Jeremy Clarkson has revealed that a Top Gear boss once paid audience members £5 each to watch the show to the “bitter end” because they were so bored. The long-running motoring show was rebooted in 2002, fronted by the 65-year-old journalist, broadcaster James May, and presenter Richard Hammond. It didn’t take long before the show became a huge hit with viewers, but BBC bosses didn’t believe in the show in the early days.

When they were filming the early episodes, the show was so “boring” that audience members started trying to leave. Determined to keep the show going, producer Andy Wilman was forced to employ alternative tactics to keep audience members engaged.

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