THE POLAR SPECIAL | Top Gear's Best Adventure

🔵 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘅 𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: / pentexproductions 🔵
Top Gear’s Polar Special is possibly the best Top Gear episode ever. Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May raced through the Arctic to the North Pole, and thus Top Gear became the first people to ever drive there. For me, the Top Gear Polar Special is Top Gear’s finest hour - delivering a genuine adventure in a brilliantly entertaining fashion. In this Top Gear video essay, I look back on the Arctic Special and what makes it such a great episode of classic Top Gear.
🎞️ THE TOP GEAR POLAR SPECIAL was a special edition episode of BBC motoring programme Top Gear that was first broadcast on 25 July 2007 on BBC Two. The episode follows presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May in their successful attempt to be the first people to reach the 1996 position of the North Magnetic Pole (in Canada) in a motor vehicle. For added drama and competition, they raced against presenter Richard Hammond who travelled by dog sled, the traditional means of transport around the Arctic. 🎞️
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Hello and welcome
03:30 - A pokey motoring show
06:09 - How hard can it be?
13:29 - Oh no! Anyway...
19:03 - And on that bombshell
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SOURCES
Production notes archive:
web.archive.org/web/201110131...
Arctic Trucks
arctictrucks.com/blog/2016/01...
James May response column on drink driving web.archive.org/web/200808050...
Ranulph Fiennes interview:
• Sir Ranulph Fiennes OB...
CGP Grey video on magnetic north:
• The Simple Secret of R...
Climate change:
climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/...
www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/do...

[@PentexProductions]

What's your favourite Top Gear episode? (also don't forget to subscribe if you enjoyed the video - it really does help the channel more than you know!)

[@VallornDeathblade]

I'll argue against this being the most important episode of Top Gear. While this catapulted them to an international audience, the thing that gave them their very first leg up has to have been the 'can we kill it?' Toyota pickup and it surviving everything from being submerged in the sea to being put on top of a demolishing tower block.

[@Scorpion4646]

As good and as significant as episode the Polar Special is, my personal favorite has always been the Bolivia Special. I believe Clarkson said that was their best piece of TV as well, but feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

[@specialista55]

All of the specials are great, my personal favourite is the Vietnam special the humour side in that episode is by far the best with a touch of history and seriousness.

[@logantaylor8354]

My favorite is the caravan episode, it was one of the first I saw and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@JusuchinPanjirinanu]

Vietnam Special. It's become a ritual for me to watch it with a steak and beer on my birthday because I can never get tired of them putting away on motorcyles (and a scooter).

[@whitneykelley3580]

In retrospect, it’s hard to believe this show was made. The danger (and therefore stakes) of many episodes/specials are so unbelievably high, especially considering they never seem fully prepared for any situation they’re thrown into. Ever. Cause how hard could it be?

[@PentexProductions]

I know they have lots of behind the scenes safety and security and all of that, but they still do some really dangerous things that the hosts are definitely not qualified to do! How hard can it be indeed!

[@ty_sylicus]

It's not like these men were young either.

[@S-396-Shark]

Don't say that! - Hammond 2007

[@Amm17ar]

I think thats part of what made it so fun, funny and special. The other major component was the trio themselves. Genuinely dont love a trio of TV personalities more than Clarkson, Hammond and May. Their hilarious in their own unique ways, all three have quirks that, if youre a long-time viewer you know all too well and they genuinely love what they do and enjoy each others company. The last component of it for me was the editing and story telling the producers and show put together through their specials and to a lesser degree the regular episodes. One of the best, most iconic shows and thankfully it has translated nearly perfectly to the Grand Tour, but the only sad part is I think were coming to the end or twilight of seeing those three on camera. Its going to be a sad day when theyre done making some of the best shows and content in history.

[@shingshongshamalama]

That and the sheer incredible production values.

[@redneckgaijin]

Something you left out: Richard Hammond, when this was being filmed, was still recovering from brain damage caused by the near-fatal jet car crash the previous fall. By his own admission in his books, he was pushing himself to return far too soon, and he didn't have the mental resiliency he would have had a year prior. Given all he was going through, I for one don't blame either him or the producers for not pushing him to reach the finish line.

[@tailssonicteam1604]

Very true. I'm sure Hammond would have loved to have reached the magnetic pole but obviously he and the producers took his health over pushing further onwards which is a good thing.

[@junehalog024]

The fact that he still went on despite all that makes him a big man in my books. The fear, anxiety and the physical burdens he has to endure just to give the viewers an amazing adventure is just one reason to love the Hamster.

[@allthingsminifig9263]

This video really made me realise how much i miss TopGear. We really didn't know how good we had it until it was gone. My favourite TV show of all time easily. It sounds weird but i actually feel proud to be from the country where TopGear was created. What an era.

[@PentexProductions]

It was completely unique because of the three hosts. The new format just don't have that same magic

[@tiadaid]

This Top Gear faded as the seasons go by. The Polar Special was probably its epoch.

[@lovelance__5892]

They created Mongolia special, which I think it is interesting though

[@lovelance__5892]

Sorry it is in Grand Tour

[@worldcomicsreview354]

​@@tiadaidYeah let's not pretend it didn't have it's duds, like the India episode.

[@alexosritterlich7213]

The Vietnam special remains undefeated in my opinion. Great Video!

[@PentexProductions]

It's a close second for me. That and The Long Way Round with Ewan McGregor really make you just want to buy a motorbike and drive off into the unknown.

[@jamesward6175]

Correct.

[@kain0m]

@@PentexProductions for me it was the Bolivia special. That was just something else.

[@noahd.4551]

Source of the Nile for me, what an epic adventure.

[@Allwin-lz6yj]

@@kain0mBotswana for me has to be up there

[@TheRealDoctorBonkus]

I have had my hardest and heartiest laughs watching these three buffoons trying to do something in the wider world, and the arctic special really is good, but I think my favourite will always be the Quest for the River Nile. The music was amazing and it was paired with stunning camera work. Absolutely a blast. But of course, the Africa Special and Oliver has a special place in our hearts as well

[@PentexProductions]

The adventures are all so great to watch. Brilliant TV

[@mattybob12310]

Africa Special for me. The idea of converting an Estate Car to a mobile B&B and going wherever you want is just awesome imo.

[@joshuawhelan9358]

I think one of the most incredible facts that I learned later on about this film was the this was the first time the show was recorded and released in High Definition in its entirety. They could've done any old studio show or even a much simpler special, but they chose to use high def for the first time in the Arctic, which produced some of the most stunning film I have seen.

[@GL-xz3xk]

Great essay! It’s easy to forget just how big Top Gear became once it moved from being a ‘car show’ to mainstream ‘entertainment’. Even with backup crews and support experts off camera, they really did create some pretty wild television.

[@PentexProductions]

The most audacious show............in the world!

[@VallornDeathblade]

I think one aspect of Top Gear that never gets enough mention is the amazing, sweeping shots they have of landscapes and cars. The camera and editing teams they had outdid nature documentaries in the stunning vistas they were able to produce and then smoothly move into sheer kinetic speed.

[@YourContentSucks.]

Clarkson will always be my hero, period. What he and Andy Wilman created with Top Gear made it unequivocally cool to be a petrolhead, and more importantly, taught millions and millions of us how to dream just a bit bigger than we might have done, so that one day, perhaps, the car that we hung the poster of on our wall might become the reality in our driveway.

[@allthingsminifig9263]

A lot of people dislike Clarkson, but he is genuinely one of my favourite people on earth. Like you said, what he helped to create is like no other. What an absolutely brilliant era of British television.

[@pokeboi5438]

@@allthingsminifig9263he’s a shithead but he’s our shithead 😤

[@worldcomicsreview354]

And if not, just remember a broken Opel Kadett can also go on an epic adventure!

[@arvind-venkat]

​@@worldcomicsreview354Oliverrr

[@bobbib4627]

​@@arvind-venkatnah, not enough soul in your comment bro. It should be at least "OLIVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRR!!" 😂

[@tk5800thesecond]

as a motorcyclist the vietnam special is my favourite. especially when clarkson starts having fun and Hammond has a buddy to ride along with

[@PentexProductions]

The Vietnam is a close second for me - the bikes make it feel like so much of an adventure. I love when they get each other "presents" like Hammond's massive galleon ship that he keeps breaking.

[@tk5800thesecond]

@@PentexProductions yeah, like you mentioned in your video. the three act structure sort ofapplies as well. they at first seperate and clarkson hates it. but then after pushing through some obstacles they begin to enjoy it, then the real challenge begins and they are at their lowest point building the widdle boats its great stuff

[@VallornDeathblade]

Clarkson and May christening themselves Team G&T always brings a chuckle for me. It's a great episode.

[@devanman7920]

Hammond deserves full respect to for doing this. Insane it even happened considering how unsafe it was.

[@holidaymail]

Well, he did have the whitest teeth after all 😂

[@1SaG]

According to wikipedia, the whole trip was roughly 300 miles. The finish line was a few hundreds miles south of the then-current location of the magnetic north pole and 800 miles south of the geographic north pole. The article also states that at no time did the teams leave Canadian territory and that there are several permanently inhabitant settlements they also stayed south of. I agree that this special feels like a high-point and also like the end of the greatest era of new Top Gear. For one thing, this is one of those episodes where you can catch glimpses of the presenters' actual personalities. In later seasons they relied more on more on (badly) acting out stereotypes (JC = big, loud idiot, JM = slightly confused, long haired idiot, RH = short, angry idiot from Birmingham).

[@McMeatBag]

I've always loved this one. This and the Bolivia episode are my all time favorites. I think a part of it is that the situations are so intense, they actually break character and drop the comedy. The clip of James pointing the shotgun in his face always gets me. You can tell no one was expecting it. I wonder what the planning for these adventures was like. I can imagine someone pitching the "let's drive to the North pole" idea, everyone having a laugh until they realize it's not a joke.

[@Arbiter-xw3ng]

One thing in this with Hammond, is this was fairly soon after his first massive crash, so he was already still a little rough. You can see how exhausted Hammond looks throughout season 9 of the show. I would recommend the book and on that bombshell to anyone who wants to know more about Top Gear.

[@AnthonyJoh]

The Polar Special and the 24 race are two of my favourite episodes of Top Gear.

[@zunaidparker]

The Botswana Special I'd say. But they're all very good so it's a close race 😉

[@mully006]

I agree with you 100%. I want to add though that the Top Ground Gear Force special for Sport Release was some of the best TV ever made.

[@tankeater]

25th of July was 1 day after I joined the military. Our flights got delayed so I stayed in a hotel with all the other LA MEPS. Needless to say, early morning on the 25th... I was in a NAVY girls hotel room, making the send off to Basic Training as best as possible! 🤣🤘

[@fredrikkirderf2907]

In High school I had to write an essay on a polar exhibition and I chose this episode

[@mplewp]

We where truly blessed to watch the polar special . Even my mom was in awe . And she didn’t even watch topgear . It was an amazing achievement

[@thomasredden4263]

I loved this special, but my favorite will always be the Patagonia special. The many bodged repairs, the plucky little Esprit that had no business running as well as it did and was probably the most well built car to ever come out of the Lotus factories, and a little bit of car soccer that turned into a fuckin riot over a number plate 😂 plus Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid is and will forever be my favorite movie, the constant quoting of it by Clarkson never ceases to make me smile and it’s so cool that they bc stayed in the actual cottage that the outlaws built while on the run in Argentina would have been such a cool experience. Sitting in the same living room that the, arguably, two greatest outlaws that the States have ever known and planning a trip to the tip of South America in the same place they planned their next move would be such a treat

[@PentexProductions]

Patagonia is a fantastic two parter - proper adventure and the ending is genuinely scary! The Butch Cassidy stuff is also great

[@worldcomicsreview354]

Patagonia could have become the same over-scripted crap, but the locals didn't follow the script! You'd think that might have told the producers something...

[@2KXMKR]

The car vs plane special with Hammond just sat in the back of the plane was a classic. The plane couldn't fly high enough to get over the Alps so they had to go in the complete wrong direction to go around them and half way through the genius that is Captain Slow revealed that he hadn't actually acquired the license that allows him to fly at night so they had to abandon the plane and take the train instead.

[@JScott-lg4jb]

I’m American, so we didn’t get every episode of top gear, but my favorite adventure movie/production is still and forever will be the Africa Special. I remember watching it as a kid with my mom at least 20 times.

[@patrickmitchell9068]

Top gear is great example of group of people who i say i dont like seperate or would like too know, about subject (cars) that i have learnt too dislike but together in this situation that i laugh and love. Also the editors must be some real heavy lifting on editing too edit around Clarkson alone

[@PentexProductions]

I heard the producer Andy Wilman say something like that in an interview - they take thousands of hours of footage on these adventures and the editors have to spend ages working around everything Clarkson is saying.

[@valentineveselov9060]

This video was perfect, before the "Green" message.

[@PandA-yx5ne]

This episode, the reliant robin space shuttle and hammonds first crash made top gear. It was some of the best TV ever produced and can't be replicated now.

[@artemperesada3454]

What a beautiful journey these 3 guys took us on. I will cherish these memories till the end of time.

[@demonhighwayman9403]

My favourite episode by far, thanks for making a video about it.

[@navelpicker]

Moved to the UK in mid ‘06. Discovered QI and Top Gear. The BBC were on fire in those years.

[@PentexProductions]

Don't forget the rebooted Doctor Who with Eccelston and Tennant, and the first season of Planet Earth!

[@navelpicker]

@@PentexProductions Planet Earth, of course! Must admit to not having been bitten by the Doc Who bug.

[@onelapfilms]

I agree that this is one of the most incredible adventures ever. A true inspiration for those who are not incredible athletes. When I rewatch specials, it is usually this one and the Vietnam special. It is adventures like this that made me pursue some similar roads trips in my life.

[@CuriousPug12]

every top gear specials(and grand tour specials) is worth re-watchable

[@nobleshirley2775]

I particularly enjoyed the Mongolia Grand Tour special, it shared many similarities with the Polar special

[@ericdoe2318]

7:05 the look on James and Hammond faces as Clarkson is made to roll in snow to dry off as he’s in shock and out of his mind is just too good

[@brettpetty7840]

Well thanks, now i need to watch all of those old seasons of top gear again. Great video

[@vincere9425]

As much as I love this special, Bolivia has to be my number 1 with Vietnam and this one as a close second and third. However, there are so many great episodes of this legendary show. Even one offs that such as “ top gear of the pops” are hilarious. Out of all the new format shows I would say “scandi flick” got closest at capturing the original magic.

[@oldmanwillyboy2786]

I flew across the arctic last month on my way to Nanavut for a Polar Bear research project, and it was completely ice-bound! PS.The Polar Bear population is at it's highest level since records began in 1988.

[@mf_from_hell]

The episode that always comes up for me when talking about the best of Top Gear is s07e05, when May and Hammond are in a place racing against Clarkson in a Bugatti Veyron. It was just the episode that made me fall in love with Top Gear and especially the epic race concept. They're using the old Batman soundtrack as well, which is great.

[@carltonleboss]

Whenever I hear Pomp and Circumstance no. 1 I think of that special.

[@oiram89]

Thank you for that video. It reminded me I need to watch the Polar Special again

[@JOERANSTRAIGHT]

I have watched every show multiple times and sometimes when it’s raining outside, my two boys join me and watching our favorite episodes. There is no car show that will ever match Top Gear. They could review potting soil, and I would watch. The chemistry on screen was something special and you can learn about cars and laugh And truly be fascinated by the locations they were at. My boys are both under 10 years old with a little bit of creative editing with my remote because some of the content is a little bit adult. We have enjoyed every episode. I have never laughed so hard with my boys. My boys and I work on our Mustang together and talk about the different episodes and still laugh at the absolute hilarity That is the one and only Top Gear ! I know it’s a wish that they will never be fulfilled, but I wish the BBC would bring back Top Gear with a couple of episodes a year but I think pride will get in the way and it doesn’t seem like they want to make money anymore because they seem to be putting out garbage at every opportunity lately.

[@alfieclark4408]

My favourite episode has to be the caravan holiday episode.

[@PentexProductions]

One of the best 'modify a car' challenges, for sure.

[@carltonleboss]

Are you not talking about the one where they set the caravan on fire? Or are you talking about the one with the leaning tower of Citroen?

[@BaracchiL]

Just discovered this video, I loved the polar special but I believe the Source of the Nile and the Bolivia ones are on another level. But the level of production behind this Polar special, the risk and everything attached are unsurpassed. Also: "Hammond? May. Bad Luck" is one of the best lines of television EVER.

[@aysbg]

Polar, Bolivia, crossing the desert in Africa (Oliver), Vietnam and Patagonia. Those are my favorites.

[@YesIAmSmarterThanYouPleaseCope]

Nice analysis. It makes the flaws of Grand Tour even more obvious compared to the specials, especially the increasing use of digital effects.

[@jessthomas3910]

Top Gear! Now we've entered MY area of expertise 🤣 Interesting fact about the car show, the highest rated episode on IMDB was the Vietnam Special where they use motorbikes rather than cars, and the top 150 episodes on IMDB (or maybe up to about 140ish) are all Clarkson, Hammond and May episodes (which there were about 170 of) before you even get any of the later episodes appearing in that list. My personal favourite though is Botswana, there was something particularly magic about that episode, that made me like it even more than the excellent aesthetic of travelling through Vietnam, which I would typically prefer. I read the book by Richard Porter, the script writer for the show, and it was interesting to hear about the things that were scripted, the things that weren't, the things that were scripted but the BBC wouldn't let them do, and the things that were scripted but the BBC wouldn't let them do and yet they did it anyway. The Grand Tour recently did a China special which is the closest I think it ever got to these Golden era episodes and I wish they spent more time focusing on the China trip itself.

[@delphipascal]

Glad this episode is finally getting the deserved recognition. Its my 2nd favourite after vietnam.

[@AnInterestedObserver]

I agree. It was an amazing program. It might sound silly but I've avoided watching it again because it was so good, so impactful, that I didn't want to risk spoiling that experience. However, I'm now ready to see it again!

[@ahmetfahrikucuk]

I might add, this episode also had the best sound/music design I've seen on top gear.

[@miniotgf]

I remember that in elementary school my geography teacher would tell me that the north pole is so remote and inaccesable that no car would ever be capable to reach it.

[@vastsleep7152]

The Patagonia Special will always be my favorite considering it was one of their last specials on Top Gear. It also was just a very fun adventure where they experienced so many beautiful areas. Also included one of Jeremy's most touching moments in the show where he talked about why he loved the 928 so much. Not to mention that they all had great cars and for once James picked the most interesting car rather than something boring. I almost prefer how it ended so chaotically (obviously after the fact that no one was seriously hurt) rather than the original plan of playing car soccer. Especially considering I love Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid just like Jeremy and they ended it by paying homage to the movie's ending. In my opinion the five best Top Gear/Grand Tour specials are: 1. Patagonia Special 2. Vietnam Special 3. Bolivia Special 4. Mongolia Special 5. Africa Special honorable mention: USA Bonneville Special

[@U2QuoZepplin]

They are masters of the scenes where you're not sure if they are joking or not. It's like the umpteenth time Clarkson or Hammond bump in to the back of James May's car, but on that occasion he just happened to have a very big machette to hand. 😂

[@w-james9277]

TG was my favourite TV show for years. I'd look forward to it every Sunday at 8pm on BB2 and laugh my ass off. Im sad it ended the way it did but I have nothing but fond memories and nostalgia every time I think about it.

[@closeben]

I love this video because it seems so out of place from the rest of your videos but you’re saying all the same things you talk about in those, largely around analysis of editing and storytelling and behind the scenes info. I don’t know that I remember all of Top Gear and Grand Tour well enough to crown a definitive favourite, but the most memorable to me is the Africa one where they find the “source” of the Nile.

[@PentexProductions]

The Nile adventure is another favourite of mine, and the Vietnam adventure. Glad you enjoyed the video! It is a bit of a step change from my other stuff, but the joy of this channel being a hobby not a job is that I get to just make videos about things I want to talk about, rather than worrying too much about chasing 'the algorithm.' Thankfully this video found an audience :)

[@ben6993]

My personal favourite is the Botswana special. OLIVER! Most of them are great though 👍🏻

[@PentexProductions]

Oliverrrrrr!

[@devravi7049]

i know it's mildly unrelated but the fact that the top gear track is being torn down depresses me. anyway amazing video, made me tear up with nostalgia.

[@TheOrangeType]

This video has the only “like and subscribe” bit that has ever convinced me to follow through. Great channel, and I get to see Jeremy Clarkson freeze. Win win.

[@Milkydrummer]

The U.K have tried to get rid of Clarkson from t.v for decades… but he’s always brought ratings, and always appears on a new show… the guy is hilarious, and incredibly charismatic.

[@el9206]

I have to agree that the technical difficulty and sheer extreme circumstances of the Polar special make it stand out, my favorite will always be Bolivia.

[@VeryStableGenius]

I love this. Well done.

[@HalftimeRanga]

Recently stumbled upto ya work mate, honestly fkn amazing Kia kaha my friend, don't stop doing what makes ya happy 😊

[@PentexProductions]

Chur!

[@anonymousart22]

It could not have been a video about Top Gear without JC's iconic phrases hehe....thank you for recapping my childhood and make perhaps...the GREATEST VIDEO......IN THE WUURRRLLDDD....

[@alantaylor353]

Thanks mate, subbed & liked & best wishes from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🙏 ♥ That Arctic Trucks Toyota is one of my favorite TG vehicles ever.!

[@PentexProductions]

Welcome! Scotland is fabulous! What did you make of the Lochdown episode of The Grand Tour?

[@alantaylor353]

@@PentexProductions I thoroughly enjoyed it... They drove through my tiny village (Kinlochewe next to Loch Maree) there's actually a quick shot of where I live. They made a stop at the village petrol station, the owner called to tell me because we're both huge petrol heads, but unfortunately I was miles away at the time.!! My house is actually right on the main road (a single track) 😂 which is part of the NC500 driving route (race) 😉. At this time of year I see hundreds & hundreds of tourists drive past every day & many of them come on owner's club trips, my house is also directly across from the cafe car park where many people stop by.. I literally see all sorts of vehicles from Vespas, Honda C90's, JDM, classics, Eurotrash, vintage, tractors, lorries, hot hatches, off road monsters, muscle cars, sports cars & exotics... I've seen a Ferrari Enzo, a McLaren P1, genuine Shelby Cobras, Porsches, Lambos, Zonda, Koenigseggs, Spykers, etc, etc... When I first moved here 20 years ago I used to drop everything & run out with my camera whenever something special pulled up.... But nowadays I'm used to it... That's not to say I don't occasionally go weak at the knees when something really, really special turns up... Like an RS500 or a 205 GTI.! 😉 😉 If you ever find yourself in the village, stop in at Dave's petrol station & cafe to see what I mean... He has his walls plastered with photographs he's taken of some of his favourite cars that have stopped by... You won't find any EVs on his walls btw.! 😂 Thank you for your video, I really enjoyed it.!!! 👍 👍 👍 I've just subbed & liked.... Please stay safe out there mate & best wishes from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🙏 ♥ 🚓 🚒 🚑 🚐 🚔 🚕 🚖 🚗 🚘 🚙 🚚 🚛 🚜 🏎️ 🏍️ 🚤 🛥️ ✈️ 🛩️ 🚁.!

[@smOOdiebOOdie]

This special and the Africa special (search for the Nile’s origin) are my two favorite specials they’ve ever made ✌🏻

[@littlepotatomaneatstomatoe8160]

This is a surprise to be sure but a welcome one

[@PentexProductions]

Something a bit different to kick off the new year with.

[@Moonboy65]

another point that made the Polar Special stand out was that it was the first episode in the series ever aired in HDTV

[@Boxmediaphile]

James cocking a shotgun while Clarkson was on the throne stands out to me

[@GeoZeppelin1979]

this,and the Bolivia special are my favorite TG episodes EVER

[@DiogeneDeSin0pe]

This is the episode to show to people that might not know about Top Gear.

[@PentexProductions]

Absolutely, or the Vietnam special. Both great entry points for the series and dynamic between the trio.

[@flyboythirteen5979]

Favorite show of all time.

[@chinaman1]

This is my Top Gear (JMR ERA) specials ranking: 10: Winter Olympics Special 9: USA Special 8: Burma Special 7: Botswana Special 6: Bolivia Special 5: Vietnam Special 4: Middle East Special 3: India Special 2: Polar Special 1: Africa Special Pt 1 and pt 2

[@borismuller86]

Their arctic doctor (who warned about polar bears sneaking up on you) was my GP. Very cool guy. Edit: 18:35 is my local pub, too.

[@Rebasepoiss]

Although this was NEVER mentioned in the aired verion of the episode (though you could see it from the GPS coordinates) what they actually visited was the magnetic North pole which is a long way from the geographic North pole. They did mention this in one of the deleted scenes, however.

[@danielfirestine9414]

I'm from the US I've always loved Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson

[@chinesemassproduction]

You're pretty good at making these videos. A real deal KZbinr in this day and age.

[@crazzy88ss]

I always start with the Polar Special whenever I introduce somebody to Top Gear who has never seen it before. And then Botswana when they inevitably want more.

[@leftovernoise]

Another great video!

[@PentexProductions]

Thanks for watching :)

[@Josh_Roberts]

Polar special, winter olympics, tractors, britcar 24 hour, my favourites

[@Pepitobenito]

The Polar Special may not quite be my overall favourite adventure (Bolivia or Vietnam for that honour), but it's no doubt the most impressive.

[@TRC98]

Jesus it feels like yesterday when this came out. I had assumed it was early 2010's....

[@bradleyc543]

So iconic, so funny. Love it.

[@franzdoreza5230]

I mean they weren’t going by themselves on a hike, well Richard is.. but they had an awesome truck and a huge crew with backup.. they weren’t mountain climbing or exploring..of course if they break the ice they could be fucked.. but I don’t believe they would take a huge risk without knowing the hazards. Without the negativity it wouldn’t be as entertaining.. I absolutely loved it..because each person is like a piece of me.. I can relate and really like all of them.. and I’m in the same age group..and the real experience and emotions you get from them make it really different and special..

[@georgedavies5042]

Clarckson is a national treasure idc what anyone says

[@timothytt547]

Looking back, it was absolutely insane. Maybe it's grim but part of what made it captivating was the very real risk of death. The fact that the execs approved of this somehow was probably the most surprising thing. They probably won't do that ever again.

[@wonjoomin]

For me, the search for origin of Nile was the best Top Gear special🎉🎉🎉

[@BarryHWhite]

I was the only person in the planet, who didn't want to be at an Iron Maiden concert. Like May...I ended up FUKIN LOVING EVERY NOTE!.

[@faizalavi5065]

The Vietnam, Botswana and Africa Specials are unbeaten.

[@Sergiblacklist]

My favourite is the Vietnam followed by the Botswana special. But the polar special is amazing and under rated

[@carltonleboss]

God, I love this special.

[@erockhikes8515]

The specials are all great,but this ones the best.

[@tylerallison9735]

I would argue that this episode set the tone for the series as a whole, but the episode where they left Hammond on a mountain in Canada was the episode that changed the show entirely

[@JDP203]

I personally enjoyed the Botswana special from the 10th season the most. Polar special is a close second.

[@PentexProductions]

Botswana is a real highlight for me too. Add Vietnam and you have my top three!

[@jasperoliger]

These three men are brilliant, I will maintain the Burma special is the best television ever, the narrative of Lori driving and building the bridge over the river cock. The commodity and discovery in those episodes is incredible

[@MikeHarris1984]

This is the greatest trio that ever existed... They are amazing geniuses... Massive fan since here in America, I saw the "stongest truck ever" the Toyota pickup... That episode got me addicted to these three.... finding what I can because there was no where I can find that aired this in US..... Then when BBC America because a channel in America, I watched everything I could.... and then online video became a thing.... (see kids, before, online video streaming was made, you had to download the entire movie file, then play with a program on your computer..) I am sad that Amazon change Grand Tour from a clone of TG, to just specials. I loved the talking, and car news, and interviews and big star in a resonably priced car..... now just an hour special, its not as special..... but still some of the most funny tv ever.... My wife even watches Grand Tour with me and laughing at their child like bickering.... Just flat out amazing chemestry between them...

[@worldcomicsreview354]

To be fair, they're getting on a bit. They probably don't want to do entire series any more.

[@nt6444]

Yo loving the content big guy

[@aimanazrie8944]

This video is even funnier when you can "hear" the audio-less clips. Because I bet everyone who's watching this video must've seen lots of TG multiple times.

[@RahulKapoor9992]

Top Gear: The Polar Special… and The Grand Tour Mongolia Special… no TV show has ever gotten it so right in history.

[@salacca2297]

The Vietnam moped special is my favorite

[@TomElliottJackson]

I know what you mean, when they were in Bolivia and on Death Road theres a moment where Jeremy is inches from going over and he appears genuinely scared and rhe long shot of the car proves it's him in the car during the really dangerous bit

[@scottthomson9813]

Enjoyed the video. The Arctic by the way is doing just fine.