Turns out, all you needed to land a spot on Top Gear back in the day was a deep love for cars… and a massive ego. At least that’s what former co-host Steve Berry claims — and yes, he’s including himself in that description.
In a candid (and slightly cheeky) interview with Al Arabiya English, Steve Berry, 61, opened up about his early days on Top Gear alongside none other than Jeremy Clarkson — and let’s just say the behind-the-scenes vibe wasn’t all burnouts and bromance.
“They hired us because we were egotists who weren’t afraid of the camera,” Steve said, adding, “Some journalists looked at the lens like it was a machine gun. But Jeremy and I? We were massive show-offs.”
From Motoring Journalists to TV Personalities
Back in the 90s, Top Gear wasn’t the glossy, adrenaline-fueled show fans later came to love. According to Steve, the BBC wanted experts, not entertainers.
“The idea was: If you’re talking about cars, you’d better know your stuff. They’d search the world of motoring journalism for a unique voice — that’s how they found Jeremy Clarkson.”
Clarkson, known at the time for his punchy columns in Fast Lane magazine, apparently had just the right mix of knowledge and camera flair. Enter stage left: the future king of car chaos.
Enter the ‘Three Amigos’ Era
When Top Gear was revamped in 2002 with Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond, the show transformed into a full-blown entertainment juggernaut. But despite the laughs and explosions, Steve says journalism was still at the core — until the later revamp.
“Those three were still journalists. But when Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc took over, that knowledge was gone — and so were the viewers.”
Steve vs. Jezza: A Love-Hate Legacy
Berry didn’t sugarcoat it: he and Clarkson, 65, were not besties.
“We butted heads. I don’t like him — but I respect him. When Jezza opens his mouth, he knows what he’s talking about. Even people who hate him know that.”
Still, the two shared a classic British-style truce over beer.
“We bumped into each other at a car show. Jeremy said, ‘Berry, let’s pretend we like each other and grab a pint.’ And we did!”
Now that’s a motoring bromance… kind of.
Clarkson: Always the Alpha on Screen — and Off
According to Steve, Clarkson wasn’t just a loud character on TV — he is that guy in real life (just a little less bombastic). And he was always top gear in the trio.
“There’s James, there’s Richard… and then there’s Jezza. He was the leader of the gang. Anyone who watched could tell.”
After Clarkson’s departure from the BBC in 2015 following an altercation with a producer, the trio took their chemistry to Amazon’s The Grand Tour (2016–2024), keeping their signature blend of mayhem and motors intact.
The Final Lap?
Top Gear continued with Paddy McGuinness, Chris Harris, and Freddie Flintoff from 2019, but the show was “rested” after a horrific crash in 2022 left Flintoff severely injured.
Now, with no return date in sight, fans are left reminiscing about the golden age — when egos, engines, and entertainment collided every Sunday night.
