Top Gear - Middle East Special Full | Episode

As with any great Top Gear challenge, the success rested on the cars. Each presenter chose a second-hand convertible for under £3,500, believing that open-top motoring would suit the Middle Eastern climate. They were all catastrophically wrong.

If you ask a casual fan of Top Gear to name their favorite episode, they will likely cite the Polar Special (for its sheer grit) or the Botswana Special (for the indomitable Oliver). However, if you ask a die-hard enthusiast to pick the moment where the chemistry, the cinematography, and the absurdity of the format reached its absolute zenith, the answer is almost always the Middle East Special.

Airing as the Christmas special in 2010, officially titled "The Three Wise Men," the premise was deceptively simple: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May would travel 1,200 miles from Northern Iraq to Bethlehem, all while driving two-seater convertibles they had bought for less than £3,500.

What unfolded was not just a travelogue or a car review; it was a masterclass in comedic storytelling, a stunning visual essay, and a surprisingly poignant look at a region often defined solely by conflict.

This episode aired on BBC Two on December 26, 2010 (Boxing Day). It was an instant ratings smash, drawing over 7 million viewers. More importantly, it set a template for adventure motoring television that every car show since has tried to copy.

Why does it still resonate?

Q: Is the Top Gear Middle East Special dangerous to watch?
A: Not for you. For them? Absolutely. They were shot at (warning shots), detained at gunpoint (briefly), and Clarkson was once surrounded by an angry mob.

Q: Did they actually drive all the way?
A: Yes, the presenters drove the entire distance. The production crew followed in support vehicles, but the cameras captured every breakdown, wrong turn, and hotel disaster live.

Q: Was any of it staged?
A: As with all Top Gear, situations were engineered for comedy (e.g., the police escort was probably exaggerated), but the mechanical failures, the heat, and the checkpoint tensions were 100% real.

Q: Is there an extended edition?
A: Yes. The DVD release includes an additional 20 minutes of deleted scenes, including a longer argument at the Israeli border and an extra breakdown in the Syrian desert.

Because of music licensing rights (the episode famously uses Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” and Ennio Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of Gold”), the full, unedited version has become slightly difficult to track down. However, here are your best options:

Warning: Avoid unofficial YouTube uploads. They are usually cropped, slowed down to avoid copyright strikes, or missing the last 15 minutes. Support the show legally to ensure more specials get made (currently, the new Top Gear presenters have attempted their own Middle East trip, but nothing matches the 2010 original).

The Middle East Special represents the "Golden Age" of Top Gear. It was the perfect balance of the three key ingredients:

It proved that you didn't need supercars or explosions to make great television. You just needed three friends, three terrible cars, and a map. As the credits rolled to the sound of Silent Night, viewers realized they hadn't just watched a car show; they had watched a Christmas story for the petrolhead generation.

What are your memories of the Middle East Special? Was James May's BMW the true hero, or did Hammond's Fiat deserve more credit? Let us know in the comments.

The Top Gear Middle East Special (Series 16, Episode 2) is a 76-minute extended episode that originally aired on December 26, 2010, on BBC Two . Episode Overview

The Mission: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May attempt to recreate the journey of the Three Wise Men by driving from Erbil International Airport in Iraqi Kurdistan to Bethlehem .

The Route: A 1,200-mile (1,900 km) road trip through southern Turkey, Syria (visiting Aleppo, Palmyra, and Damascus), and Jordan before reaching the Mount of Olives and Bethlehem .

The Vehicles: Each presenter was given a £3,500 budget to buy a second-hand, two-door convertible sports car : Jeremy: Mazda MX-5 Richard: Fiat Barchetta James: BMW Z3 Key Highlights top gear - middle east special full episode

Border Challenges: The trio faced numerous complications involving border controls and the ongoing "War on Terror" in Iraq .

Gift Selection: Upon arriving at a nativity scene in Bethlehem, the "Three Wise Men" presented their gifts: gold (James), frankincense (Richard), and a Nintendo DS (Jeremy, who couldn't find myrrh) .

The Twist: The baby Jesus in the manger was revealed to be a "Baby Stig" . Where to Watch You can find the full episode on the following platforms:

Streaming: Available on the BBC iPlayer (UK), Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video .

Free Options: Select clips and occasionally full-length segments are available on the official BBC Top Gear website .

The Top Gear Middle East Special, originally aired on December 26, 2010, is widely considered one of the most ambitious and visually stunning episodes in the show's history. Spanning approximately 1,200 miles, the 76-minute extended episode follows Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May as they retrace the biblical journey of the Three Wise Men across the Middle East to Bethlehem. Episode Overview and Premise

Presented as a Christmas special, the trio was tasked with purchasing second-hand two-door convertible sports cars for under £3,500. Their journey began in Erbil, Iraq, after being dropped off by a Russian cargo plane with no prior knowledge of their starting location. Car Selected Jeremy Clarkson Mazda MX-5 Richard Hammond Fiat Barchetta Riviera James May The Route: From Iraq to Bethlehem

The route took the presenters through a diverse and often dangerous landscape, crossing several international borders during a period of relative regional stability just months before the Arab Spring.

Iraq: Starting in the Kurdish region, they encountered hospitality and military history, including a drag race at an Iraqi air base built by Saddam Hussein.

Turkey: The team navigated the mountainous terrain of southern Turkey, which tested the limits of their low-slung sports cars.

Syria: This segment is now a poignant historical record, featuring high-definition footage of the ancient city of Palmyra and the bustling streets of Damascus before the Syrian Civil War.

Jordan and Israel: The journey concluded by passing through the Roman Hippodrome in Jerash and eventually reaching the West Bank barrier and the Mount of Olives. Key Challenges and Highlights

The special is remembered for its blend of humor, mechanical failure, and cultural exploration:

Modifications: To survive the terrain, the cars were heavily modified. Hammond's Fiat was turned into a "nomadic tent," Clarkson’s Mazda featured a "Technicolour Dreamcoat" paint job, and May’s BMW was camouflaged.

James May's Injury: During filming in Syria, May suffered a concussion after being knocked over by a tow rope. He was famously collected from the hospital by Clarkson and Hammond, who were disguised in burqas.

The "Miracles": Upon reaching the Sea of Galilee, the presenters joked about performing "miracles," including an unsuccessful attempt by Clarkson to walk on water.

The Ending: Following a beam of light to a stable in Bethlehem, the trio presented their gifts—a gold-relief medallion, "Frankincense" shampoo, and a Nintendo DSi—to find that the "baby Jesus" was actually a Baby Stig.

Watch the iconic moment where the team's questionable modifications and mechanical repairs are put to the test in the desert heat: Top Gear Middle East Special - Jeremy Fixes the Mazda Megan T (Muggs8787) YouTube• Nov 22, 2015 Legacy and Reception As with any great Top Gear challenge, the

The Middle East Special was a ratings success, watched by approximately 7.68 million viewers in the UK, making it one of the top ten most-watched episodes of the series. Jeremy Clarkson has since described it as the best of the adventures to watch, and it remains a staple of holiday television marathons. Today, the three main cars from the special are part of the World of Top Gear exhibition at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.

The Top Gear Middle East Special (Season 16, Episode 2) remains one of the show's most iconic adventures, famously tracing the journey of the Three Wise Men across 1,200 miles from Iraq to Bethlehem. 🎬 Recommended Post Drafts

Option 1: The "Nostalgic Recap" (Best for Facebook/Instagram)

"Three Wise Men... or just three blokes in completely unsuitable convertibles? 🐪🚗 Rewatching the Top Gear Middle East Special and still can't believe they drove through Iraq, Turkey, and Syria in these: Jeremy: Mazda MX-5 (the "Technicolor Dreamcoat") 🌈 James: (with Africa Corps camo) 🪖 Richard: Fiat Barchetta (the nomadic tent) ⛺