Editing Fifth Gear (section)

== History ==
''Fifth Gear'' was first broadcast on 8 April 2002, featuring the same format and many of the same presenters, including Willson, Needell, Butler-Henderson and Simpson, as the BBC's ''Top Gear''.<ref name="new home">{{cite web |title=Top Gear finds a new home|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/reviews/1918330.stm |date=9 April 2002 |publisher=BBC News Online |first=William |last=Gallagher}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author= Timms, Dominic|date= 15 November 2001|url= https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/multi-platform/news/top-gear-drives-over-to-c5/1185599.article|title= Top Gear drives over to C5|work= [[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]]|publisher= Emap Media}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Top Gear team switch lanes |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1657807.stm |date=15 November 2001 |publisher=BBC News Online }}</ref> Channel 5 originally wanted to carry on using the ''Top Gear'' name, but the BBC refused as it still operated the [[Top Gear (magazine)|''Top Gear'' magazine]]; the BBC relaunched ''Top Gear'' [[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|with a drastically revised format]] later in 2002, placing a strong focus on comedy and general entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ededition.com/top-gear-versus-fifth-gear-which-british-car-show-is-better/|title=Top Gear Versus Fifth Gear: Which British Car Show Is Better? — EDEDITION.com|website=www.ededition.com|access-date=27 April 2019|archive-date=25 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425200730/http://www.ededition.com/top-gear-versus-fifth-gear-which-british-car-show-is-better/|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Fifth Gear'' has been referenced in ''Top Gear'', such as when a barn fire damaged ''Top Gear'' property, host [[Jeremy Clarkson]] satirically claimed that ''Fifth Gear'' had "burned our furniture."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/15/top-gear-burns-props-destroyed/|title=Top Gear burns! Props destroyed|website=Autoblog|date=15 August 2007 |access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref>

Needell announced ''Fifth Gear'''s cancellation on 24 May 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/entertainment/news/a29300/tiff-needell-fifth-gear-cancelled/|title=Tiff Needell's "Fifth Gear" Has Been Cancelled|date=2016-05-24|website=Road & Track|access-date=2016-05-25}}</ref> On 14 June 2018, Needell announced on his official Twitter account that he had been doing some filming work for a new series of Fifth Gear which aired in September 2018 on [[Quest (British TV channel)|Quest]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/tiff_tv/status/1007167835943120896|title=Yes, after a three year break we're back|date=14 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.motoringresearch.com/car-news/fifth-gear-return-to-tv/ | title=Fifth Gear will return to TV in September| date=13 September 2018}}</ref> but by 2019 had left the show to join Lovecars.com and their [[ITV4]] programme ''On the Road''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://advanced-television.com/2019/09/09/discovery-announces-new-series-of-fifth-gear-on-quest/|title = Discovery announces new series of Fifth Gear on Quest| date=9 September 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/mty6sh/on-the-road--series-1-episode-2/|title=On the Road - S1 - Episode 2|website=Radio Times|access-date=19 November 2020|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119160427/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/mty6sh/on-the-road--series-1-episode-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/mvjxvz/on-the-road--series-1-episode-3/|title=On the Road - S1 - Episode 3|website=Radio Times|access-date=19 November 2020|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119151411/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/mvjxvz/on-the-road--series-1-episode-3/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following a 2021 relaunch, with an emphasis on [[electric car|electric cars]], it was rebranded as '''''Fifth Gear Recharged'''''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/fifth-gear-to-relaunch-as-electronic-car-format-1234854569/|title = 'Fifth Gear' to Relaunch as Electric Vehicle Format; Signs Former 'Top Gear' Host Rory Reid|date = 13 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.televisual.com/news/north-one-amps-up-fifth-gear-recharged-for-discovery/|title = North One amps up Fifth Gear Recharged for Discovery|date = 13 October 2021}}</ref> ''Fifth Gear Recharged'' was presented by [[Vicki Butler-Henderson]], Sid North,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://allcarvideos.net/2023/01/20/sid-norths-day-with-the-insane-1180bhp-ariel-hipercar-fifth-gear/ | title=Sid North's day with the insane 1,180bhp Ariel Hipercar &#124; Fifth Gear by Fifth Gear &#124; AllCarVideos.net, all your favorite youtube channels in one page! }}</ref> [[Karun Chandhok]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.driving.co.uk/news/tv/fifth-gear-tv-show-focus-electric-cars/|title = New Fifth Gear TV show to focus on electric cars|date = 14 October 2021}}</ref> and [[Jason Plato]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.motor1.com/news/248634/fifth-gear-returning-september-2018/|title=Fifth Gear Will Be Back In September|first=Anthony|last=Karr|website=Motor1.com|access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref> with Grace Webb and engineer Jimmy de Ville also involved in reports.

In 2024, North One scrapped the all-EV format, with the programme reverting to being ''Fifth Gear'' and with [[Rory Reid (journalist)|Rory Reid]] rejoining the presenting line-up.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fifth Gear Season 29 {{!}} Radio Times |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-cb2tn2/fifth-gear-season-29/?episode=b-gjfeet |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=www.radiotimes.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Repeats of ''Fifth Gear'' also started being broadcast on [[UKTV]] channel [[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]] in April 2008 and later on [[Discovery Turbo (UK TV channel)|Discovery Turbo]], with early episodes of the show being streamed '24/7' via the British feed of [[Pluto TV]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eu-landing.corp.pluto.tv/channels |title=ALL CHANNELS {{!}} Pluto TV {{!}} Watch Free TV |website=www.eu-landing.corp.pluto.tv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323231425/https://www.eu-landing.corp.pluto.tv/channels |archive-date=2019-03-23}}</ref>