Hello CT. My name is Richard Porter and I was the script editor on Top Gear. Ask me anything.
After working on the show for 13 years, 22 series and 175 programmes, there’s quite a lot I can tell you about Top Gear. I know whose idea it was to get a dog, I was there when we got threatened by drug barons in Bolivia, I can give you the real story of that Porsche number plate.
After working on the show for 13 years, 22 series and 175 programmes, there’s quite a lot I can tell you about Top Gear. I know whose idea it was to get a dog, I was there when we got threatened by drug barons in Bolivia, I can give you the real story of that Porsche number plate. I’ve put all these things in my new book, but you can ask me about them anyway. Or something else. Up to you. I’m here all night. Try the soup in a basket.
Comments
Okay, I’ll bite, was the number plate deliberate?
See previous answer. But no. I can’t say this enough. No. Not deliberate. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.
No.
Since my comment has more upvotes and is therefore more visible, here’s Richard’s concise answer to someone else’s question:
“Total coincidence. I swear on my life. We never even saw the car before it was shipped to South America. JC wanted 928 GT, there were only two for sale at the time, it was bought remotely and put into a container. We never saw plates until on Argentine soil, and even then never noticed. The specials are months in the planning, the cars were bought at the last minute. We couldn’t have got that plate on the right car without hacking the DVLA. We couldn’t have bought the car and chosen the location because location must be planned months and months in advance. It really was a horrible coincidence.”
What was the license plate?
was the Falkland license plate on the Porsche 928 really a coincidence or was it on purpose?
Is Jeremy just as funny off camera as he is on camera?
Yes. Sometimes funnier.
Did you get to drive many of the cars on the show??
Yes, sometimes. A nice perk of the job, contingent on not crashing them if at all possible.
what was your favorite episode of top gear?
wow no answer.. thats sad..
What do you drive?
At the moment, a Merc GLA and a Fiat 500 Twinair. Technically both Mrs Porter’s rides. I’ve got a Land Rover Defender Heritage on the way soon. Really need to sell the Fiat. Actually, I don’t suppose you want to buy a small Italian car? No? Oh okay then.
I know this will probably be quite lengthy and depend on what sort of film you were making, but I’m always intrigued about what the process is when coming up with an idea and putting it into practice.
What one film (aside from the hypercar trio) did you desperately want to make, but it didn’t work out?
who was your favourite of the trio to work with script wise? any reasons as to why?
Did you really make explod that cow in australia?
Are you still dating the American chick you mentioned in your book?
Hey Alex!