Series 30 of 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.[1] It was the fourth series to feature the presenting lineup of Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness, and Freddie Flintoff, and the second to be broadcast on BBC One. As with the 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.

Top Gear
Series 30
Starring
No. of episodes4
Release
Original networkBBC One
Original release14 March (2021-03-14) –
4 April 2021 (2021-04-04)
Series chronology
← Previous
Series 29
Next →
Series 31
List of episodes

Production

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On 28 February 2021, it was announced that, due to 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.[2] Instead, the links for the show were recorded during a two-night shoot outside Television Centre, London with no full audience present.[nb 1][3] Unlike during 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.[4]

Episodes

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No.
overall
No. in
series
ReviewsFeatures/challengesOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [5]
2211Lamborghini Sián FKP 37Second-Hand Dad's Cars in the Lake District (Ford CortinaBMW 3 SeriesFord Fiesta)14 March 2021 (2021-03-14)6.33
2222Ferrari RomaAlfaholics GTA-RBudget James Bond Cars (Sunbeam AlpineAlfa Romeo GTV6 • Renault 5 1/2 (See Renault 11) • Lotus EspritToyota 2000GTAston Martin DB5)Spark ODYSSEY 21 vs. Jet Pack Man21 March 2021 (2021-03-21)7.03
Note: This episode was posthumously dedicated to former presenter Sabine Schmitz, who died from cancer on 16 March 2021,
2233NoneOff-Roaders in the Scottish Highlands (Ariel Nomad RLand Rover DefenderMercedes-AMG G63)28 March 2021 (2021-03-28)6.30
2244Toyota GR YarisSecond-Hand Sports Cars for a Midlife crisis (TVR ChimaeraVauxhall MonaroFerrari F355/Toyota MR2 Kit car)4 April 2021 (2021-04-04)6.00

A Tribute To Sabine Schmitz

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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, Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness, and Freddie Flintoff), as well as several other figures from the world of motorsport.[6]

No.
overall
No. in
series
TitleOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [5]
SpecialSpecialTop Gear: A Tribute To Sabine Schmitz7 April 2021 (2021-04-07)3.57

Notes

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  1. ^ 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.

References

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  1. ^ "Top Gear Series 30 Air Date". BBC. 14 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Top Gear season 30 trailer is out, and we sit down with the presenters".
  3. ^ "Top Gear series 30: Why new season isn't using Dunsfold Aerodrome track". Get Surrey. 13 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Top Gear viewers stunned by Freddie Flintoff's surprising hair transformation". Digital Spy. 14 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Four-screen dashboard". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Top Gear: A Tribute To Sabine Schmitz to debut this Sunday following series finale". BBC Media Center. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
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