MoD reveals resources used for Top Gear challenge at Instow
IT sounds like the shopping list for starting a small war: 63 military personnel, two Lynx helicopters, a landing craft and two offshore raiding craft.
But this was just part of the Royal Navy's contribution to an episode of BBC television's Top Gear.
Dramatic footage filmed at Instow in November showed presenter Jeremy Clarkson driving the new Ford Fiesta into the sea from a military landing craft.
He then drove it around the beach, surrounded by Royal Marines and with Lynx helicopters flying overhead.
In response to a Freedom of Information request the MoD has now revealed the resources involved in the filming.
It says the sequence involved 63 military personnel and 18 civilian staff.
The MoD also listed all the military vehicles involved:
● Two Lynx helicopters.
● Two MkV landing craft vehicle personnel.
● Two offshore raiding craft.
● One DUKW amphibian landing craft.
● One beach recovery vehicle.
Despite the involvement of a lime green Ford Fiesta the MoD said the activity on the beach was nothing unusual.
In response to the FoI request the MoD said: "The exercise shown on the episode of Top Gear broadcast on Sunday December 7 was a regular Royal Marine training event and was not specifically staged for the programme; therefore we incurred no extra cost to Ministry of Defence resources."
The statement added: "The Royal Navy is constantly seeking to raise the profile of the Royal Marines and Top Gear is one of the most popular television programmes in the UK. Their involvement in this exercise was an excellent opportunity to raise public awareness about the amphibious role of the Royal Marines."
But the MoD refused to answer a question about how much the exercise had cost or how much the programme makers had paid, describing the information as "commercially sensitive".
The statement said: "There was no net additional cost incurred by the department as a result of the broadcast."
The filming last November was organised by Instow major John Lugg after Royal Marines from Poole came up with the idea and contacted Top Gear, who agreed to it.
A spokesman for the Marines said at the time: "Instow was the best place to do it because the expertise is here, it has the right conditions and the space.
"There is a film crew of 12 here, including Jeremy Clarkson and this has been in preparation for a couple of months."
Pictures and video of the filming are on our website: www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk
21 Comments
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by Boccherini, Bideford
Friday, February 13 2009, 8:26AM
“Tudor.... Are you on the same planet as the rest of us, and more importantly did you watch the same programme? Where within this did anyone ever ridicule the marines or for that matter north Devon? I think you will find the RM's came out of this very well indeed, I¿ve read comments on the internet from the US and other countries praising marines for this. Unfortunately I truly believe that you are one of these people that aren't happy unless they're complaining!”
by nigel, cheshire
Friday, February 13 2009, 7:58AM
“i thourght it was a great feature for top gear and good to get the mod involved and could not care less if i had to pay for some of it out of my taxes, if they didn't spend the money on that what else would they spend it on????
ow yeah i forgot prob give the banks 20 billion so they can all have a nice bonus lol”
by The Stig, Houston :)
Thursday, February 12 2009, 6:48PM
“The most irritating thing to me right now is the fact that Clarkson haaaaaaaad to go and drive the Fiesta during the military exercise. That was supposed to be my job you BLOODY IDIOT! I hate you Clarkson CX”
by commando jo, button moon
Thursday, February 12 2009, 6:19PM
“well well well, its got nothing to do with cheese or pickle, and as for eric...... i suggest you try using goose fat on your roast potatoes next time ...OK!!”
by scooby doo, wertnall
Thursday, February 12 2009, 3:33PM
“Go clarkson go what a fantastic programme why not make the most of what the best of brotish has to offer. You moaners are a bunch of one eyed muppetts!!!”
by Anon, Plympton
Thursday, February 12 2009, 12:40PM
“This excercise may have been part of the usual Royal Marines duties however I really don't think it added anythink to the Top Gear programme. And "Wife", I pay my taxes too, propably more than you and I would hate to think that they were going to waste on this "routine excercise" that you call a "beach assualt"!!!!!”
by Wife, Here!!
Thursday, February 12 2009, 5:42AM
“Some people will never be happy!! My husband took part in this ex and it was as much a training ex for the guys as it was a TV show but they had a bloody good time doing it. They don't get much else as this country seems to shun our service men at the moment. All you moaners get A GOD DAMN LIFE you have either not been with or know a serviceman or you wouldn't be "blah blah blahing about taxes, I pay them too and my husband is royal marine" GET OVER IT AND GET A LIFE.
P.s. I loved the programme it was so good to see them doing a beach assault!”
by Paul, Ilfracombe
Thursday, February 12 2009, 3:42AM
“Whats the big deal? If youre the sort of person who watches Top Gear then you probably thought it was a good feature. Apart from that it looked fun for those involved and as mentioned a good advert for the marines. It was also nice to see North Devon on the TV :) . As for Taxpayers money - there are a million other places I would look before focusing on that. Good on Top Gear and Good on our Marines.”
by Ian, Braunton
Thursday, February 12 2009, 1:06AM
“"Dave in Ilfracombe - your taxes are paying for this drivel" ... so are mine and I am quite happy for that as TG is one of the few programs I watch. My license fee is also paying for Strictly come dancing, Antiques Roadshow and Eastenders (amongst many others) - none of which I watch, however I don't feel the need to insult other peoples viewing tastes and complain about the way my money is spent...”
by Mary Huff, North Devon
Wednesday, February 11 2009, 10:29PM
“Ironic, that in this country, where we all "claim" to despise political correctness, as Dave does - it simply is not politically correct to criticise the activities and high expenditure of the armed forces. Why aren't they fair game like anyone else?”