There's a world beyond Top Gear and Grand Tour...
‘Fifth Gear’ is coming back to our screens, and presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson can't wait. James Ruppert meets her
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.James: Fifth Gear is coming back, against some famous opposition, please tell us why we should watch it...
Vicki: At Fifth Gear we pride ourselves on the fact that we are professional racing drivers with a pedigree, and are also motoring journalists. We hope that we can give good solid information, so people can go away and buy a good car. We give them practical information based on what they should buy and why. We will also be having a bit of fun as well, providing entertainment along the way.
That is a very old fashioned thing to do now – providing people with facts, figures and advice that might actually be useful!
I know, but we have always done that and stick by it. Because people can go out and buy a car for £50,000, but what we also show on Fifth Gear is that there are at least three used alternatives, which deliver the same amount of fun and power but for a fraction of the price just because they are a little bit older. That is exactly how real people go and look for a new car – they consider every option and that includes used cars.
What’s it like, being back with the old team?
It is delicious to have them all back together again. It is like a children’s away day when we start filming.
So you are all great mates? You don’t just pretend to be?
Oh no. Tiff Needell has been my television husband, just about forever. I have a lovely relationship with Tiff. Jason Plato I have known for an awfully long time, and the same goes for Jonny Smith as he and I have crossed paths in our motoring journalism career, so it is all very lovely. Plus we have a new presenter, Ronnie O’Sullivan, who is joining the gang, and I taught him how to go around a racing circuit a few years ago for a Fifth Gear item – and we get on very well, so he is a great addition.
Can you tell us about the cars you’ll be driving in the new series?
I’ll go from one extreme to the other. We chose a Dacia as one of the more budget friendly family cars. So we took that apart and gave our thoughts and opinions on it. At the other end of the scale I have driven a Bentley Continental GT, which is a full-on luxury saloon car. There’s the proof that we will be driving everything you can possibly think of from top to bottom, and everything in between.
Where there any awful cars in that line up?
The truth is that no one builds an awful car anymore. So they are all of a pretty decent standard. There wasn’t one car that we all hated. However, when it comes to a car’s looks, whether you like it or not, it is always down to individual taste, so there are always going to be disagreements between us on that. If someone doesn’t like the way it looks then it is up to the others to convince them. Usually, if the boys don’t agree with me on something at the start of the piece I’ll have convinced them otherwise by the end. I’ll have basically browbeaten or whipped them into agreeing with me.
Will Fifth Gear be giving us motoring news and advice on our driving?
We have not gone down that path, however in some of the team tests we certainly have talked about driving more economically. There are certainly some cars that might have a computer trick that improves driving, and we will bring that into the programme by explaining what it does and then get the best from it.
Was there any car that, at the end of a day’s filming, you wanted to take home with you and keep?
The pick-up trucks. I love Pick-up trucks. We did an item and had a handful of wonderful trucks. It was huge fun and it just confirmed to me how much I love them. The simple fact is that you can get the family in them plus whatever else you want to throw in the back of the big loading bay behind the cabin.
In an age when any idiot can get online with a camera, why has Fifth Gear got real credibility?
I am very proud of that fact, I think we do a good job in that respect. What cars do you drive?
Old ones, classics that look cool…
Love it.
The new series of Fifth Gear starts at 9pm on Thursday 6 September, exclusively on Quest
For more motoring views visit freecarmag.com
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments