Fifth Gear Axed...

Safety_James · Post by **Safety_James** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:56 am

For those of you interested..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ision.html

Vicki’s career stalls as Five’s Fifth Gear is driven off television
By Miles Goslett

Vicki Butler-Henderson has been an integral part of Fifth Gear since it launched seven years ag

Fifth Gear host Vicki Butler-Henderson has been forced into the pits, with TV bosses confirming the show has been axed.

The channel Five programme was regarded as the main competitor to BBC2’s Top Gear.

Butler-Henderson, 37, had been an integral part of it since it was launched seven years ago.

But the latest series, which ended in July, never attracted more than a million viewers and Five decided it should be the last.

A source at the station claimed the decision had nothing to do with budget cuts. It is likelier its failure to make it on to the list of Five’s top 30 watched programmes had a negative impact on advertising revenue.

Fifth Gear first aired in 2002 after the original incarnation of Top Gear was ‘rested’ in 2001 due to poor ratings.

Several former Top Gear presenters, including Butler-Henderson were hired by Five to present the show.

The self-confessed tomboy raced karts as a child and competed in Formula First.
As one of the few high-profile women motoring experts, she is not likely to be off the circuit for long. Her husband Phil Churchward is series director of Top Gear.

Five said it was proud of Fifth Gear but that it was ‘time to try something new’.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0UQCnynfm

RobCallow · Post by **RobCallow** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:11 am

I rarely ever watch Fifth gear never really been a fan. I think the combo of VBH, Tiff Needell and Jason Plato never really worked. Sure we will see VBH back on TopGear in the near future!!

Fast Eddy · Post by **Fast Eddy** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:18 am

Well, my Millers rep (who is related to her) said last year, before the marriage to the Top Gear boss, that she was planning her own program anyway.

I am sure she will not be off our screens for long.

Eddy

tomcat · Post by **tomcat** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 11:48 am

shame I thought it was ok, in fact the only thing I watched on 5

gary@apt · Post by **gary@apt** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 11:59 am

considering i have her dads porsche race car here ill ask him when hes next over:driving:

Mr Fletcher · Post by **Mr Fletcher** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:18 pm

never liked the bloke with the goaty

Tk · Post by Tk » Tue Oct 20, 2009 4:52 pm

sidewaysfletch wrote:never liked the bloke with the goaty

x2

russ979 · Post by **russ979** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 7:09 pm

sidewaysfletch wrote:never liked the bloke with the goaty

You don`t mean Tom ford do you? I find him very funny (his reveiw on the toureg was a total classic) and enjoy his articles in the top gear magazine. I did quite like the newer style format of fifth gear (albeit copycat of TG!)

RX7 · Post by **RX7** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 9:20 pm

[RANT]

I hate Fifth Gear its become a Top Gear wannabe with challenges etc matching what Clarkson and the boys do. The difference is the banter between them, watching Top Gear is like hanging out with mates. Watching Fifth Gear is like going on a science field trip with school !!!! Dont even get me started on the goatie guy.....

TBH I must be in the minority but I've never really seen the appeal of VBH, am sure she is a nice person but just never rated her in terms of looks or how good she is at presenting. It all feels a bit staged rather than Top Gear where it seems natural.
It would be a huge mistake if she joined the Top Gear crew !!!!!

[/RANT]

Post by **Stuart** » Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:03 pm

Gareth,
You never cease to amaze me. We disagree on cars (most of them anyway). We disagree on music. We disagree on gaming tactics and now we disagree with on whether a young lady with a cute smile, nice arse and a filthy laugh who can drive like most of us wish we could is attractive or not.........did I mention she is minted?

Tiff Needel can really drive, that Plato fella's not bad either and Tom Ford is a change from Clarkson's predictable diatribe. Personally I find the whole 'challenge' thing tiresome and wish they would go back to decent road tests and proper features (Best 10k cars etc). The singular redeeming feature of Flat Beer is Stig and his balls to the wall laps. The rest of it is recycled dribble of the worst kind. The editing is laboured, the photography is average and the true spark that I used to love years ago has dwindled almost as if it's been forced out by the presenters egos.

I know that Fifth Gear wasn't perfect but I would also say that Pop Smear is way wide of the mark. The dumbing down of the show in recent years is tangible.

What someone really needs to do is to get Chris Harris (of the recently departed Drivers Republic and prior to that Autocar) a go on the TV. He is a great and true petrolhead, can drive like the love child of Sterling Moss and Sabine Schmidt and doesn't patronise the viewer or have a narcissistic personality.

Phew..........I'm sure there was a thread around here?