You mean the naughty Vicky Butler Henderson?
I recall she drove a Mercedes SL so hard the engine management though it was going to roll over, deploying the roll over bar.
Was that it?
Wonderful stuff.
--
I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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Was that it?
No, I believe the one Victorbox is referring to is the Estate Merc that she trashed by setting it on fire, drowning it, beating it up with a baseball bat - in other words a copy of what Top Gear did to the Toyota Hilux.
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I've given up on it already and the first episode hasn't finished.
I've seen this whole series before a couple of months ago.
They have replaced Top with Fifth and just repeated it haven't they - racing planes round tracks etc.
IMO the show is terrible - come back Top Gear - quickly.
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What a waste of time. Tim Lovejoy stick to footy - 4 speech trip ups whilst reading from a script in first 5 minutes. Only mildly interesting bit was the fully automated Golf. If anyone wants a car crushing using a JCB 30 tonner I know a man who can!
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Only mildly interesting bit was the fully automated Golf.
Although I've only seen the last half hour of the show, I have to agree. Will watch the first half later; but from what I have seen so far, I'm not sure if I can take much more of Tim Lovejoy sucking up to Vicki.
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Total disappointment. The self driving golf was interesting. The DJ car was mildly diverting. The rest of it was a waste of electrons.
teabelly
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"The self driving golf was interesting"
I agree so John Bentley was the presenter with the only little bit of gravitas.
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It was dire, dire, dire, dire, dire, dire, dire.................................and possiblly evern awful!!
Top Gear is infinitely more polished although still showing some equally banal items which cause me to keep on looking at my watch/clocks to see how much time there is to the end - I'm sorry to have to say.
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Vandalising a old Golf with a digger?
What'as that about? Entertainment?
Programme is for children that should be in bed by 8pm
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Have to agree.I looked forward to the new series and was so dissapointed I changed channels and watched
the labour loans scandel on 4
They seem to have destroyed a half decent program and replaced it with a program to target yoof culture.
i just realised how good Jason Plato was !
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"i just realised how good Jason Plato was !"
So they've replaced Plato with an antiques dealer? SWMBO will be distraught. He was the only reason she agreed to come with me to Brands Hatch last weekend....
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According ot the website, Plato is still there.
Me thinks youre confusing Tim Lovejoy for Ian McShanes character.
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"Me thinks youre confusing Tim Lovejoy for Ian McShanes character."
Ah, my mistake - sorry!
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that was dire wasn't it........wooden acting, old hash ups of previous ideas, did anyone notice the man in the Ace Cafe who looked like he'd come out of the toliet in the background with his trousers still full?
SWMBO has never really liked 5th gear.......unlike TG which she really quite enjoys..... and i've had a battle in the past to get her to watch it.............. this time round i had to side with her...........i'll give it one more go and if it's as bad next week as it was this week it'll have to go
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Lets not forget Fifth Gear really is the old Top Gear. Presenters and production team went to Channel 5 when the Beeb suspended it.... Good on the Beeb.
My wife likes the current Top Gear and so knew who RH, JC and JM were when RH crashed. It's entertainment and the old Top Gear she'd have never watched with me.
Biggest surprise of the week.... she spotted a Chrysler 300C and liked it. If I could afford it I thought she'd never agree to that! Might be the knock to the head in the Italy accident ;-) Still don't think I could afford one but looking into it.
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Ahh...my heart belongs to the Hamster, but Plato would come a very close second. If he's left fifth gear then there is nothing left to watch it for.
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I've just emailed the programme the link to this discussion. (Their email; 'fifthgear@five.tv')
I wonder will anyone at 5th Gear read these mostly negative posts??
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I once made a complaint to BBC News ... they made a mistake regarding a football score for my wife's club and offered poor coverage... they apologised (still have the email) and wonder of wonders, they mentioned the team for the next two months all the time. Coincidence of course.
So yeh point them in this direction. If car enthusiasts avoid the programme it will die... i didn't bother watching even though I saw this thread this afternoon. And no I didn't even record it.
Bring back Top Gear.
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I watched 5 minutes, and then decided my time would be better spent dealing with the cat's litter tray.
I would welcome an authoritative car program - one that isn't afraid to present more technical information. However, I expect I'm a slightly odd case, and in the current lowest common denominator programming, I can't see that happening soon. Perhaps, however, there is room for an automotive Adam Hart-Davis or Fred Dibnah type of enthusiastic presentation of the technical side of cars.
I can tolerate the laddish and witty Top Gear - just about!. However, Fifth Gear is neither informative or funny. I'm sure that the presenters could do better if they stopped attempting to ape Top Gear, and began to plough their own furrow.
Number_Cruncher
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If 5th gear became an 'authoritative car programme' methinks John Bentley would be the only one capable.
That annoying Vicky Butler Henderson?? Whatever could she do??
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I wouldn't have believed it possible, but that program has hit an all time low - pathetic. And I was so looking forward to it.
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Oh well that's were Sky+ comes in handy, where's the yellow button ? Ah there! ..delete.
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"Ahh...my heart belongs to the Hamster, but Plato would come a very close second."
Funnily enough, that's exactly near enough to the word what SWMBO said to me on Sunday night.
I so want that black Ferrari on the right hand side of this screen....
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The problem is that such programmes are fast running out of new ideas.
Top Gear overcame the problem at first by going out more and more on a limb, but the stage has now been reached where something different is very diffcult to come up with and, in the end, bears little relevance to everyday motoring.
Don't get me wrong. There's no one around, for instance, that enjoys Top Gear more than me and it fulfils its aim of entertaining (for 70 per cent of the time) superbly, but eventually the production team hit a brick wall.
So here's your chance. Suggest something that Top Gear, Fifth Gear or any other motoring programme can take on board that's not been done before.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Before RH's crash I'd heard this was the last season of Top Gear. If that was true it backs up what you say. And I'd agree.
Unless the show is about reviews of all new cars (boring I can test drive them) then they have a problem. TG was different but no much new they can do... hence the jet car?
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It isn't the novelty that makes me watch TG. It's the obvious fun and cameraderie and sillyness that goes on between the presenters which makes it something special. It's kind of like last of the summer wine. They do the same old stuff every week for years on end but still it amuses. The TG presenters are the Compo, Cleg & Foggy of the future :-)
Anyone can do a turgid programme about cars, Pulling Power frequently does, but it takes a special brew of people to do something a bit more. The quality of writing on TG is high. I used to like the earlier series or three of driven with their car tests and the presenters on that always seemed like they were having a good time together first, and presenting a programme second. With fifth gear it seems to be the other way round. The gadget show is the same as TG to some extent. The reviews of products are good, there is a bit of gimmickery but the presenters are happy to try new things, do daft stuff and joke around with each other which is what makes it worth watching.
There hasn't been an all female car show yet. VBH & Sabine Schmidt would seem like an explosive combination. Chuck in Penny Mallory as the sensible one and see what happens....as long as it doesn't have Michelle Newman it should be ok!
teabelly
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There hasn't been an all female car show yet. VBH & Sabine Schmidt would seem like an explosive combination. Chuck in Penny Mallory as the sensible one and see what happens....as long as it doesn't have Michelle Newman it should be ok!
Teabelly, you have the makings of a REALLY good idea there (swear filter and my limited vocabulary precludes further emphasis).
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I think we should start a petition to run alongside the 'Save Top Gear' one. This one would be 'Get rid of the dirge known as Fifth Gear'. I never thought the day would come when I turned a motoring programme off, (I even persisted through the very last series of Driven).
This was utter, utter tat! My wooden table has got more ability than those new presenters!
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Seconded. Although I would also like to see the back of Tiff Needell- far too smug- and why does he insist on showing off his power sliding skills every 5 seconds.
Personally would like to see more of Jason Plato, and would like to see more of Mike Brewer and Jason Barlow on a program like this (but leave TG as is).
Who is that new bloke of FG? Never heard of him before- although so wooden might have mistaken him for a prop before. Even in a 'real' environment came over as totally false, and even more forced buddy atmosphere than ever.
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Didn't watch Fifth Gear but if you're on about Tim Lovejoy it's a shame really. He presents a program called Soccer AM and he's actually really good on that. Looks like Fifth Gear just isn't for him.
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The Al Gore spot was interesting although it wasn't exactly a probing interview. Dunno where that new guy has sprouted from but I thought he was ok too.
I'm sure there were episodes in the last series that were far worse. I have to admit I was watching it with one eye, I was busy doing something else.
Yeah I'd like to see Mike Brewer given some good terrestrial work and that other guy, the bald one, I think his name is Dom.
Him from the gadget show - can't stand him. Tom the fat bloke is ok though but his features are very hit and miss. The DJ-ing Aygo did nothing for me.
It's a generic magazine programme and backroomers have more specific needs and wants. I'm sure a lot of Britons enjoyed it.
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"So the racing should be worth watching."
Precisely why I adore touring cars - it's so watchable.... and there's Plato....and Tom Chilton...and the added amusement of Fiona consistently not winning anything.
I wouldnt watch anything that had VBH as main presenter. Cant stand the way she simpers all over people.
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"So the racing should be worth watching." Precisely why I adore touring cars - it's so watchable....
i'll tell you what's even better and an added bonus is hardly anyone goes to watch them, so you virtually have the place to yourself
the older stuff like the HSSC (Historic Sports Car Club) or maybe AMOC (Astons), JDC (Jags) etc,etc
there's nothing better than seeing an E Type battling a Mustang or a 70's saloon race with a Rover V8 versus Dolomite Sprint.... where the cars do power drifts, the drivers constantly battling with opposite lock with the tyres screaming as they're not as roadworhty as the newer stuff.........so the handling is more entertaining
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haven't heard the word 'simpers' for years PoloGirl
Describes that woman eloquently.
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Now that FG is a clone of TG, is there a programme on telly anywhere for people like me who are interested in motoring topics which go into more depth than "how fast can it accelerate and corner"?
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Yes, it was complete and utter rubbish - aimed squarely at kids. Won't be wasting my Monday evenings on that again.
The only vaguely worthwhile bit was the (admitedly very slim) chance to win a MINI GP for a £1 text.
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You and me alike, it seems, miss the days when motoring programmes on TV were about motoring and not silly pranks..
Obviously I do not want to back to the days when we were shown how to clean or change the points in our distributors but I would like to see a more sobe,r perhaps sensible side to motoring topics on TV - why do they have to be of a mass entertainment format for all the family? Surely some part of these programmes could have a more useful and serious segment?
There are lots of new cars out there which I'd like to see compared, sensibly, without the frivolity or banality which seems to be de rigeur in programmes such as TG and FG. It grieves me to say this but I'm losing my patience with both of these, because they leave me depressed and embarrassed with their content - Sorry guys and gals.
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I cannot judge the entire program as I channel hopped but the words:
drivel, childish, puerile , badly presented , what a load of rubbish
come to mind.
Another program to miss:-)
madf
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It may just possibly be the case that serious discussion of the automobile for public consumption is regarded as dangerous, like serious discussion of politics, economics and international affairs. It is feared that we wouldn't understand, or worse still that we might.
Keep it dumbed down in public, keep the real stuff for closed session.
Baaa! Baaa!
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The same reason 5th gear had a digger squashing a parked old Golf.
completley pointless, maybe for infants TV
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Some airport runways have public roads close to the take off area. At least now I know not to drive across the back of a 747 should I ever find myself on such a road!
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This pic illustrates my point!!!
tinyurl.com/lw9xh
And this airport does get 747s.
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VBH is one of my least favorite presenters. On one show they featured a yellow Rolls Royce.
She said something along the lines of it being "the sort of car that Craig the builder who won Big Brother would have bought, if he hadn't have given his winnings to charity."
{Some text removed as was not relevant to the post - DD}
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Liked the Golf thing, but it could have easily fitted into the Gadget show, on before 5th Gear.
Can't abide VBH, her puting and grunting don't do it for me, and she can't control a car - the MINI GP kept snatching back from her when she was driving it.
Tiff is just great; the plane thing was a good idea, well executed, but somehow boring. The camerawork was dizzingly unwatchable.
Beardy man seems to have good bits (Japan in last series) and poor bits (like last night's Aygo).
I'm a fan of Soccer AM (and the All sports show too when Lovejoy was on it). He's a good presenter, either we'll get used to him talking about cars or they'll sack him. Ideally, they should get Helen Chamberlain in with him too, she knows her wheels and is a lot better on TV than VBH (imho).
Hope 5th Gear isn't going the way of Driven (i.e. down the pan and off the telly) as if the alternative is a documentary on labour funding then I'd still rather try for a car show.
Interestingly, directly after 5th Gear was used car roadshow on m&m. I really like this show. Sky+ it to skip the repeated bit, but the cars are more realistic and despite not liking him much on TG, Jason Dawe is really very good on this - doesn't harm him having the delicable Penny on with him either.
And for completeness, who's that weird bloke on Gone in 60 Seconds on M&M, the auction show? Looks a bit shifty to me. :-)
-- You know, it\'s not like changing toothpaste
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I used to quite like it when the last series was on but last nights, what a pile of poo. Shan't be watching it again.
Channel 4's Driven went the same way- earlier series of that were good, then it went all daft and got cancelled.
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Completely agree with Ibiza-driver. What a cheap, cr*ppy copy of Top Gear. Turned off after 5 minutes, and don't intend watching again. God help us if they cancel TG and we're forced to watch 5th Gear as a motoring show!
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Didn't like the new 5th gear at all.
Love Top Gear but also like Used Car Road Show on M&M , seemed to be an older type show this week though. Big fan of the new series of Wheeler Dealers on Disc Real Time as well. I used to restore loads of classic cars, now have the back from hell(probably that Zodiac clutch), fun to watch though.
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Vroom vroom is carp too.
I have only recently started watching that, but I actually quite like the show. Yes, it's a bit tacky, but miles better that 5th G.
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Vroom Vroom
EPB is a definite improvement over VBH
-- You know, it\'s not like changing toothpaste
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The first episode was absolute rubbish - last seasons Top Gear ideas poorly re-hashed.
Vicky BH acts like an over-excited teenager on speed, and Mr Lovejoy should be presenting childrens TV.
Embarrassing effort for prime time TV
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I am liking this show less and less. Thought the Cafe idea was silly - the live audience being effectively disconnected from the presenters. This is something TG does very well and the audience being involved gives the show a bit of an edge.
The new presenter seemed completely wet to me and the exchanges with VBH over-rehearesed and lacking any sponteneity (again TG presentation much sharper and you do get a sense that the guys socialise together making the communication much warmer and spontaneous)
All the presenters are never in the studio / on location at the same time. It makes the thing very disjointed.
I agree with rest of the comments - a lot of the ideas are silly - they will be resurrecting Drivens "Car Sumo" next.
Fifth Gear should not try to Challenge TG (the TG format is much better and the presenters much higher quality). There is surely a place for a dedicated car show like Driven in the early days doing group tests. I have not seen Vroom Vroom but Pulling Power, which is meant to be serious is in fact just dull and I always end up switching off.. Fifth Gear should do this but probably won't because it would mean conceding defeat.
OF the car shows not mentioned so far - I liked Good Car Bad Car (Jason Barlow & Dominic Littlewood). I enjoyed the earpiece sourced roasting of the car dealers.
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