Fifth Gear will return to TV in September

LFilming has started for a new series of Fifth Gear, which will return to our screens on Quest in

That’s according to a tweet by presenter Tiff Needell, which comes two years after the former F1 racing driver suggested that the show was over for good.

First broadcast on Channel 5 in 2002, Fifth Gear rose from the ashes of Top Gear, which had been cancelled a year earlier. Several ex-Top Gear presenters have appeared on the show, including Tiff, Quentin Willson and Vicki Butler-Henderson. Other popular hosts include Jonny Smith and Jason Plato.

Did some filming yesterday for a new series of … @FifthGearTV!! Yes, after a three year break we’re back for more in September.

— Tiff Needell 🏁 (@tiff_tv) June 14, 2018

Most recently, Fifth Gear was broadcast on ITV4, but the show has also appeared on Discovery and History. Tiff put the show’s cancellation down to a lack of funding, ending a tweet with the hashtag #money.

While Fifth Gear has always lived in the shadow of its more famous rival, the show’s down-to-earth and relaxed style made it a hit with car fans. On its return, it will face a huge battle for ratings, with big-budget competition from Top Gear and The Grand Tour.

It remains to be seen whether or not Jonny ‘Carpervert’ Smith or Vicki Butler-Henderson will join Tiff on the new show, but only this week, Jonny tweeted:

In the last 2 weeks suddenly the offers of TV work seem to have gone crackers. I’ve been in the business long enough to know they rarely all come to fruition, but nevertheless it bodes well for an exciting remainder of 2018.

— Jonny Smith (@Carpervert) June 12, 2018

Meanwhile, Vicki Butler-Henderson is part of the AutoTrader REV team, hosting car reviews alongside Erin Baker and Rachael Hogg.

Responding to a tweet, Tiff hinted that Jason Plato will be part of the team.

We were both smoking tyres yesterday … https://t.co/TthoG8fziy

— Tiff Needell 🏁 (@tiff_tv) June 14, 2018

Tiff Needell’s broadcasting career began at ATV Midlands before he joined Murray Walker for live coverage of Silverstone’s Formula Two race on BBC Grandstand in 1981. He became a regular co-commentator with Walker throughout the 80s, before joining Top Gear in 1987.

You won’t have long to wait for your chance to see Tiff behind the camera, as ‘Needles’ will be presenting live coverage of the Silverstone Classic on ITV4.