It’s fair to say that as petrolheads, we all owe a debt of thanks to Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. Born in 2003, I quite literally grew up watching them. My earliest stand-out memory is their first cross-continent race featuring the then all-new Aston Martin DB9. Watching that race cemented my love for the show, the presenters, and Aston Martin. Granted, the camera quality wasn’t quite what it is now on The Grand Tour, but those tracking shots still set the standard for how to capture cars on film — they captured our hearts too.

Since that episode, watching these three friends, who had a deep, passionate hatred mixed with genuine affection for one another, was what made the show special. Essentially, they travelled the world just to argue while driving anything from the latest supercars to cars that were barely roadworthy.

But for me, it was much more than just that. Throughout my childhood, it was Top Gear that brought my family together on Sunday evenings. Week after week, it became a ritual. For that one hour, we’d share constant laughs — whether it was Clarkson’s theories in the news segment, the trio bickering about who brought the wrong car, or the infamous "some say..." intros for The Stig.

When The Grand Tour was launched, our tradition didn’t change. Every time a new episode dropped, we were there, gathered around the screen. My family aren’t as obsessed with cars as I am, but the joy of the show transcended the cars. It was the presenters we tuned in for.

It’s one of the few programmes that, no matter how you’re feeling, will make you laugh. And that, for me, is the essence of the trio. The cars were just a bonus. On a deflating day, Top Gear or The Grand Tour would lift my spirits.

Personally, I won’t be sad that this chapter is ending, but before I explain why, here are some highlights from the RUSH Team and myself:

Craig’s Highlights

Vietnam Special Whilst I do feel the format had become tired by the time of the infamous fracas — and lately, it seems the trio have become tired of one another — I simply cannot deny the genius of Top Gear. It took a niche and made it mainstream, turning it into essential viewing for the entire family. The presenters' journalism roots anchored the show, but it was their natural rapport and comedic timing that brought it to life. You could see their attachment to each car, forming a bond with every vehicle. At their core, all three of them lived and breathed cars. This wasn’t a side hustle.

Its appeal was universal. It had laughs, it had adventure, it had ambition and awe (North Pole), and yes, controversy (too much for some tastes). At times, they even made you shed a tear — Clarkson’s admiration for the ‘boring’ 928 or the Senna tribute still come to mind.

For me, the Specials were what truly set the programme apart. The sense of scale, the sometimes inhospitable landscapes, and, of course, the cars — all combined to create something special. The three estate cars across Africa still makes me want to trade the mortgage for an early T5 R and some Egyptian cotton bed sheets. And yes, I know that’s a hybrid of Clarkson’s and May’s cars before you start!

Yet the single greatest hour Top Gear gave us wasn’t even on four wheels — it was on two. The Vietnam Special remains, to me, the most finely crafted hour of television I’ve ever seen. There’s little point in recounting every detail here — you already know the score.

Isle of Man M Cars From the vast back catalogue of Top Gear and The Grand Tour, why choose one of their more straightforward, magazine-style episodes? Because it proves they could do serious motoring journalism just as well as the silly stuff. And, of course, the subject matter — I’ve never been shy about my admiration for BMW’s M division.

The introduction of the E46 M3 CSL on the derestricted roads of the Isle of Man was pure perfection. The episode also showcased icons like the E30 M3, E34 M5, and the M1. The trio still managed to squeeze in a classic bicker with a group test of the Honda S2000, Porsche Boxster, and BMW Z4. It showed that they weren’t just about laughs — they could review cars with gravitas when needed.

Clarkson at the Nurburgring “I could do that lap time in a van!” Special for being the episode that introduced the wider world to Sabine Schmitz, Clarkson’s attempted mastery of the Nürburgring seemed easy to the uninitiated — unless you’ve been there. By the end of the episode, I defy any casual viewer not to be gripped, rooting for Jezza as he crosses under the bridge for a 9:58 BTG lap. And I also defy them not to fall a little bit in love with Sabine herself, and the race track she called home.

Other memories from the show come rushing back: setting the car wash on fire with the convertible MPV, the Hovervan, or May’s uncontrollable cackle at Clarkson’s Citroen caravan being blown by crosswinds. Then there were the challenges — £10,000 supercars, £1,500 Porsches, British Leyland cars. The list goes on.

Whilst I’d happily watch Chris Harris on Cars, Harry Metcalfe, or Jason Cammisa on YouTube all day long, I’d watch Clarkson review a toothbrush. Then, I’d wait for Hammond to come along and argue that his Colgate was better, before May interrupted with the advantages of brushing one’s teeth using electricity. That’s the difference — that’s the lightning in the bottle.

But nothing lasts forever. Yes, the show became predictable and the gags felt manufactured, but I can’t name a single series that ran for more than six seasons without dropping the ball. The Simpsons are still alive and well, but the show is no longer funny. The charm has gone. The Sopranos, The Wire, Gomorrah — they all knew when to call time. At its peak, Top Gear was churning out 26 episodes a year. That’s once a fortnight, a gruelling schedule.

Top Gear has become part of the fabric of British popular culture, a phenomenon that went global. I remember thinking up potential episodes for the show. A puerile journey to Twatt in the remote Shetland Isles. An episode spent trekking across the vastness of Canada and into Alaska perhaps. My favourite would’ve been a Russia special in blacked-out budget supersaloons. Obviously, Putin had other ideas, but honestly — how hard can it be?

Ken’s Highlights

“Thorough Road Tests” The genesis of this was the review of the then-new BMW X6, before it morphed into a series of short segments bound together by questions ranging from reasonable to absurd, presented on a black screen with white text. Is the Ford Fiesta green? Is the Renaultsport Twingo 133 practical? Can the Skoda Yeti fit Sienna Miller in the glovebox? These reviews have been the biggest source of personal inspiration to me, and without them, the viewing public would never have learned whether the ride quality of a Mercedes-Benz EQS is on par with that of a helicopter, or whether an E-Class Cabriolet can go through a car wash.

“Modern Peugeot Driver” My friends and I still yell “MANIAC!” at each other and incompetent road users to this day. The mixture of history with a rather accurate portrayal of some of the worst drivers on British tarmac was one of the most hilarious segments ever aired. I can’t help but notice that in the years since the brand was panned by Clarkson and May, Peugeot have consistently been making some of the most stylish and desirable mainstream cars on the market.

Refuelling on the Move — The Grand Tour The average driver spends 36 days of their life refuelling. That got Richard and James thinking about how filling up could be made quicker. Taking inspiration from air-to-air refuelling used by air forces around the world, they created a range of machines to top up fuel tanks without having to come to a stop. The theory was foolproof, the execution was hilarious. I’ve always enjoyed the “consumer advice” and problem-solving segments, even if the problems are never solved!

These three highlights are more factual than cinematic, but they signify what I realised was the greatest thing that Top Gear and The Grand Tour team worked into their episodes: information. Perhaps the biggest influence I’ve taken from countless hours of absorbing, enjoying, and analysing every single episode is that of making sure the viewer learns something new — the stripped-out CLK 63 AMG Black Series is heavier than the model it’s based on, the Track Pack for the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon cost just $1, and the gear knob of the Audi RS 4 is half an inch wider than that of the C 63 AMG and BMW M3.

In anything I write or host, I want the audience to learn something new about the subject matter, and this has been influenced by the best in the business who taught me so much for one hour a week.

Alex’s Picks

Top Gear will always hold a special place in my heart, as I'm sure it will for many others. Come Sunday night at 8 pm, the whole of Britain came to a halt. Even if you had zero interest in the motorcar, Top Gear was still a must-watch TV show. The writing, visuals, and overall production were unmatched through the 2000s and 2010s. Add into that the chemistry of Clarkson, Hammond, and May, and you had a cult classic. It all came crashing down in 2015, and Top Gear was never the same, but thanks to some TV executive savvy, The Grand Tour was born — giving us car bores, and those in search of light entertainment, the fix we needed. Picking my three favourite moments is a bit like trying to pick my three most favourite organs, but here goes nothing.

Veyron vs Cessna 182 (2005) Who could get a truffle from Italy to the UK the quickest? That was the premise of my favourite Top Gear race. This, of course, saw Clarkson in a Bugatti Veyron and Hammond and May in a Cessna 182. Just being able to see a Veyron on TV was a huge moment, but watching one devour 800 miles of Europe seemed like a dream. Scenes of the Veyron carving through Mont Blanc, powering up a French autoroute, and firing out of the Channel Tunnel were interspersed with a despondent Hammond, riding shotgun with May in a small aeroplane. David and Goliath really does come to mind.

US Special (2007) Hammond in his spiritual home, a cow on the roof of a Camaro, and of course, the infamous “Run out of Alabama!” sequence. This special embodied everything the trio had ever told us about America, from the very start to the end of the episode. The audience got to enjoy a through-the-looking-glass experience. I don’t think I have ever laughed as hard as when that ratty old Camaro came into view with a dead cow strewn across its roof. Utterly preposterous and hilarious in equal measure.

Lochdown (2021) V8s, Scottish scenery, and caravan torture — what more do you need for a good time? Although this isn't the funniest or most original special, it brought some much-needed light relief from the pandemic the world was facing. Filmed in the dreary October of 2020, the trio managed to inject their trademark humour into what was a bleak time. This special inspired me and my then-girlfriend to take a road trip around Scotland and the NC500. I may have proposed on that holiday, and we’re now married. Lochdown will always remind me of that time, and for that reason alone, it's one of my favourites.

Kotto’s Favourites

The most influential people in motoring — and possibly television — are parting ways. Like Alex in a Porsche dealership, this moment was inevitable, but now it’s here. It’s a shame, but I’m hoping to see new talent and fresh entertainment emerge. Personally, I’d love to see Tanner Foust, Matt Le Blanc, Martin Brundle, and Chris Harris head up a new series on all things cars.

The USA Special — Top Gear Another vote for the fly-drive escapade - is there a more entertaining hour of television? Three utterly awful cars in an absurd quest to find a good “hire” car alternative for pocket change in a cartoonish state, driven by three of the most inept people in the world. “Nascar sucks,” “Man love is ok,” “Hillary for president.” Utter chaos and hilarity followed, capped by a surprisingly touching end and wonderful footage of three friends having a brilliant time despite future Trump voters throwing rocks at them.

Survival of the Fattest — Grand Tour Years after Top Gear, the trio nailed it once more in Survival of the Fattest, where they had to build (most of) a Land Rover in the Mongolian desert, sans alcohol. Their friendship, the adventure, the stunning scenery, and the hilarity were incredible. If they made a programme about autopsies and James May had to stick a speculum into a cadaver, I’d watch it.

Patagonia Special — Top Gear This is up there with Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, Community, Chernobyl, and House MD for me. It begins with business as usual — three staggeringly good cars and a proper boys' adventure through Argentina, hilariously funny and deeply moving. Jeremy’s anecdote about his bond with Porsche 928s still resonates. And then, it all turns into a genuine drive for survival as they race for safety in Chile. We knew they would all survive (obviously), but I was watching with sweat on my face. One of the best things to ever appear on television, alongside the first USA special and Survival of the Fattest.

I think people naturally become car fans as soon as the faintest spark of interest appears at a young age, but seeing people like Clarkson, May, and Hammond — intelligent, articulate, and funny — shows you can immerse yourself in the automotive world without becoming an outcast anorak. Bravo.

Aaron’s Highlights

The Final US Road Trip — Top Gear America has always been an area where the trio pushed the boundaries of what they could get away with. While their last main trip to the States was tame compared to previous ones, there were still some stand-out moments.

First off was the laser tag with fighter planes. How this idea even came about, I’m unsure, but I’m so glad it did — because it was like nothing I’ve ever seen. Especially when they resorted to what they knew best in a bid to escape: pure panic. We also can’t forget the very helpful team at Lexus, who tried to help Jeremy evade the planes. And there was sabotage too — fruit stuffed into tailpipes, moving the seat so Hammond couldn’t reach the controls, and even removing HT leads.

The P45 — Top Gear After Top Gear introduced us to the famous Peel P50, Jeremy thought he could somehow make a smaller car. The result? The aptly named P45. A car that was too slow to go anywhere, had a fuel tank smaller than the minimum delivery required at petrol pumps, and an electric conversion that took far too long with a shorter range than I’m willing to walk. To prove the P45’s worth, Jeremy took it onto Dragons’ Den, where — in true Jeremy style — he offended all of the Dragons and walked out with nothing.

This wouldn’t be the last time we’d see the P45. The next time it would be in the hands of The Stig, transformed into an ambulance.

Homemade Ambulances — Top Gear When the trio tried to 'improve' ambulances, they certainly left their mark. From a nuclear disposal vehicle to a business-jet-style hearse and finally the “Rambulance” — they truly did try to reinvent the ambulance, even down to how the patient was dropped off. The single best moment? When the trio had to perform medical tasks on a dummy while being driven around the track by The Stig. For added realism, they even modified the track, throwing in three speed bumps…

When you take all this onboard, why wouldn’t I be sad that it’s coming to an end? The simple answer is that I was able to watch it. Instead, I’m happy to have grown up with these three. They are the reason my family can share my passion for cars — they brought us even closer together for my entire lifetime.

All we have to say from the team here at RUSH is thank you, Mr Clarkson, Mr Hammond, and Mr May. Thank you for providing all of us here with a lifetime’s worth of entertainment, and more.