Top Gear series 14 is the fourteenth series of the British motoring television programme Top Gear, produced by the BBC. The series consisted of seven episodes that were broadcast on BBC Two in the United Kingdom from 5 June 2009 to 17 July 2009.
Presenters
The regular presenting team for series 14 comprised Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. The anonymous test driver known as The Stig also featured in the series, providing timed laps around the show's test track.
Format and Content
Series 14 adhered to the established format of Top Gear, incorporating the following recurring elements:
- Car reviews – Individual episodes featured road‑test reviews of contemporary production cars, with commentary on performance, design, and market positioning.
- The Power Lap – The Stig completed timed laps of the show's test track in various vehicles, the results of which were recorded in the programme’s “Power Lap” board.
- Challenges and specials – The presenters undertook a variety of challenges, including comparative tests between different vehicle categories and themed road‑trip segments, following the programme’s tradition of entertainment‑driven motoring journalism.
- Studio segments – A studio audience, host banter, and occasional celebrity guest appearances formed part of the broadcast.
Reception
The series maintained the programme’s high viewership levels typical of the era, with audience figures reported by the BBC to be in the range of several million per episode. Critical response was mixed, with praise directed at the chemistry of the presenting trio and criticism occasionally aimed at perceived formulaic repetition of challenge concepts.
Legacy
Series 14 contributed to the continued popularity of Top Gear during its 2000s heyday and preceded the series’ transition to a new production format that began with series 16. The episodes from this series are available in various home‑media releases and streaming platforms that hold the broadcast rights to Top Gear.
