Listen free for 30 days
-
And on That Bombshell
- Inside the Madness and Genius of TOP GEAR
- Narrated by: Richard Porter, Ben Elliot
- Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
And on That Bombshell
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
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.
More from the same
What listeners say about And on That Bombshell
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark
- 27-07-16
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!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story3 out of 5 stars
- Adam Buckler
- 22-11-15
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- m
- 10-11-15
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...
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer
- 03-04-16
Great
Great book for fans of top gear. Loved the insight and behind the scenes look into this great show.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alex H.
- 05-11-15
Really good insight in TG
An excellent insight into some of the most memorable parts of the best television car show in the...............world!!!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- tony
- 09-12-23
Great Insight
You can tell this author worked at Top Gear, same sense of humour, comes across throughout the book. If you love Top Gear you'll love this book. Great read.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 01-12-23
Brilliant
This book is so insightful into a favourite programme of mine - if you love Top Gear you’ll love this
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Phil Humphries
- 02-11-23
Good news
Imagining working on Top Gear is one of those things that you think you can imagine before bringing your minds back into the realms of reality. This book proves that the realms of fantasy were right all along. This book is a thorough and enjoyable insight into what we had wondered and guessed at before and I highly recommend it to any fan of the show.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mario Poffo
- 02-08-23
would have been higher if porter read it
on that side of things
if that flute porter read his own book would be higher rating.
find another
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mark Murray
- 04-07-23
Awesome
This is a great listen if you love Top Gear. A well told story, well written and as great as Richard’s weekly podcast with Jonny Smith!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Zack
- 08-10-16
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Lars C.
- 14-01-20
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jeremy clarkson
- 24-01-18
great book
loved it, gave me the behind the scene look of my favorite show. goodbye top gear
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Johanna Karlsson
- 20-09-23
Every man’s favorite TV show
Great book into the humble beginnings to the total and utter destruction of our beloved TopGear TV Show - such a pity that BBC allowed it to get so bad, still the best version of the show it was like lightning in a bottle
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- James
- 26-03-23
Great story
Very good listen. Have a go; you will enjoy it. Meanwhile... Good night all
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Porbob
- 18-01-23
A long time favorite show!
I watched you before the Internet and now have numerous YouTube boomarked segments. Good stuff!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sharon M. Fitzgerald, MA
- 15-10-22
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Timothy
- 17-08-22
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Interncat
- 14-04-22
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.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- NEW GAME+
- 22-03-22
Ambitious and not rubbish!
A funny and, at times, heartwarming look behind the scenes at the BBC show Top Gear.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!