Top Gear series 30

{{Short description|Series of a 2002 British TV show}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox television season | series_number = 30 | num_episodes = 4 | bgcolour = #236071 | network = [[BBC One]] | first_aired = {{Start date|df=yes|2021|3|14}} | last_aired = {{End date|df=yes|2021|4|4}} | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Andrew Flintoff|Freddie Flintoff]] * [[Chris Harris (journalist)|Chris Harris]] * [[Paddy McGuinness]] * [[The Stig]]}} | episode_list = List of Top Gear (2002 TV series) episodes }} Series 30 of ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'', a British motoring magazine and [[factual television]] programme, was broadcast in the United Kingdom on [[BBC One]] and [[BBC One HD]] during early 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000t95hg|date=14 March 2021|title=Top Gear Series 30 Air Date|publisher=BBC}}{{dead link|date=September 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> It was the fourth series to feature the presenting lineup of [[Paddy McGuinness]], [[Andrew Flintoff|Freddie Flintoff]] and [[Chris Harris (journalist)|Chris Harris]] and the second to be broadcast on [[BBC One]]. As with the [[Top Gear series 29|previous series]], the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] affected production and filming of this series, with several changes made as a result; studio segments were filmed on an outdoor set with no full audience.

The series' highlights included the presenters taking a road trip across the [[Lake District]] in their dads' cars, driving some of the cars from the [[James Bond|''James Bond'']] franchise, and a challenge involving cars for a midlife crisis.

== Production == On 28 February 2021, it was announced that, due to [[The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020|restrictions]] as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], filming of the studio links for the thirtieth series would not be taking place at its usual location at [[Dunsfold Aerodrome]], and there would not be a studio audience present; the number of episodes in the series was also reduced to four.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.autoblog.com/2021/03/08/top-gear-season-30-preview/|title=Top Gear season 30 trailer is out, and we sit down with the presenters|date=8 March 2021 }}</ref> Instead, the links for the show were recorded during a two-night shoot outside [[Television Centre, London]] with no full audience present.{{refn|group=nb|Filming took place in front of production staff and the residents of the flats above Television Centre, as explained at the start of the first episode.}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/top-gear-series-30-new-20139269|title=Top Gear series 30: Why new season isn't using Dunsfold Aerodrome track|publisher=Get Surrey|date=13 March 2021}}</ref> Unlike during [[Top Gear series 29|the previous series]], the presenters and crew members did not need to be physically distanced during filming as they were "bubbled" and tested during filming.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a35832377/top-gear-freddie-flintoff-hair-transformation/|title=Top Gear viewers stunned by Freddie Flintoff's surprising hair transformation|publisher=Digital Spy|date=14 March 2021}}</ref>

== Episodes == {{Main|List of Top Gear (2002 TV series) episodes}} <onlyinclude> {{Episode table|background=#236071|overall=5|series=5|aux1=24|aux2=34|airdate=11|viewers=10|country=UK|aux1T=Reviews|aux2T=Features/challenges|viewersR=<ref name="BARB12-30">{{cite web|url=https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/four-screen-dashboard/|title=Four-screen dashboard|publisher=[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]] |accessdate=5 March 2019}}</ref>|episodes={{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 30 | EpisodeNumber = 221 | EpisodeNumber2 = 1 | Aux1 = [[Lamborghini Sián FKP 37]] | Aux2 = Second-Hand Dad's Cars in the [[Lake District]] ([[Ford Cortina#Mark IV (1976–1979)|Ford Cortina]] • [[BMW 3 Series (E21)|BMW 3 Series]] • [[Ford Fiesta (first generation)|Ford Fiesta]]) | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2021|3|14}} | Viewers = 6.33 | ShortSummary = | LineColor = #236071 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 30 | EpisodeNumber = 222 | EpisodeNumber2 = 2 | Aux1 = [[Ferrari Roma]] • [[Alfa Romeo GTA|Alfaholics GTA-R]] | Aux2 = Budget [[List of James Bond vehicles|James Bond Cars]] ([[Sunbeam Alpine]] • [[Alfa Romeo GTV6]] • [[Renault 11|Renault 5 1/2]] • [[Lotus Esprit]] • [[Toyota 2000GT]] • [[Aston Martin DB5]]) • [[Spark ODYSSEY 21]] vs. Jet Pack Man | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2021|3|21}} | Viewers = 7.03 | ShortSummary = ''Note'': This episode was posthumously dedicated to former presenter [[Sabine Schmitz]], who died from cancer on 16 March 2021. | LineColor = #236071 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 30 | EpisodeNumber = 223 | EpisodeNumber2 = 3 | Aux1 = None | Aux2 = [[Off-road vehicles|Off-Roaders]] in the [[Scottish Highlands]] ([[Ariel Motor Company#Nomad|Ariel Nomad R]] • [[Land Rover Defender (L663)|Land Rover Defender]] • [[Mercedes-Benz G-Class#G-Class W463, second generation (2018–present)|Mercedes-AMG G63]]) | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2021|3|28}} | Viewers = 6.30 | ShortSummary = | LineColor = #236071 }} {{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 30 | EpisodeNumber = 224 | EpisodeNumber2 = 4 | Aux1 = [[Toyota GR Yaris]] | Aux2 = Second-Hand Sports Cars for a [[Midlife crisis]] ([[TVR Chimaera]] • [[Holden Monaro#Vauxhall Monaro|Vauxhall Monaro]] • [[Ferrari F355]]/[[Toyota MR2]] [[Kit car]]) | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2021|4|4}} | Viewers = 6.00 | ShortSummary = | LineColor = #236071 }} }}</onlyinclude>

==A Tribute To Sabine Schmitz== Former presenter [[Sabine Schmitz]] died from cancer on 16 March 2021, two days after the first episode of the series was aired; following the broadcast of the final episode of the series on 4 April 2021, a special tribute to her was made available on [[BBC iPlayer]]. The tribute, which was shown on BBC One on 7 April 2021 and features clips from Schmitz's appearances on ''Top Gear'', was narrated by [[Zoe Ball]] and contains contributions from some of the current and former presenters of the show (these are [[Jeremy Clarkson]], [[Richard Hammond]], [[James May]], [[Matt LeBlanc]], [[Rory Reid (journalist)|Rory Reid]], [[Chris Harris (journalist)|Chris Harris]], [[Paddy McGuinness]], and [[Andrew Flintoff|Freddie Flintoff]]), as well as several other figures from the world of motorsport.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Gear: A Tribute To Sabine Schmitz to debut this Sunday following series finale |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/bbcstudios/2021/top-gear-a-tribute-to-sabine-schmitz-to-debut-this-sunday-following-series-finale |website=BBC Media Center |access-date=3 April 2021}}</ref>

{{Episode table|background=#236071|overall=5|series=5|Title=24|airdate=11|viewers=10|country=UK|viewersR=<ref name="BARB12-30">{{cite web|url=https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/four-screen-dashboard/|title=Four-screen dashboard|publisher=[[Broadcasters' Audience Research Board]] |accessdate=5 March 2019}}</ref>|episodes={{Episode list/sublist|Top Gear series 30 | EpisodeNumber = Special | EpisodeNumber2 = Special | Aux1 = Top Gear: A Tribute To Sabine Schmitz | OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|2021|4|7}} | Viewers = 3.57 | ShortSummary = | LineColor = #236071 }} }}

==Notes== {{reflist|group=nb}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1628033/episodes?season=30 Series 30] at the [[Internet Movie Database]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Top Gear series 30}} [[Category:2021 British television seasons]] [[Category:Top Gear (2002 TV series) series]]