Here are the most common places to find the episode:
Selected a Fiat Barchetta . A stylish Italian front-wheel-drive roadster that suffered from immediate and frequent mechanical failures.
Unlike jungle or polar specials, the Middle East tests cars against heat, sand, and poor roads. The breakdowns (especially Clarkson’s Fiat) become comedic plot points, reinforcing the show’s central trope: unreliable, characterful cars are more entertaining than perfect ones.
The Top Gear Middle East Special remains one of the most ambitious, culturally significant, and enduringly popular episodes in the history of the hit motoring franchise. Originally broadcast on December 26, 2010, as part of Series 16, the feature-length episode tracks Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May as they attempt to recreate the journey of the Three Wise Men using three budget open-top sports cars. top gear - middle east special full episode
Following a beam of light to a stable in Bethlehem, the trio presented their gifts—a gold-relief medallion, "Frankincense" shampoo, and a Nintendo DSi—to find that the "baby Jesus" was actually a Baby Stig .
The journey passed through several countries and significant historical sites:
Reaching Bethlehem, they presented "gifts": gold-relief for James, hotel shampoo for Richard (as frankincense), and a Nintendo DS for Jeremy (replacing myrrh). The "Baby Jesus" in the manger was revealed to be a A Bittersweet Time Capsule Here are the most common places to find
True to form, Jeremy summed up the dynamic by declaring they were not three wise men, but .
: In Jordan, they raced their sports cars around a 2,000-year-old chariot circuit in Jerash.
The narrative engine of the Middle East Special is a automotive reimagining of the Nativity story. The trio drops into Iraq with a singular directive: drive from their starting point to the birthplace of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem. Following a beam of light to a stable
The crew originally planned to drive through Iran , but because the BBC is a state-funded broadcaster, the team was denied entry, forcing a detour through Turkey .
The trio faced numerous complications involving border controls and the ongoing "War on Terror" in Iraq .
It humanized a region of the world that Western audiences primarily saw through the lens of news broadcasts. By showcasing the warmth of the Syrian locals, the stark beauty of the Jordanian desert, and the shared humor of three middle-aged men arguing over broken-down convertibles, it bridged cultural divides.
In Jordan, the cars face extreme heat and rocky terrain. The producers introduce classic Top Gear challenges, including a stealth mission across a military training ground where the presenters camouflage their cars. Clarkson famously paints his Mazda to look like a digital camo block, while Hammond goes for a nomadic tent aesthetic. 4. The Arrival in Bethlehem