To wonder why Top Gear is so popular worldwide?

[AWholeLottaNosy]

So the new series was broadcast simultaneously in 50 countries, apparently it makes the BBC £80 million per year! Why? It's just 3 middle aged men basically dicking around with cars. I know it's quite funny and the hover van episode had me laughing out loud ,( even though I learnt some of it was staged), but, I really don't get it. And 300,000 people want to be in the audience to stand around looking gormless... Can anyone explain it to me??

Another closet James May fan here...

I like Hammond best.

I love the chemistry between them. It really works.

My favourite episodes were the strech "limo" one and the caravan one. I could watch them over and over again.

Bun when JC had Chris Moyles in the back? That was excellent. Two MN favourites in the one car......

That's the one. Where he needed a trolley to get down the car. Classic comedy.

I have met James May and he is one of the most charming men alive.

The caravan episode was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. So what if it's scripted? Most things are including comedy shows and stand up comedians, it doesn't mean they aren't funny.

I used to sneer - until my DS started to watch it and like many others I watched along with him - and loved seeing him laugh - and then laughed myself. And I absolutely love it for reasons many here have outlined. Also fancy James May - clever bloke.

(And I am not typical target audience either)

I accidentally watched it last Sunday and found it quite funny. I like May & Hammond - can't stand Clarkson. I have caught parts of other episodes as ds1 likes it.

Some of the cars are at Beaulieu including the limo.

www.beaulieu.co.uk/attractions/world-of-top-gear/challenge-car-gallery

We've always watched it as a bonding family experience . Even though I don't have an interest in cars I do love watching those three dafties. I watch the repeats too. We went to see Top Gear Live last year - it was fab! I recommend it

Richard Hammond! I could eat him, he'sso yummy!

I like james May too, and Clarksons hilarious (when hes not being controvertial.)

We're watching a reapeat on Dave atm about the mobility scooters, seen it before but were mahoosive TG fans here.

Its LOL entertaining, and Ive learnt a lot about cars too.

Did I mention I love Richard Hammond?/?????

I don't think I've ever heard Clarkson make a misogynistic comment.

Benny Hill was sold to many countries. At least Top Gear is not that bad

Slightly off topic but today i managwd to ID the voice of Harv, Lightning McQueens agent in Cars 1. Its jeremy!

Good god they arnt fanciable though! Seriously.

Thats a vomit green by the way.

But it's watchable. It's the crappy soaps that piss me off.

"...and on that bombshell..."
"how hard could it possibly be?"
"gentlemens' vegetables"

...have all made it into our family vocabulary, we all like TG.

'cocking about' is in ours taxi.

Nissan Kumquat
The baby Jesus
Has the sex appeal of a camel with gingivitis

"...and on that bombshell..."

Which was stolen from Steve Coogan's 'Knowing me knowing you' Alan Partridge would end each show with that phrase.

we 'play' Top gear when Im driving as my autistic child knows every single line and scene!

''Power''!!!

''Buffetting''.

''SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDD!!!''

when we go round a roundabout ''round Hammerhead/Chicago.Gambon corner''.

we play genesis 'I know what I like' (We love the song btw) but we shout like Hammond ''I hate that song!!!!''.

the baby Stig/jesus special was hilarious.