Top Gear boss once paid audience £5 each to stay as they were ‘so bored’, Jeremy Clarkson revealed

Jeremy Clarkson’s surprising Top Gear revelation

Jeremy Clarkson has shared an amusing behind-the-scenes story from his time on the BBC’s motoring show Top Gear. According to the former presenter, one of the show's producers had to pay audience members £5 each to convince them to stay until the filming was finished because they were getting bored.

“A Top Gear boss once paid the audience £5 each to watch the show to the bitter end because they were so bored,” Clarkson admitted.

Audience fatigue during early filming

The incident reportedly took place during an early filming session, before the show evolved into the global entertainment phenomenon it later became. The live audience sections of Top Gear were known to run longer than expected, sometimes stretching into tedious hours for spectators unaccustomed to the production process.

From struggling show to global hit

Despite this awkward beginning, Top Gear ultimately became one of the BBC’s most successful exports, attracting millions of viewers worldwide. Clarkson, who hosted the show alongside Richard Hammond and James May, went on to define a new era of motoring television that mixed cars, humor, and competition.

“It’s funny to think now, given what the show became, that we once had to bribe people to stay,” Clarkson joked.

Legacy of the program

The story highlights how far the show has come since its early struggles. Even so, Clarkson’s account serves as a reminder that many hit programs start modestly before finding their formula for success.

Author’s summary: Jeremy Clarkson revealed that early Top Gear audiences were once paid £5 to remain during dull filming sessions, highlighting the show’s humble beginnings before its global success.

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Daily Express Daily Express — 2025-11-29

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