Andy Wilman
There’s a picture on the cover of this book. Three men, with their backs to the viewer, standing on an open road with an arm, extending towards them from a car, a hand holding a white envelope.
The three men are instantly recognisable, even though the picture is a simplistic watercolour with no facial features.
As recognisable as the men is the identity of the TV series that they starred in.
I struggle to think of any other TV trio, or TV series that could be so simplistically represented, yet so easily recognised.
The majority of people who will make the connection will be middle aged men, there will also be many younger men and women who know exactly what the contents of this book is going to look at without reading the dust jacket, and anybody who does will want to read this account of Jeremy, Richard, and James and their time on Top Gear and Grand Tour, as told by a man that was with them through it all. Thick and thin.
Andy Wilman was a school friend of Jeremy’s, at a private school that was on its last legs. Neither were what you might call part of the popular gang. Each had their own uniqueness that set them apart. But they became firm friends.
There is no doubt that Wilmans career was guided, if not pulled along by Clarkson. So when Top Gear was shelved in the early 2000’s it was no surprise that Clarkson turned to Wilman to help get it back on its feet, even if he had little or no experience as a TV producer. The rest, as they say, is history.
In 2002 the Clarkson and Hammond era started, May joined in the second series of the reconstituted of Top Gear.
The book covers how Wilman and Clarkson planned the formula of the new version of Top Gear over a pint in a London pub, a recurring theme throughout.
How they decided, after very nearly turning him away, that Richard Hammond should be one of the presenters. Why they decided to replace the original third presenter, Jason Dawe with James May in the second series, the decision that led to the formulation of the trio that remained together for two decades.
It’s recounts the ideas that led to the birth of the Stig, and the reasons why the Stigs character was changed, including how and why Ben Collins fell out with the production team.
It looks at the way all of the favourite sections of the programs were initially thought up, often by accident, or happy coincidence.
Talking of accidents it gives a producers view of both of Hammonds big crashes, the rocket car that nearly killed him, and rolling a performance car down a Swiss Hill, which also nearly finished him off.
James May’s crash in a Scandinavian tunnel is also covered, and how it was one of the factors that started the decision to bring the series to and end.
The end of the trios career presenting Top Gear, following Clarkson’s altercation with a member of the production team is quickly followed by the process of moving to Amazon and the invention of Grand Tour.
The book covers the big shows that we all remember, the Specials. Where the three have motoring, and occasional nautical adventures.
The most telling, and revealing part of the book is the section on the Patagonia Special, the angry mob of Argentinian Veterans and locals that brought filming to an end and drove the film crews out of Argentina. The three presenters and a few of the crew escaped by plane but Wilman and the majority of the crew fled by road, escaping over a river into Chilli. A journey that they very nearly didn’t get out of in one piece.
As witty and informative as this book is, and there are quite a few laugh out loud moments, I also found it a bit of a tease.
It’s not a short book, at just over 400 pages, but and it covers over two decades of two of the best, and sometimes controversial television programs, mentioning everything a viewer would remember.
But for me it doesn’t go deep enough into some of the big things that happened.
Wilman wasn’t there when Clarkson had his altercation. But it’s almost brushed over, an actual account of what really happened would have been really good.
The three crashes are mentioned, but the rocket car crash, and its aftermath warrant only half a dozen pages, the other two even less.
I think a whole series of books could be written on the Top Gear Specials but again only quick mention is made of each.
Andy Wilman was in an envious position that has seen him at the heart of two of the most successful TV franchises of the 21st century. For me, as good as this book is. I’d really have liked a lot more.
Pages: 416. Publisher: Penguin, Michael Joseph
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