Top Gear series 25

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Infobox television season | series_number = 25 | num_episodes = 6 | bgcolour = #5F5A00 | network = [[BBC Two]] | first_aired = {{Start date|df=yes|2018|2|25}} | last_aired = {{End date|df=yes|2018|4|1}} | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Matt LeBlanc]] * [[Chris Harris (journalist)|Chris Harris]] * [[Rory Reid (journalist)|Rory Reid]] * [[Sabine Schmitz]] * [[Eddie Jordan]] * [[The Stig]] }} | episode_list = List of Top Gear (2002 TV series) episodes }} Series 25 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 2018, consisting of six episodes between 25 February and 1 April.<ref name="2018 Return">{{cite news|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-04-26/top-gear-presenters-matt-leblanc-rory-reid-and-chris-harris-will-be-back-in-2018-says-bbc-boss/|title=Top Gear presenters Matt LeBlanc, Rory Reid and Chris Harris will be back in 2018, says BBC boss|date=26 April 2017|publisher=Radio Times|accessdate=16 December 2017}}</ref> No changes were made to the line-up, which was considered an appropriate success to improving the programme, despite the series' viewing figures not averaging more than 3.15 million viewers. This series' highlights included a road trip across [[Japan]] in second-hand sports car, the presenters making their own home-made tractor, and a tribute to the [[Citroën 2CV]].

==Production== On 26 April 2017, the controller of BBC Two, Patrick Holland, announced confirmation that the programme would be returning for a new series in 2018, following "healthier" viewing figures than those made from the twenty-third series. Holland revealed in his announcement, that [[Matt LeBlanc]], [[Chris Harris (journalist)|Chris Harris]] and [[Rory Reid (journalist)|Rory Reid]] would return for their second consecutive series as the three main presenters, with [[Sabine Schmitz]] and [[Eddie Jordan]] to continue making occasional appearances.<ref name="Trio Back">{{cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/796968/Top-Gear-BBC-Two-boss-CONFIRMS-Matt-LeBlanc-will-return-to-motoring-series-in-2018|title=Top Gear: BBC Two boss CONFIRMS Matt LeBlanc will return in 2018|date=26 April 2017|accessdate=31 December 2017|work=Express.co.uk|last=Daly|first=Helen}}</ref> Holland attributed the success of the show's previous series to it being led by LeBlanc and making it his own, alongside the assistance of Harris and Reid, but stated there was no comparisons between this show and that presented by Clarkson, Hammond and May, stating that viewers were "looking at two completely different shows" in that regard.<ref name="Trio Back"/>

Filming for the series was confirmed on 22 June 2017, beginning with the presenters heading to [[Norway]] to record footage for an upcoming episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/796968/Top-Gear-BBC-Two-boss-CONFIRMS-Matt-LeBlanc-will-return-to-motoring-series-in-2018|title=Filming of Top Gear series 25 has begun|work=Top Gear Official Website|date=22 June 2017|accessdate=31 December 2017}}</ref> LeBlanc was later spotted filming new scenes for the series in the [[Isle of Man]] in October 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/724125/Top-Gear-2017-Matt-LeBlanc-spotted-filming-new-series-Isle-of-Man|title=Top Gear: Matt LeBlanc spotted filming new series on the Isle of Man|work=Express.co.uk|date=22 October 2017|accessdate=31 December 2017|last=O'Connor|first=Rory}}</ref>

==Episodes== {{Main|List of Top Gear (2002 TV series) episodes}} <onlyinclude>{{Episode table |background=#5F5A00 |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 25 | EpisodeNumber = 193 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Aux1 = None | Aux2 = Road trip across Utah's Wild West in V8 sports cars: ([[Shelby Mustang#GT350R|Hennessey Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 R]] • [[Jaguar F-Type#F-Type SVR (2016–present)|Jaguar F-Type SVR]] • [[McLaren 570S#570GT|McLaren 570GT]]) | Aux3 = [[Rob Brydon]] • [[Ken Block]] | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2018|2|25}} | Viewers = 3.50 | ShortSummary = To celebrate the 116th Anniversary of the V8, the presenters head to [[Utah]] to see which of their brand new V8 sports cars is the best - LeBlanc believes his tuned [[Shelby Mustang#GT350R|Ford Shelby Mustang GT350 R]] is the likely winner, Reid proves his [[Jaguar F-Type#F-Type SVR (2016–present)|Jaguar F-Type SVR]] is the top car of the three, while Harris argues that the technical and practical [[McLaren 570S#570GT|McLaren 570GT]] is the finest of the lot. Travelling across the US state, the trio compare their cars in a series of challenges, culminating in a combined race against [[The Stig]] in a [[Ford GT40]]. Meanwhile, [[Rob Brydon]] proves he can be serious when he does a lap in the GT86. | LineColor = 5F5A00 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 25 | EpisodeNumber = 194 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Aux1 = [[McLaren 720S]] | Aux2 = 720S v. [[McLaren P1]] • Off road toys in California to find [[Bigfoot]] • Racing in Reverse | Aux3 = [[Lee Mack]] | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2018|3|4}} | Viewers = 3.04 | ShortSummary = Hoping to prove that BigFoot exists, LeBlanc takes Harris with him to the [[Laguna Woods, California|Californian Woods]] to search for him, utilising a selection of brand-new off-road toys. Elsewhere, Harris tries out the new [[McLaren 720S]] in [[Portimao]] and then sees how it compares to its [[McLaren P1|P1]], before finding himself undergoing a new game made by Reid - "Racing in Reverse". Finally, [[Lee Mack]] attempts to see how fast he can drive the Reasonably Fast Car around the Test Track. | LineColor = 5F5A00 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 25 | EpisodeNumber = 195 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Aux1 = [[Lexus LC|Lexus LC500]] • [[Honda Civic Type R#FK8 (2017; based on tenth generation Civic)|Honda Civic Type R]] | Aux2 = Second-hand sports cars across Honshu: ([[Nissan Skyline#R34|Nissan Skyline GTT]] • [[Mazda RX-7#Third generation (FD3S)|Mazda RX-7]]) • Weirdest Japanese car culture | Aux3 = None | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2018|3|11}} | Viewers = 2.93 | ShortSummary = Harris and LeBlanc are in Japan to see who can get the better deal at a Japanese car auction - Harris opts for a [[Mazda RX-7#Third generation (FD3S)|Mazda RX-7]], while LeBlanc attempts to win with a [[Nissan Skyline#R34|Nissan Skyline GTT]]. To see which is the best, the pair engage in a series of tests with their cars involving sumo wrestlers, and a visit to the region surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, before finding themselves racing to see which car will return to the UK. Meanwhile, Reid takes a look at the various forms of car culture within Japan, while Harris reviews the new [[Honda Civic Type R#FK8 (2017; based on tenth generation Civic)|Honda Civic Type R]], and races it against [[The Stig]]'s Japanese Cousin in a [[Lexus LC|Lexus LC500]]. | LineColor = 5F5A00 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 25 | EpisodeNumber = 196 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Aux1 = [[Dodge Challenger#SRT Demon|Dodge Challenger Demon]] • [[Kia Stinger|Kia Stinger GT-S]] • [[Hyundai i30#Third generation (PD; 2016)|Hyundai i30N]] | Aux2 = Harris' tribute to the [[Citroën 2CV]] | Aux3 = [[Dara Ó Briain]] • [[Ed Byrne (comedian)|Ed Byrne]] | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2018|3|18}} | Viewers = 3.26 | ShortSummary = Harris pays tribute to the [[Citroën 2CV]] by seeing how he can prove it was most important car ever made, despite the tests devised for it being made by LeBlanc. Meanwhile, Reid takes a look at some good Korean cars on the track - the [[Kia Stinger|Kia Stinger GT-S]] and the [[Hyundai i30|Hyundai i30N]] - while LeBlanc reviews the [[Dodge Challenger#SRT Demon|Dodge Challenger Demon]] and sees how useful it can be by undergoing a special challenge to assist NASA with a special project. Finally, comedian friends [[Dara Ó Briain]] and [[Ed Byrne (comedian)|Ed Byrne]] compete to see who is faster in the GT86. | LineColor = 5F5A00 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 25 | EpisodeNumber = 197 | EpisodeNumber2 = 5 | Aux1 = [[Ferrari 812 Superfast]] • [[Chevrolet Camaro (sixth generation)#ZL1|Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE]] | Aux2 = Building the world's fastest tractor | Aux3 = [[Vicky McClure]] | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2018|3|25}} | Viewers = 2.97 | ShortSummary = Fed up with how slow tractors are on British roads, LeBlanc decides to show the world they can be made faster by building a new one - the "Trak-tor". Joined by Harris, the pair put LeBlanc's creation through its paces by seeing how fast it goes, and then taking on a series of farming-related tests. Meanwhile, Reid is joined by Sabine in his review of a muscle car banned from Europe, the [[Chevrolet Camaro (sixth generation)#ZL1|Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE]], by seeing how fast it can be driven around [[Willow Springs International Motorsports Park]], LeBlanc heads to [[Italy]] to celebrate Ferrari's 70th birthday by trying out the [[Ferrari 812 Superfast]] on the road and the [[Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari|Imola]] racetrack, while [[Vicky McClure]] is the latest star to have a go in the Reasonably Fast Car. | LineColor = 5F5A00 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 25 | EpisodeNumber = 198 | EpisodeNumber2 = 6 | Aux1 = [[Alpine A110 (2017)|Alpine A110]] | Aux2 = Best Modern SUV: ([[Alfa Romeo Stelvio]] • [[Range Rover Velar]] • [[Volvo XC60#Second generation (2017–present)|Volvo XC60]]) | Aux3 = [[Jason Manford]] | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2018|4|1}} | Viewers = 2.97 | ShortSummary = The presenters head to [[Burghley House]] to put a series of modern SUVs through a special series of car-trails - LeBlanc believes it to be the fast and vibrant [[Alfa Romeo Stelvio]], Harris opts for the sensible and practical [[Volvo XC60#Second generation (2017–present)|Volvo XC60]], and Reid chooses the stylish and capable [[Range Rover Velar]]. After each takes a turn in a special version of horse trialling, towing horseboxes, the trio finish with a race between their SUVs around the manor's grounds. Elsewhere Harris tests out the new [[Alpine A110 (2017)|Alpine A110]] at the track, before heading out to the [[Monte-Carlo Rally]] with Eddie to put the car through its paces, while [[Jason Manford]] attempts to lap the reasonably fast GT86. | LineColor = 5F5A00 }} }}</onlyinclude>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1628033/episodes?ref_=tt_ov_epl/ Series 25] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Top Gear series 25}} [[Category:2018 British television seasons]] [[Category:Top Gear (2002 TV series) series]]