Top Gear - Middle East Special Full Episode · Trusted

No Top Gear special works without the right cars. For the Middle East, the producers forced the trio to buy cheap, open-top two-seaters that would be "suitable for a Mediterranean cruise." The results were predictably disastrous.

Before leaving Erbil, the producers give the team a laminated card of "Do Nots." Among them: Do not take pictures of military installations; do not mention a certain religion; and do not, under any circumstances, show the soles of your shoes. Within ten minutes, Clarkson shows his soles to a police officer.

One of the most fascinating aspects of watching this episode in retrospect is the geopolitical snapshot it provides. At the time of filming, the borders between Northern Iraq, Syria, and Turkey were porous enough for a BBC film crew to navigate with relative ease (and a lot of paperwork). top gear - middle east special full episode

Today, the route they took is largely impossible due to the Syrian Civil War and the rise of ISIS. The special inadvertently serves as a time capsule of a fleeting moment of relative stability in the region. It adds a layer of melancholy to the viewing experience; the ruins they passed in Palmyra have since suffered damage, and the bustling markets they visited have faced years of strife.

When fans debate the greatest episodes in the 22-year history of Top Gear, three specials always rise to the top: the Bolivia Special, the Botswana Special, and what many call the perfect balance of chaos, beauty, and danger—the Middle East Special. No Top Gear special works without the right cars

Officially titled Top Gear: Middle East Special (Series 16, Episode 0), this 75-minute epic follows Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May as they attempt to retrace the path of the Three Wise Men. Armed with three cheap, crumbling convertibles and a £3,500 budget, the trio set off from the holy city of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, aiming to reach the birthplace of Jesus: Bethlehem in the West Bank.

If you are searching for the Top Gear – Middle East Special full episode, you have come to the right place. Below, we break down why this episode is a masterpiece, where to find it legally, the iconic cars involved, and the unforgettable moments that make it essential viewing. Searching for the Top Gear - Middle East

Searching for the Top Gear - Middle East Special full episode is often difficult because the BBC has cut many segments for international syndication. Here are the iconic moments you must see uncut:

Early in the journey, the team picks up a police escort. The problem? The officers are armed with AK-47s and are clearly bored. They decide to "entertain" themselves by treating the Top Gear convoy as a high-speed pursuit. One police car overtakes at 100 mph, blocking traffic, while another weaves aggressively behind Hammond’s MX-5. Clarkson’s terrified commentary is comedy gold: “This is not an escort. This is a kidnapping in progress.”