Channel 5's Fifth Gear hits the Chopping Block?

Fifth Gear

Not according to co-host Jonny Smith

By Michael Gauthier
October 20, 2009 5:12 PM
Filed Under: Entertainment, European

It appears that one of the world's most popular automotive TV shows has been axed, as the Daily Mail is reporting. Channel 5 has killed off Fifth Gear.

While details are limited, the newspaper says the decision was unrelated to recent budget cuts. This likely means the show failed to attract enough advertising revenue to warrant further taping. In the last series, Fifth Gear failed to garner one million viewers.

However, Fifth Gear cast member Jonny Smith has stated on his Twitter page, "Thanks to everyone for your compliments and words of encouragement. Remember, FG isn't OFFICIALLY finished. Don't (ever?) believe The Mail."

He continued, "To answer all the tweets about Fifth Gear ending - I don't know who the Daily Mail talked to, but nothing is official. TV is a fickle world."

Originally aired in 2002, Fifth Gear was soon eclipsed by the BBC's highly successful reincarnation of Top Gear.

Source: dailymail via egmcartech.com

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Tags: Fifth Gear, Jonny Smith, Channel 5

Comments

Anthony

October 20, 2009 5:28 PM

5th gear isn't working in the tv gearbox, always ends up stuck in TOP GEAR.

zeitgeist_md

October 20, 2009 5:33 PM

I've never found 5th gear as entertaining and refreshing as top gear, their archrival.

I particularly don't like some of their hosts. When I watch 5th, I simply watch those sports cars they test.

I hope Channel 5 would put up a new team to bring something truly competitive.

zeitgeist_md

October 20, 2009 5:35 PM

I've never found 5th gear as entertaining, engrossing and refreshing as top gear, their archrival.

I particularly don't like some of their hosts. When I watch 5th, I simply watch those sports cars they test.

I hope Channel 5 would put up a new team to bring something truly competitive.

mn07

October 20, 2009 6:50 PM

5th gear is not as good as top gear, lets face it no one could replace top gear.BUT it filled up our time and was good when we waited for the next season of top gear to go on the air. Nothings theres now to fill that spot.so its going to be more boring waiting for topgear to air.

Edited by user on October 20, 2009 at 6:51 PM

Prince_Ash

October 20, 2009 7:39 PM

I prefer top gear over fifth gear. to me its the cast that makes the t.v. show not the cars or content. i got bored from the cast of fifth gear, but in my opinion it would be impossible to get board from the cast of top gear. too entertaining. plus personally i feel more able to relate to the cast of top gear then fifth gear.

Edited by user on October 20, 2009 at 7:39 PM

jerry05cod4

October 20, 2009 7:48 PM

agree with you, but you have to admit they do more serious testing on fifth gear

GONDOR

October 20, 2009 7:56 PM

they have to replace tom ford and tim and then it will be back to the way it was before , they think they are funny but actually they aren`t

fatter1

October 20, 2009 8:32 PM

OH MY GOD AGREED TENFOLD. Tom Ford especially.

Edited by user on October 20, 2009 at 8:33 PM

GuyOh

October 20, 2009 8:46 PM

i think they should just stick with tiff, jason, and vicki, i find the rest of the presenters not funny and cant drive for crap

postas

October 20, 2009 9:04 PM

Right on :)

Murcielago2006

October 20, 2009 8:56 PM

I only watched Tiff's segments because they were the only decent ones; the rest was horrible.

Get_real

October 20, 2009 10:29 PM

I must be one of the only people on the world who watches a car show in order to get a more or less objective view of the tested cars. That's impossible with Top Gear. And don't make me laugh with the remark about driving skills. The only one who can really drive in Top Gear is the Stig.

Airbag

October 21, 2009 1:35 AM

Fire Hammond and send Tiff back to Top Gear. Job done.

effington

October 21, 2009 3:03 AM

top gear would never work this way... if that happened i could see top gear in the same state as fifth gear! its much more about the chemistry between the TG hosts that makes it so entertaining, not the actual car content. this is displayed in the Vietnam episode!

Airbag

October 21, 2009 9:16 AM

You know it existed with different personnel before, right? It jumped the shark a while ago and needs something to make it interesting again. The last series was terrible, there was about half an hour of decent content in it. Kill Hammond, make him into a couch and let Tiff sit on it. Tiff and Clarkson had great chemistry in the prior iteration of TG and I think May would work well with them.

sensei

October 21, 2009 2:33 AM

carbonfibreguy

October 21, 2009 3:53 AM

They might be 5th, but top gear is on, TOP!!! I wouldnt miss 5th gear, havent paid attention to it at all until now...

hanifcd

October 21, 2009 8:07 AM

Actually before the TG 2002 format, TG was more of the same like fifth gear and even clarkson was not that cool like he is now. How about bring some of the Fifth gear presenters either Tiff, Jason or Vicki. Would love to see them to be like the current TG members :-)

Honest1

October 21, 2009 12:04 PM

The Show It's Self Was OK, But The Presenters Were Just Rubbish. Those Two NOBS On The Sofa Reminded Me Of Westwood And Pimp My Ride UK. "Not A Good Thing" Thank God For Sky Plus. Hope Channel 5 Revamp And Put On At A Better Time.

MusTang

October 21, 2009 1:08 PM

The reason why i don't like this tv show becouse they never say results of test, do they like or hate some car and why. They just test it and that's all. Top Gear is the best

CaptainWej

October 21, 2009 4:27 PM

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/news/AUTOTRADER/OTHER/fifth_gear_tv_show_axed.html

CaptainWej

October 21, 2009 4:41 PM

Edited by user on October 21, 2009 at 4:42 PM

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