Telegraph article on canceled Italian Job segment

[stiggles]

Looks like May wanted to film a solution to the Italian Job, but H&S said no.
Telegraph article

Top Gear has backed out of a challenge to film a new solution to the Italian Job's cliffhanger ending, citing health and safety fears.

At the end of the 1969 film, the robbers' coach almost drives off a cliff, ending up balanced precariously on the edge, with the gang at one end and their gold at the other. At which point, Sir Michael Caine's character Charlie Croker announces: "Hang on a minute lads – I've got a great idea."

But nobody ever found out what it was and, crucially, whether it worked.


So, last October, the Royal Society of Chemistry asked people to work out a method to extract the gold within 30 minutes without using a helicopter, and prove it with maths.

John Godwin, 39, an IT manager from Godalming in Surrey, beat 2,000 people to draft a solution to safely remove the 3.2 tons of gold.

Soon after, presenter James May and producers from Top Gear contacted the RSC to see if they could film his scenario to extricate the gold without toppling the 1964 Bedford VAL14 coach and the gang over the edge.

Firstly, four windows should be smashed: two large central windows just 'airside' of the pivot should be knocked outwards; then two smaller windows above the twin front axles, inwards.

Then a man should be lowered through the smaller windows to let down the four inflated front tyres, which Mr Goodwin said were acting as "springs" and exaggerating the rocking motion.

Thirdly – and most importantly – the near-full fuel tank should be emptied.

This would enable one of the 10-strong gang to get off and gather rocks to further weigh the bus down.

However last night, the BBC programme pulled out of the challenge citing Health and safety concerns.

Jon Edwards, of The Royal Society of Chemistry, told the Daily Telegraph: "We had to ring Top Gear to ask about the filming and they said 'after looking at the costing, health and safety it was too expensive to make the bus safe and we're going to have to pull out'.

"The producer and James May initially came down to our office and spent hours talking through how it could work.

"Now they've decided they can't go that far. They can't make the challenge and pay homage to the most revered car film of all time."

"We are very disappointed. We had already agreed to supply the chemists for the experiment. In fact there was a queue at the door of chemists willing to risk their necks.

"This would have been an excellent opportunity to promote chemistry," he said "It's a big shame.

"The people at Top Gear are so well known for risk taking – but it seems this was too much."

A BBC spokesman said: "We thought it would be brilliant to recreate the Italian Job scene, so we were disappointed when, having spent a lot of time researching all the options thoroughly with the Royal Society of Chemistry, we found that the cost of the stunt was massively prohibitive for one short film in one programme. We've got a set budget and we think we can make that money go further elsewhere."

Last week, Top Gear was told by BBC producers to use fewer £200,000 supercars and devote more screen time to smaller, cheaper models.

Plans to feature Lamborghini, Ferrari and a Porsche in the new series have been abandoned in favour "unfashionable" classics like the Citroen Ami 8 and a Lanchester.

Complete with the usual 'TG has been ordered not to use supercars' line. Shame. Would've been a very May thing to do, but why were a load of chemists involved?

[jenna42]

Stiggles - since this isn't going ahead it's not really a spoiler. Could it go in the main TG thread where all those who don't read spoilers could see it?

Further quotes:-A statement from the Society said: "Our volunteer chemists were happy to board the bus in order to push the frontiers of human knowledge.

"We are shocked that a team of self-proclaimed petrol-heads retreated from a great opportunity to celebrate the most important British car film ever made."

It added: "We are very disappointed. The Top Gear office said something this morning about budgets not being big enough but we thought that they were raring to go since the start of negotiations.

"We have all been ready here to take on the challenge and it's pretty deflating to discover that they have backed out after having been so enthusiastic."

[iam-nobody]

I love this line... In fact there was a queue at the door of chemists willing to risk their necks.
Never under estimate the power of TG.

[Goose+]

Just found that article too. It's complete bullshit if you ask me.

[Cobol74]

That was a great idea - they should have done it.

[be-ach]

That sucks that would have been one of the best ever top gear things, well for any body whos seen the original Italian Job that is,.

[stiggles]

It is a shame, although I still don't quite understand the involvement of a chemistry organisation. Perhaps once the BBC and Top Gear have money again in a few years they might look at it...

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by jenna42

Stiggles - since this isn't going ahead it's not really a spoiler. Could it go in the main TG thread where all those who don't read spoilers could see it?

Done.

[controlspecimen]

Shame. Maybe they can do it in a later series.