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Writer's pictureAaron Alleyne-Wake

Extra Gear: Week 3


So we have seen a third episode of Top Gear which means we have been treated to another episode of it's popular sibling, Extra Gear. Chris Harris was back this week to join Rory Reid where they joined by comedian Zoe Lyons as guest.

So what was covered this week?

This week we saw a bit more of the Hoonicorn film as Ken Block drifted the highly powered Mustang around Ford's plant in Essex as well as a behind the scenes film of Rory Reid's hot hatchback test plus a hot lap in the Mercedes AMG GTS in the hands of Chris Harris. It made for another interesting insight in regards to what goes on behind closed doors at Top Gear and I particularly enjoyed the behind the scenes of the hot hatch test.

As someone who dreams of landing a job on a programme such as Top Gear and a hot hatch fan I was very interested to watch how the whole hot hatch film came together and what was needed to make it. Reid provided good banter throughout and I have quickly become a fan of his, whoever decided to pick him deserves a firm pat on the back. Let's not take anything away from Harris though as he has also done a sterling job and it was good fun to see him slither about in the uber-aggreseive AMG GTS.

Comedian Zoe Lyons was the guest this week and the interview seemed to flow better than the joint ones we've been seeing on Top Gear. I've mentioned it in my other article but the joint interviews on Top Gear simply aren't working.

Is the tide starting to tun?

So far I - and others for that matter - have said Extra Gear has been better out of the two shows but as this week's Top Gear was a clear improvement so does that mean the tide is starting to turn? Well the two shows may be linked but they are different with what they set out to do, after all Extra Gear is meant to be an-add on to the main show.

So maybe it's no surprise that it will be at some stage be eclipsed by the main event. It has held its own so far though but if the main show continues to progress at the speed it is then Extra Gear may find itself in the back seat.

However, let's not take anything away from what Rory Reid and Chris Harris have done, they have really been a breath of fresh air and to be honest I feel they are one of the main reasons that tonight's Top Gear was noticeably better.

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