Top Gear (1977 TV series)

*Top Gear*
Top Gear
	1993–1998 titlecard
Created by	Derek Smith
Presented by	Sue Baker; Jason Barlow; Stephen Bayley; Jon Bentley; Steve Berry; Tom Boswell; Julia Bradbury; Russell Bulgin; Vicki Butler-Henderson; Jeremy Clarkson; Michael Collie; Brendan Coogan; Tom Coyne; Mike Dornan; Noel Edmonds; Marian Foster; Nicky Fox; Bob Friend; Barrie Gill; Chris Goffey; Kate Humble; Judith Jackson; Stephen Lee; David Llewellin; Peter Macann; Tony Mason; James May; Stirling Moss; Tiff Needell; Michele Newman; Frank Page; Gill Pyrah; Eric Richard; Angela Rippon; Adrian Simpson; Quentin Willson; Andy Wilman; Malcolm Wilson; Stewart Woodcock; William Woollard;
Opening theme	"Jessica" – The Allman Brothers Band
Ending theme	"Out of the Blue" (from Blue Moves) – Elton John
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	45
No. of episodes	524 (list of episodes)
Production
Producers	Dennis Adams; Jon Bentley; Phil Franklin; Ken Pollock; Tom Ross; Derek Smith; Brian Strachan; Andy Wilman;
Running time	30 minutes
Original release
Network	BBC Two
Release	22 April 1977 –; 17 December 2001
Related
	Wheelbase; Top Gear (2002); Top Gear Motorsport; The Car's The Star; "Fifth Gear";
	Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Top Gear was a British motoring magazine programme created by the BBC and aired on BBC Two between 22 April 1977 and 17 December 2001. The programme focused on a range of motoring topics, the most common being car reviews, road safety and consumer advice. Originally presented by Angela Rippon and Tom Coyne, the show saw a range of different presenters and reporters front the programme's half-hourly slots, including Noel Edmonds, Jeremy Clarkson, Tiff Needell, William Woollard and Quentin Willson. The programme proved popular during the late 80s and early 90s, and launched a number of spin-offs, including its own magazine entitled Top Gear Magazine.

By 1999, viewing figures in Top Gear had declined after the departure of notable presenters, leading to the BBC cancelling the programme in 2001. While a number of presenters and production staff moved over to Channel 5 to produce Fifth Gear, Clarkson and fellow presenter Andy Wilman convinced the BBC to revive the programme under a revamped format, relaunching it in October 2002.