The eighth series of Top Gear was aired during 2006 and consisted of eight episodes. Because of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the series, which began on 7 May, took a month-long break from 4 June to 16 July, eventually concluding on 30 July. The series saw the introduction of a new openingtitle sequence which featured segments of footage taken from previous series behind silhouettes of the three presenters; the footage used would be changed over time, during the 14 series that the sequence was in use. In addition, the show was presented from a new studio, there was a new reasonably priced car, and one of Hammond's dogs, named "Top Gear Dog", joined the team throughout the series while making guest appearancesin Series 9.
Changes to show
New studio
In early 2006, production of Top Gear began to outgrow the old studio that had been in use for the past seven series, leading the BBC to look for a bigger site to film the eighth series at. Plans were put underway to shift the film site from Dunsfold to Enstone, Oxfordshire, but while negotiations were underway, West Oxfordshire council received concerns from locals who feared the move would increase noise and air pollution at the proposed site, and thus blocked the initial application for the move. The BBC thus decided against the move and went ahead with filming at the old site after revamping and expanding the studio set, despite not having a permit to do so.
"Star in a Reasonably Priced Car"
Series 8 saw the reasonably priced car being changed – the Suzuki Liana, which had been used in the previous seven series, was replaced by the Chevrolet Lacetti. The change to the Lacetti meant that the Celebrity Lap Board had to be wiped clean, as the times on it were for the Liana and the new car had a slightly higher speed and different performance. In addition to the change in car, the show also revised the format of the segment; whereas previously, each celebrity was given training by The Stig before doing several laps on the track and having the fastest time of these laps being placed on the Celebrity Lap Board, this time each celebrity was given five practice laps, before doing one final lap that was timed, with no allowances made for any mishaps made. While the Liana was replaced, it was not retired; instead it was retained by the show for use by F1 drivers in the spin-off segment, "F1 Star in a Reasonably Priced Car", who could only use the Liana and not the active reasonably priced car used by celebrities.
Following the broadcast of the sixth episode of the eighth series, Top Gear received over 150 complaints about the actions of the presenters in regards to the caravan fire that broke out. In his article for British newspaper, Mail on Sunday, James Tapper claimed that the episode's action had been staged and that Dorsetemergency services had been paid around £1,000 by the BBC for a six-man fire crew to participate in the mock fire. Clarkson commented about the complaints during the News segment of the following episode before proclaiming that it had not been an 'accident' as first implied, but a publicity stunt to show everyone how much Top Gear hates caravans.
