Special Best Full Episode — Top Gear - Middle East

The journey passed through several countries and significant historical sites:

The Middle East Special is remembered for several iconic sequences that balanced genuine danger with laugh-out-loud comedy:

They arrive in Manger Square, exhausted and covered in dust. In a moment of uncharacteristic solemnity, they present their "gifts" (Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh—or reasonable facsimiles) and reflect on the journey. top gear - middle east special full episode

, which he eventually painted in a "Technicolour Dreamcoat" style and fitted with "bulletproofing". Richard Hammond Fiat Barchetta Riviera Special , which was later modified to look like a "nomadic tent". (1.9L), camouflaged with inspiration from the Afrika Korps. Route and Key Locations

The core objective of the Middle East Special was rooted in a festive, biblical concept. The presenters were tasked with buying a used, open-top sports car in Iraq and driving it across the Middle East to Bethlehem. To mirror the nativity story, they were instructed to bring gifts to a "baby" at their final destination. The journey passed through several countries and significant

Airing as the Christmas Special in 2010 (Series 16, Episode 0), the episode sees Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May tasked with a seemingly impossible mission: drive from the shores of Iraq to the birthplace of the Messiah, Bethlehem. It remains a masterclass in the "Clarkson Era" of the show—a blend of stunning cinematography, arrogant incompetence, and three middle-aged men arguing in a desert.

Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, after arriving via a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane . Richard Hammond Fiat Barchetta Riviera Special , which

Driving south into Jordan, the trio tested their cars on the smooth tarmac of the desert highways before descending to the Dead Sea—the lowest point on Earth. Here, the production crew staged a classic Top Gear challenge, testing the performance of the battered sports cars against the extreme heat and low altitude. 5. Israel and the West Bank

A: Not for you. For them? Absolutely. They were shot at (warning shots), detained at gunpoint (briefly), and Clarkson was once surrounded by an angry mob.

Their objective was clear but daunting: purchase three affordable, second-hand sports cars in Iraq, drive them across the volatile landscape of the Middle East, and deliver gifts to a symbolic birthplace in Bethlehem.

The final leg required navigating the complex security apparatus of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The cars, heavily modified and battered by this point, successfully reached Bethlehem. The episode concluded at a stable, where the presenters delivered their gifts (gold, frankincense, and a Nintendo DS) to a baby revealed to be a miniature version of the show's mysterious racing driver, The Stig. Behind-the-Scenes Production and Risks