Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Top Gear BBC2 slot sheds 3m viewers as ratings dip for second week following Jeremy Clarkson's suspension

Top Gear replacement Caribbean With Simon Reeve drew 2.1m viewers

Monday 23 March 2015 12:32 GMT

Former Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are rumoured to be talking to rival broadcasters (Getty Images)

The BBC’s decision to cancel the three remaining episodes of Top Gear has continued to dent the broadcaster’s ratings for the second week running.

Top Gear’s usual 8pm slot on BBC2 was replaced last night with new series Caribbean With Simon Reeve following Jeremy Clarkson’s suspension by the BBC.

The travel show drew 2.1 million viewers, in comparison to the last episode of Top Gear broadcast two weeks ago, which was watched by 5.1 million people.

However, Caribbean With Simon Reeve performed better than last week’s RAF documentary replacement, Red Arrows: Inside the Bubble, which drew just 1.3 million viewers.

Freeview channel Dave made the most of the BBC's decision to pull the remaining Top Gear episodes, choosing to air an old Top Gear special about the source of the Nile at 8pm.

Things you never knew about Top Gear

Show all 14

1/14Things you never knew about Top Gear

Things you never knew about Top Gear

Top Gear isn't really for adults

It's 'aimed at people with a mental age of nine', according to executive producer Andy Wilman.

BBC

Things you never knew about Top Gear

Planet Earth loves it...

Top Gear is screened in more than 100 countries worldwide and has millions of fans.

BBC

Things you never knew about Top Gear

...but not all motoring hacks do

You might think Jezza was a hero of the motoring hack world but that's not strictly accurate. Telegraph journalist Neil Lyndon summed Top Gear's 21st birthday last year up well: 'Does that mean Billy Bunter and his gang finally get forced out of the Fourth Remove and into long trousers?'

BBC

Things you never knew about Top Gear

The Top Gear theme tune is a classic rock song

Seven-minute instrumental 'Jessica' by The Allman Brothers was a hit in 1973. Top Gear has recorded its own version now but used part of the original recording at first. One for the road trip playlist.

Things you never knew about Top Gear

Jeremy Clarkson couldn't get much more controversial if he tried

The presenter is currently suspended from the BBC following a 'fracas' with a producer over a steak dinner. Past scandals include a string of racism allegations.

PA

Things you never knew about Top Gear

This Porsche caused all sorts of trouble in Argentina

The Top Gear team were forced to flee Argentina after locals took offence at the car's number plate - believing it was a deliberately provocative reference to the Falklands War of 1982.

AP

Things you never knew about Top Gear

If it's car-buying advice you want, look elsewhere

It's an in-joke in Top Gear that they don't do car tests. You would be mad to make a purchases based on Jezza's verdict.

Getty Images

Things you never knew about Top Gear

Richard Hammond had a near-death experience filming Top Gear

The 'Hamster' was filming a Top Gear segment in a dragster called Vampire when its front-right tyre burst at 288mph. Hammond spent two weeks in a coma but luckily went on to make a full recovery. He requested that no mention of the crash was made in future Top Gear episodes.

Getty

Things you never knew about Top Gear

Jeremy Clarkson is more than a little bit taller than Richard Hammond

Nine inches, to be precise.

Rex

Things you never knew about Top Gear

Top Gear used to offer real advice

Before these lads took over, it was a real car-reviewing show with presenters such as Angela Rippon, who gave practical reviews of down-to-earth workhorses such as Cavaliers or Mini Metros.

Getty Images

Things you never knew about Top Gear

Those 'reasonably priced' cars take quite a battering

Denis Chick, of Vauxhall, is brave to have lent the show a fleet of his Astras. He said: "Vauxhall Astra sales would not improve if everyone drove like Jimmy Carr around the Dunsfold track." The comedian hilariously took his test car's front off-side tyre clean off its rim.

BBC

Things you never knew about Top Gear

Jeremy Clarkson is a YouTube star

Stray down the motoring internet hole and you'll find lovingly posted videos of 'Clarkson the early years' with incredibly loud hair reviewing 1990s cars in an oddly sensible manner. Very disturbing viewing.

Getty Images

Things you never knew about Top Gear

There have been multiple Stigs

Racing driver Perry McCarthy was stuntsman The Stig on the first two series of Top Gear - here's the man under that famous helmet.

Rex Features

Things you never knew about Top Gear

Ben Collins was The Stig for eight years

Ben Collins was The Stig on Top Gear for eight years. He left amid a clash with the BBC when he unmasked his identity and published an autobiography. Collins thinks Top Gear has 'lost some of its sparkle'.

Rex Features

The BBC has yet to decide whether to reinstate Clarkson as the show’s lead presenter after he was dismissed following a ‘fracas’ with a producer on set two weeks ago.

Top Gear live shows due to be held in Norway this month have been cancelled as Clarkson waits to hear whether he will face disciplinary action.

An investigation into the 54-year-old’s suspension is expected to conclude by the end of the week.

A report about the incident on set is due to be handed to BBC director general Tony Hall, who will consider the evidence and “set out any further steps”.

A change.org petition urging for the BBC to reinstate Clarkson on Top Gear has been signed by more than 1 million people since his suspension.

The presenter thanked his supporters on Friday, writing on Twitter: “Many, many thanks to all of the people who have called for my reinstatement. I’m very touched. We shall all learn next week what will happen.”

Read more: Jeremy Clarkson says expletive-filled BBC rant over Top Gear was 'in jest'
Top Gear live shows cancelled in Norway after host suspended by BBC

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies