Top Gear: Extra Gear
Season 2 BBC Brit (*120) 20:00 Lifestyle
Petrolheads have been split since Top Gear’s (2002-current) 2016 overhaul with Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc hosting (Chris only lasted one season). One thing fans can agree on is that its companion series Top Gear: Extra Gear (2016-current) finishes on the top step of the podium. While Top Gear’s still got the gimmicks, Extra Gear is stripping motoring shows to its raw chassis with Top Gear co-hosts Chris Harris and Rory Reid at the steering wheel. So why do you need to check out the sevenepisode second season?
Critics haven’t called it “a breath of fresh air” and “exactly what the show [Top gear] needed” for nothing. Rory and Chris are out-and-out journalists and they’re reviewing cars… on a car-review show. Sure they go behind-thescenes and get track days and that’s very Top Gear-like, but there’s nowhere else where cars like Ferrari’s ultra-rare FXX-K is being tested. Plus, the show has added UK comedy star George Lewis to their George Lewis. panel to add a humour and that sits well with viewers. “There’s less of a scripted feel,” says George, adding that “we’re a bunch of blokes having fun in cars. It really is that simple”.
The secret with Extra Gear is that “we’re not trying to be Top Gear,” says Chris. “We are a different show and we do things differently.” Motoring and TV critic Matt Hardigree agrees: “Chris is good in this and so is Rory. They have a natural sort of chemistry and it works. They can even poke each other about being old.” Extra Gear is like adding a turbo to your old car and transforming it from scrap to a speed demon.