Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s final episode of Top Gear attracted 5.3 million viewers.
The episode, a cobbling together of the final two parts of the current series that were not completed following Clarkson’s “fracas” with a producer, drew a peak audience of 5.8 million.
The much-hyped final episode, which ran in an extended slot from 8pm to 9.15pm, easily won its slot with a 23% share of all TV viewers.
Following the conclusion of the final episode Clarkson, who is expected to launch a new motoring show on a commercial rival to the BBC, tweeted that he was “sad and sorry it’s ended like this”.
Many many thanks for all your support and encouragement over the years. So sad and sorry it's ended like this
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) June 28, 2015
The final episode failed to hit the heady heights some predicted of being the most-watched ever, that remains the 8.4 million who tuned into watch Lewis Hamilton drive as the “star in a reasonably priced car”.
However, the episode was the most watched show on Sunday night, although ITV drama Black Work pipped Top Gear with 5.55 million viewers if those who caught it on ITV1+1 are included.
Top Gear’s swansong of 5.3 million viewers is pretty much the same as the average across the whole of the last series, season 22.
Although when seven-day viewing figures are taken into account, consolidating those who view it on services such as the BBC iPlayer, the final audience will be significantly greater.
