List of Top Gear (1977 TV series) episodes

"Series 46" and "Series 47"

As per the "BBC Top Gear Infax" document provided by Des & Mick, which was compiled using BBC's Programme-as-Broadcast documents on Top Gear, this can be seen under the first episode of Series 45:

1/15 in new series of motorng magazine pres by Jason BARLOW w Adrian SIMPSON, Vicki BUTLER-HENDERSON & Tiff NEEDELL;itms re Renault Laguna II,Secnd Hand Audis & Mercedes,Hyundai Santa Fe,Lamborghini Muira V6,Rover,Eco Basic etc.

Information above suggests that Series 45 was originally envisioned as 15-part, which means that Series 46 "started" from Series 45, Episode 16, broadcast on 14th June 2001.

Additionally, the original version of Series 45, Episode 31 (which under the Series 46 labeling would have been Series 46, Episode 16), this can be heard during the outro sequence as narrated by Jason Barlow:

There is no Top Gear next week, because it's football - but we'll be back in two weeks with the last programme in the series, including BMW's dramatic new 7-Series, Jaguar's sensual R-Coupe, and the last Rolls-Royce to be made out of Crewe.

On the actual broadcast BBC Two version, the outro sequence is edited, as the "last programme in the series" mention is replaced with the Porsche 911 GT2 being mentioned and the "no Top Gear next week because of football" being removed, as it was meant to be for the episode after (due to the BBC showing Match of the Day Live: Helsingborgs IF v Ipswich Town football match coverage, which takes up the Top Gear slot, moving Series 45, Episode 33 subsequently to 8th November 2001):

There is no Top Gear next week, but we'll be back in two weeks with BMW's dramatic new 7-Series, Porsche's wild 911 GT2, Jaguar's sensual R-Coupe, and the last Rolls-Royce to be made out of Crewe.

The possible reasoning as to why "Series 46" was radically different to Series 45, could be a result of BBC Two's controller Jane Root "axing" Top Gear in August 2001, resulting in the segments being filmed much more differently than previously.

All of this means that Series 45, Episode 32, being Series 46, Episode 17, was the "last episode" of Series 46, as Series 47 would start on the 8th November 2001, with Jason Barlow and Adrian Simpson assessing the Ford Focus - the teased 911 GT2 segment was moved to Series 45, Episode 34 (or Series 47, Episode 2), broadcast on 15th November 2001.

This is BBC Genome's listing for Series 45, Episode 35 (or Series 47, Episode 3):

The motoring magazine returns for a new ten-part series. Vicki Butler-Henderson sizes up the new Volkswagen Polo, while Jason Barlow and Adrian Simpson report on BMW's fortunes in the competitive executive-car market.

And as this goes, this suggests that Series 47 was supposed to be 10-part, especially noticeable by the segment placement in those November-December 2001 episodes.

At the start of Series 45, Episode 36 (or Series 47, Episode 4), Jason Barlow is heard saying this piece to the camera:

On tonight's Top Gear, in this, the last of our four specials, focusing on the nation's best-sellers, we examine a market segment that was actually... extinct, 10 years ago; the roadster.

From the originally planned 10 programmes, only 5 materialized, with the last one being Top Gear Awards 2002 broadcast on 4th February 2002.

To summarize, Series 45, despite having 37 programmes on account (two of them being specials), was at one point internally split to 15-part, then 16-part with the next series, and then originally 10-part (but only half was made out of the original ten). Series 45 can be still called the longest series of Top Gear due to it being troublesome during production (meaning that the "Series 46" and "Series 47" can be disregarded), but it also can be split to Series 45, 46 and 47 respectively, making Series 37 the longest ever ran series of Top Gear.

Top Gear Rally Report

Rally Report was a series of programmes broadcast by the BBC dedicated to broadcasting previews, highlights and reports of the Lombard RAC Rally of the United Kingdom, and latterly, the final round of the World Rally Championship. William Woollard presented in studio segments, whilst Sue Baker, or Tony Mason in later years, presented the location reports on the stages. There are sixty five episodes in all, produced between 1984 and 1998, including all specials, but excluding the preview of the 1995 RAC Rally, as the total episodes for that series is unknown.

Top Gear Motorsport

Top Gear Motorsport was a series of programmes broadcast by the BBC covering various forms of motorsport such as the World Rally Championship, the British Rally Championship, British Formula Three, Formula Renault and Formula Vauxhall Junior racing, as well as British Superbike and Eurocar challenges. Tiff Needell presented the show throughout the show's run. The programme was broadcast weekly on a Friday timeslot. The show was broadcast between 1994 and 1998, and ninety four episodes were produced in all, including specials.

Top Gear Take 2

Top Gear Take 2 was a series of programmes broadcast by the BBC looking back on previous segments of Top Gear over the years. Each programme ran for fifteen minutes on BBC Two, with repeats surfacing in 1997, on the then new UK Horizons. Presenters included Quentin Willson, Steve Berry, Jeremy Clarkson and Tiff Needell. The show was broadcast between 1992 and 1999, with fifty six episodes being produced.

Top Gear Waterworld

Top Gear Waterworld was a series of programmes broadcast by the BBC covering water based vehicles, and various activities related to them, such as Citroën 2CV river racing in Brittany, and how to ease traffic congestion in London by using water transport on the River Thames. The series was presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Tiff Needell and Julia Bradbury. The show was broadcast in 1998, with ten episodes being produced.

Top Gear GTi

Top Gear GTi was a series of programmes broadcast by the BBC covering a variety of features such as car reviews, special features such as attending a driving school and motor shows. Essentially, GTi is an expansion on the main programme. The series was mainly presented by Vicki Butler-Henderson, although Steve Berry and Jason Bradbury appeared on the show at times. The show was the last of the spin off series' of Top Gear to be broadcast, airing between September 1999 and May 2001, with more than one hundred episodes in its name. Unlike any other spin off, Top Gear GTi was broadcast on a near daily timeslot on the UK Horizons channel.