Top Gear Jeremy Clarkson - Cool Fact
In June 2007, the popular TV programme Top Gear, came to Budleigh Salterton for their first review of the Bentley Continental GT. Budleigh Salterton was chosen to reflect the Englishness of Bentley.
Top Gear had permission from the council to drive the Bentley onto the pebbles to film Jeremy Clarkson giving his review of the £110,000 car. Apparently, the crew were assured by a man from the council, that the car would not get stuck, and if it did, they had a man with a tractor. Â
It was a beautiful evening for filming and all went well, with the final shots made when the sun was setting. However, things became fraught when Clarkson tried to drive the car off the beach. The wheels had sunk deep into the pebbles and the car would not budge. The man with the tractor had gone home, so the car was stranded. Locals say that Clarkson was furious and stormed off leaving the tv crew to sort it all out. Long after sunset and after digging to remove the pebbles around the car wheels, the Bentley was eventually pulled off the pebbles - by the man with the tractor!
When the item was aired Clarkson praised the car’s performance, but criticised its dull interior and lack of personality and made a rather scathing comparison to Budleigh Salterton which he said had ‘no sparkle’.  Oh dear.
