And on That Bombshell

Inside the Madness and Genius of TOP GEAR

By: Richard Porter

Narrated by: Richard Porter, Ben Elliot

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

For 13 years, 22 series and 175 shows, Richard Porter was script editor of Top Gear, from the first faltering pilot episode in 2002 until the very last show presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May in 2015.

Along the way they destroyed cars, sparked diplomatic incidents, set fire to caravans, almost killed one of the presenters, and somehow transformed Top Gear from a shabby BBC Two motoring show into an Emmy-winning, record-breaking, planet-straddling behemoth.

And on That Bombshell tells stories from behind the scenes of one of the world's most successful television programmes, taking in driving monkeys, broken bones, flying cars, angry rednecks and Jeremy Clarkson's secret nickname.

Richard Porter provides a unique insight into how the programmes were made, revealing behind-the-scenes disasters more comical than anything seen on screen and explaining what it was like to work inside the self-professed 'poky motoring show' that accidentally became a global phenomenon.

Read by Ben Elliot and with an introduction read by the author.

©2015 Richard Porter (P)2015 Orion Publishing Group

two pauses

I downloaded this program at just before 4 pm on a friday. I finished packing my car and was almost ready to go.
I began the program, shifted to drive and then set off across I-90 across South Dakota.

I paused the program the first time just long enough to order a sandwich at Arhy's, then it went right back on.

The final time I paused it was when I arrived at my Granother's house and made about 90 minutes of conversation before it was time for bed. Then it went right back on.

Eleven hours after hitting play (12 if you believe in time zones) I'm extremely sad this book has ended, but massively excited at Top Gear as a show bravely soldering on, The Grand Tour seeing the Trio embark on a massively entertaining new chapter in broadcasting, and so, so grateful for this awesome look at a show I love so much to be available as an audio book for one of the more dreary drives on planet earth.

And I am certain I will listen to it again on my return trip on Monday.

Doesn't get bogged down

I finished it over the course of two marathon sessions, it's a fantastic look within the rise and fall of Top Gear, that quirky motoring show from across the pond.

great book

loved it, gave me the behind the scene look of my favorite show. goodbye top gear

A must listen for any Top Gear fan 🤘

This is kinda amazing because this author was with Top Gear from season one, in 2002, all the way to its end in 2015 - what a perspective! If you are a fan of Top Gear or The Grand Tour, you're going to dig it.

If you hated the show, you're going to hate this.

If you ever wished to find yourself next to a member of the crew on a long haul flight or discover, over several pints, that the gentleman sitting next to you at the pub was capable of delivering earnest and funny tales of the show with informed authority then this is absolutely the title for you. I hope you enjoy it as I did, considering I restarted it the moment I finished this review. Cheers to Mr. Porter and Mr. Elliot, and my thanks.

Just an exceptionally biased topgear fan

By pengame alone, the book is probably a 3-4 stars. But I'm a topgear fan, hence the 5.

Ambitious and not rubbish!

A funny and, at times, heartwarming look behind the scenes at the BBC show Top Gear.

great stories great narration

Loved it and the narration was impeccable. Not much else to say , really. Excellent.

most of what you need to know about topgear

great listen . finished in 2 days. most everything you need to know about the show to fully appreciate the effort so many have put in to give us this show. Thank you to the whole team, thank you for so many memories watching this with my wife and friends. thank you for all the inside jokes, the memes, the smug face, the cheeky made up sponsor stickers on all your challenge cars. thank you for being the surrogate friends l always wanted.

Top Gear 4th wall

If you where a fan of top gear, put this audio book on and enjoy the inter workings.

Interesting but it feels like it was rushed

The stories is interesting and well performed. However, the way the book is laid out doesn't always seem to flow from chapter to chapter very well and some of the anecdotes are a bit weak. It has the feeling of an essay that needs redrafting before submission and I wonder if this was due to rushing to get it out the door while top gear was fresh in minds.

Excellent book

I rejoined Audible after some 4 years away just so that I could listen to this book! And well worth it was too. Great narrative by Richard Porter who painted a very real picture of what it's like to work on Top Gear, what worked, what didn't work, and what was a lot more hassle than it was worth!

The only criticism I would dare to level at it is the length, it could have easily been twice as long and told a lot more stories from their travels, but Richard is a busy man!

Looking forward to the next one detailing life on the Grand Tour!

Great for TG fans

As a big TG fan, though under few illusions over what the cast are actually like, there were no great surprises there.

Some fun and interesting behind the scenes stories, though others conspicuously absent in any detail - eg the arctic trip. If you like the off-the-wall witticisms of top gear, we are left in no doubt that Mr Porter is responsible for many. "Drowning in kittens"....haha. I guess the biggest disappointment is in being left wanting more. This is not the book's fault of course...

Great

Great book for fans of top gear. Loved the insight and behind the scenes look into this great show.

Really good insight in TG

An excellent insight into some of the most memorable parts of the best television car show in the...............world!!!

Still undecided

Made it to the end but honestly cannot really decide if I enjoyed it or not. Seemed to come from someone who was perhaps in the Top Gear studio but not really involved in what was going on. Strange.

Great book - on that side of things.

If you enjoyed Jezza, Hamster and Captain Slow’s TG - this is an absolute must listen/read.

You can hear Porter’s humour running through the show as the story’s narrative unfolds. Without him and Andy Wilman as the key off-screen talent - it feels that the show wouldn’t have been anywhere near as successful.

Definitely worth the £’s or a credit - unless you’re choosing between this and Sade’s autobiography.

Top Listen in any Gear .I loved this TV show

such a shame the BBC didn't forgive Jeremy we all have off days ! including g Tink my little Jack Russell woof woof

Fascinating and entertaining

Great to hear a coherent and compelling story of the development of the Top Gear show.

Oh no! Anyway….

Fantastic listen, and a must buy if you ever loved Top Gear, even the old ones. If you like this I really recommend the Smith and Sniff podcasts by the way.