The Car Show (partially found British Channel 5 television series; 1997-1998)
The only known promotional material for The Car Show, featuring Mariella Frostrup and an Aston Martin.
Status: Lost
The Car Show was the name of British television channel Channel 5's imaginatively-titled automotive program, intended as a rival to the BBC's long-running Top Gear. It first aired around July of 1997, as that is when an Independent article references[1] lead presenter, Norwegian journalist Mariella Frostrup, as having commenced her role on the show. It is also when the earliest available mention[2] of the program on publicly-available Radio Times listings has been digitized. Frostrup was accompanied in this role by Tris Payne.[3] It aired until at least August of 1998,[4] on what appeared to be a weekly basis, similar to its rivals. It would be succeeded by 5th Gear from April 2002, which ironically featured much[5] of the cast and crew of the show The Car Show was originally pitted against.
It is known for featuring the earliest presenting role of James May, who would go on to present Driven and the aforementioned Top Gear. No footage survives, and only two heavily damaged frames from an amateur VHS recording was posted to a Pistonheads forum thread in 2016.
Gallery
James May presenting for The Car Show.
Another still frame featuring Charles Morgan.
References
- ↑ Independent article mentioning "Mariella Frostrup, who's just started presenting The Car Show on Channel 5". Retrieved 26 Apr '20
- ↑ Archive.org - Radio Times for the 17th of July, 1997. Retrieved 26 Apr '20
- ↑ Pistonheads forum thread on long-forgotten car shows. Retrieved 26 Apr '20
- ↑ British Film Institute entry for an episode of The Car Show. Retrieved 26 Apr '20
- ↑ BBC News article on 5th Gear. Retrieved 26 Apr '20