during filming, which received extensive coverage by the media in both Britain and Argentina. Whilst the crew and presenters were travelling south to [[Ushuaia]], comments emerged on [[Twitter]] which alleged that the [[vehicle registration plate|number plate]] "H982 FKL" on the [[Porsche 928|Porsche 928 GT]] being driven by Clarkson, was a direct reference to the [[Falklands War|1982 Falklands War]]. Upon the comments being seen by one of the film crew, the number plate was substituted with one that read "H1 VAE".<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29488770 "Top Gear crew 'chased by thousands and ordered out of country'"], BBC</ref> However, when the group arrived in [[Ushuaia]] in [[Tierra del Fuego]] on 2 October, in which they had planned to film in the city for three more days before continuing to Chile, a large protest had formed, consisting of Argentinian veterans of the [[Falklands War]] who claimed the group were deliberately referencing the war, despite the change of number plate, forcing the crew and presenters to stay at a hotel while discussions commenced between the producers and representatives of the protesters to calm the tension down. [[Andy Wilman]], executive producer for the show, said on 2 October that "''Top Gear'' production purchased three cars for a forthcoming programme; to suggest that this car was either chosen for its number plate, or that an alternative number plate was substituted for the original is completely untrue."<ref name="BBC3Oct">{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29474422 | work=BBC News | title=Protests cut short Top Gear shoot| date=3 October 2014}}</ref> On the same day, Clarkson tweeted "For once, we did nothing wrong."<ref name="BBC3Oct"/> "H982 FKL" has been registered to the Porsche since its manufacture in May 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/|title=UK GOV Vehicle Enquiry}}</ref> Clarkson later wrote for ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' that he "had to hide under a bed" due to "a mob howling for his blood".<ref name="SundayTimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/focus/article1467360.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013064338/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/focus/article1467360.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 October 2014|last1=Clarkson| first1=Jeremy|author-link=Jeremy Clarkson|title=Make no mistake, lives were at risk|date=5 October 2014|journal=The Sunday Times}}</ref>
However, discussions failed to do anything, and with more protesters arriving and the atmosphere turning hostile, local police told the group they could not and would not give them any assistance, leading to the team making the decision of leaving. Believing the presenters were the main target of the controversy, Clarkson, Hammond and May left for [[Buenos Aires]] alongside the women of the crew, while the rest of the team focused on driving their equipment and the cars, both the presenters' and their own, back to the border with Chile; in a statement made by May after the incident, planning was done for possible [[airlift]]s for the crew if the journey to the border had become too dangerous, in which he and his fellow presenters assisted in planning prior to flying back to [[UK|Britain]].<ref name="SundayTimes"/> The film crew, driving back to the border in convoy, faced three major problems in their attempt to leave; all of these were shown as part of the ''Patagonia Special''. The first came when they found the road they had taken to arrive in [[Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego|Rio Grande]] a day earlier, was now closed to them by crowds of people,<ref name="CronFueg-TopGearApredados">{{cite web|url=http://cronicasfueguinas.blogspot.com/2014/10/top-gear-apedreados-escaparon-y-abandonaro-los-autos.html|date=3 October 2014|access-date=9 October 2014|title=Top Gear apedreados escapan a Chile por Radman y abandono los autos en la ruta 3|language=Spanish}}</ref> forcing them to drive on tertiary roads. The second came when an intimidating crowd stopped them deliberately in [[Tolhuin]], before pelting their cars with eggs, rocks and other missiles before they could escape, resulting in two of the film crew being injured and their cars receiving minor damage. In light of the attack and believing they were a magnet for trouble, the team abandoned the presenters' cars and continued on through the night for the border; pictures show that the abandoned cars had been attacked and damaged with stones. Their third problem came when, at 2am that night, they had to find a tractor to help get the camera cars across the river and into Chile.
Following the incident, the Argentine ambassador [[Alicia Castro]] met with BBC Director of Television [[Danny Cohen (television executive)|Danny Cohen]] on 31 October 2014, and demanded a formal apology for what occurred. However, the [[British Broadcasting Corporation|BBC]] refused to do so, making it clear that they intended to broadcast the special as a fair representation of the events that occurred.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29852603|title=BBC refuses Top Gear apology over Argentina row|publisher=BBC News|date=31 October 2014}}</ref> On 28 May 2015, the [[BBC Trust]], after investigating claims that there was a "cover-up" going on involving the use of the number plate, ruled that this was not the case and that no evidence had been provided to show that the reference to the Falklands War had been deliberate, adding it would not take further action on the matter.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11636284/BBC-clears-Top-Gear-over-Falklands-number-plate-cover-up.html|title=BBC clears Top Gear over Falklands number plate "cover up"|publisher=Telegraph|date=28 May 2015}}</ref> On 29 October, later that year, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that an appeal made at the appeal courts in Argentina had successfully demanded that Judge Maria Cristina Barrionuevo was to re-open a criminal investigation she had presided over, after she had decided not to press ahead with a full-scale investigation into the crew's decision to change the Porsche's number plate. Her decision to do so was because she had felt that it had been forced to happen by "massive government and popular pressure", despite the fact that it is an offence in the country to change a vehicle's registered licence plate to another.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/oct/29/argentinian-court-orders-jeremy-clarkson-criminal-case-reopened|title=Aregentine Court orders Jeremy Clarkson criminal case to be reopened|work=The Guardian|date=29 October 2015}}</ref>
=== Jeremy Clarkson's suspension and dismissal=== In March 2015, the [[BBC]] announced that it had suspended Jeremy Clarkson while it would look into an incident that had occurred during filming in [[Hawes]], [[North Yorkshire]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/11463471/Jeremy-Clarkson-suspended-from-Top-Gear-live.html |title=Jeremy Clarkson suspended from Top Gear: as it happened |publisher=Telegraph |date=8 July 2013 |access-date=13 March 2015|last1=Rayner |first1=Gordon }}</ref> with the remaining episodes of the series withdrawn while they dealt with their investigations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31828184|title=Jeremy Clarkson 'punch': Top Gear episodes to be dropped|publisher=BBC News|date=11 March 2015|access-date=11 March 2015}}</ref> Former [[The Stig|Stig]], [[Perry McCarthy]], criticised the decision by the broadcaster to pull the episodes from the schedule.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-31828943 | work=BBC News | title=Jeremy Clarkson: BBC reaction 'ridiculous', says former Stig | date=11 March 2015}}</ref> Media coverage of the matter soon revealed that Clarkson had physically and verbally abused a producer, Oisin Tymon, after being offered soup and a cold meat platter instead of the steak he wanted, and learning that the chef at the hotel they were staying at had gone home.<ref name="investigation">{{cite web|last1=MacQuarrie|first1=Ken|title=Investigation findings|url=https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/investigation-summary.pdf|website=bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC|access-date=25 March 2015}}</ref> Despite a petition starting on [[Change.org]] on 10 March by blogger [[Paul Staines|Guido Fawkes]], aimed at reversing the decision on Clarkson being suspended,<ref name="Jeremy Clarkson: Petition calls for BBC to bring back suspended Top Gear host">{{cite news|title=Top Gear: 350,000 sign petition supporting Jeremy Clarkson|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31832698|publisher=BBC News|date=11 March 2015|access-date=12 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Petition signatures">{{cite news|title=Fans petition BBC to reinstate 'Top Gear' host Jeremy Clarkson|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/12/world/europe/thousands-of-fans-of-suspended-top-gear-host-seek-his-return.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=11 March 2015|access-date=12 March 2015}}</ref> and being delivered on the afternoon of 20 March to the BBC after receiving one million signatures,<ref>{{cite news |title=Petition backing Jeremy Clarkson hits one million signatures |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11485289/The-Stig-delivers-Jeremy-Clarkson-petition-to-BBC.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320133720/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11485289/The-Stig-delivers-Jeremy-Clarkson-petition-to-BBC.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 March 2015 |access-date=21 March 2015 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=20 March 2015}}</ref> which made it the fastest-growing campaign in Change.org's history,<ref>{{cite news |last=Dearden |first=Lizzie |title=Jeremy Clarkson petition 'BBC Bring Back Clarkson' is now officially the fastest-growing Change.org campaign in history|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/jeremy-clarkson-suspended-more-people-support-top-gear-petition-than-campaigns-to-end-fgm-and-page-3-10100908.html |access-date=11 March 2015 |work=The Independent |location=London |date=11 March 2015}}</ref> the broadcaster officially announced on 25 March that after deliberations on Clarkson's action and behaviour, it had decided to not renew his contract, effectively axing him from the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/statements/jeremy-clarkson-dg-statement|title=BBC – BBC Director-General's statement regarding Jeremy Clarkson – Media centre|access-date=25 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/bbc/11502355/Jeremy-Clarkson-could-make-Top-Gear-comeback-in-Australia.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Jeremy Clarkson 'could make Top Gear comeback in Australia' | date=29 March 2015}}</ref> Clarkson's departure would be soon followed by the departures of May, Hammond, and executive producer Andy Wilman, after which the four would then form a new show for Amazon named ''[[The Grand Tour]]''.
On 24 February 2016, Clarkson formally apologised to Tymon, while settling a claim made by the producer for racial discrimination and physical injury sustained in the incident.<ref name="conlan">{{cite news|last1=Conlan|first1=Tara|title=Jeremy Clarkson apologises to former Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/feb/24/jeremy-clarkson-top-gear-producer-bbc-oisin-tymon|access-date=24 February 2016|work=The Guardian|date=24 February 2016}}</ref>
Due to Clarkson's dismissal, the series was shortened by two episodes. The planned eighth episode would have featured [[Gary Lineker]] as the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car, while [[Henry Cavill]] would have been the guest in episode nine. Episode nine would have also featured an additional film featuring Clarkson testing a trio of luxury limousines on and off the track. The planned tenth and final episode would have been a special in which the three presenters take an epic road trip across "one of the most remote areas of the planet".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T3IKPSM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1|title = Top Gear 22|website = Amazon|date = 19 April 2016}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Top Gear}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Top Gear series 22}} [[Category:2014 British television seasons]] [[Category:2015 British television seasons]] [[Category:Top Gear (2002 TV series) series]]