Jason Dawe: Top Gear's Forgotten Host
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- čas přidán 28. 07. 2022
- Without further ado, I bring to you a video that goes in-depth on the career of Jason Dawe, Top Gear's original third host before James May, who initially refused to host before changing mind after Dawe's release from the programme in early 2003. I felt this was a story that needed to be told in full, as it had never been done before. Most sources essentially memory-hole all Dawe did prior to 2002, shoehorning a sentence in or two if they're lucky, and although the man himself hasn't had his life pried into quite as much as the other three hosts for fairly obvious reasons, there is a fair bit out there.
This will serve as a "pilot" episode to several other videos I've been working on that talk about each of the hosts in further detail. The final bit I recorded for this video was a screen recording of Used Car Roadshow's website from late yesterday, as I realised I hadn't added it to the video yet. Otherwise, the video was remade from a 60% complete form from late June, with the audio redone completely thanks to the purchase of a proper microphone. The video itself was mostly done by the 23rd, other than tiny bits here and there which I added to whilst working on my other videos, with me putting the final touches on hold due to me attending a car show on the 24th, my first in over 2 and a half years.
If you like what you see, please consider either subscribing to my Patreon for exclusive content such as scripts for upcoming videos:
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Or making a one-time donation via Ko-Fi:
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Next on the agenda shall be the Top Gear Iceberg Explained, which you might be able to expect as early as the 31st, since there isn't anywhere near as much photo/video sourced. I'm slowly getting back into things if you watched my earlier video at the beginning of the month. You won't have to wait as long for the other video, though my Hot Wheels documentary for my second channel definitely needs a bit longer. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I honestly feel a bit bad for Jason getting booted off and forgotten but at the same time, I'm glad that they brought in James.
jason went on to do something on itv with penny mallory didn't he. was quite bad but watchable. forgotten its name lol
@@downtheshedwithjason used car roadshow
@@Colin_Fasoli your good at this, ok what was gambon corner called previous to michael gambons effort. no peeking on google.
@@downtheshedwithjason Bacharach, right?
@@theempires5 no, gambon corner was carpenters corner. rewatched series one and two recently by coincidence to see how bad they were at the start. clarkson often mentioned having the subaru owners club as audience when it rebooted as what we know today, and yes the audiences were tiny. when i went there was a 1000 plus of us lol
Bringing in James was the right decision ...
He brought in the female market!
@@LabradorIndependent They're hot for James May right now!
With jason the top gear would not be it
@Jason my dad brought me to it and qlso iam not british so in czech republic it wasnt extremly popular
@Jason and you dont need to yell at someone just because he said his oppinion
About a man that was only in 10 episodes of top gear and it’s still better than watching the new top gear
Jason sold my sister and I our first cars and also one to my parents- all Volvos. He also played violin in our school orchestra in Truro. A very genuine, decent guy.
Jason was on the whole harmless, but his presence was holding on to the idea that Top Gear was a partly informative car show. As we found out when James joined they could do faux-informative segments every now and then but the show on the whole was more orientated towards a modern audience who want antics and humour, and that was a more lucrative and better end product.
It wasn't like that until season 4 or 5
they should have parted company with the top gear name and kept that as a proper informative car review programme, and given the boys there own version. top gear top toys or something, top gear boys with toys??
top gear on top dollar lol
At least they were informative on supercars. No one wants to buy brand new normal cars unless your lease company or a large company wanting to buy a job lot.
@@downtheshedwithjason No, what an awful idea.
Jason must feel a bit like the first drummer in The Beatles...but, you can't argue about the decision to bring in James, the three works so well together.
Pete Best. Yeah i see the similarity
19:00 I don't believe Top Gear or the hosts would've become a household name if Dawes had remained. The trio of Hammond, May and Clarkson was what made it successful. I wonder if Jason would be successful if he decided to go solo and have a CZcams channel like Jay Leno or May, though.
@Jason Hmm, he had several projects outside of Top Gear like Oz and James, James May Toy Stories, Amazon's Our Man in Japan and so on. To say he's not successful outside of Top Gear is far fetched because he's not. He can held his own pretty well in a solo program that requires his wit and quirkiness and people love him for it.
@Jason Top gear was massively popular long before the jet car crash.
@Jason He definitely is successful outside Top Gear, he did several travel documentaries and on CZcams he's appealing to younger audience on the Drivetribe channel(s)
there is a similar looking chap called JayEmm on cars.
czcams.com/users/JayEmmonCars
@@theempires5
I agree, I really enjoying watching the other programmes presented by James May. To be fair though, he wouldn’t have got those programmes if not for his Top Gear fame.
James May was supposed to be in the first series, but he got lost on the way
I'm glad I scrolled down enough just for this comment
No, he didn’t even want to come on to a show that would end up becoming a failure.
@@jacobrumens9601 have you ever heard of a thing called a joke?
@@mmlttv7256 Yes but I was just telling the truth about James’ absence from Series 1.
Jason Dawe reminds me of Mike Brewer, only way more likeable.
@@filespec Brewer was already a TV presenter before Dawe was on Top Gear so I really doubt it. Probably has more to do with them both being car salesmen
Having worked with both of them that’s actually a very accurate description.
Dawe did something with Mike brewer pre wheeler dealers.
'old aaht yer 'and...
Great guy Mike Brewer, he gave me an rs2000 on a T plate in the early nineties for plastering his cellar 😎🙏👍🇬🇧
This is a well timed video. I've been watching series 1 lately and it still holds up well. Yes it's at a slower pace with more conversation, but I enjoy that sort of thing.
Jason did really well, even not considering it was his first presenting job. I reckon if the BBC had kept him on he would have developed really well - they should have helped with his presenting skills. Richard wrote about that bit in his book - they were so consumed with the show not bombing, they didn't have the spare mental capacity to see this. After all, they allowed the show to improve (with 2 shit pilots being the evidence of this) It does follow then, that the presenters should also be given the time to improve (and training,or guidance).
And James May wasn't actually that good in series 2. He got better over time. Like everyone does.
Thanks for the video. Looking forward to another.
I dunno, James very first intro where he absolutely roasts Jeremy and Richard is absolutely hilarious
Series 2 james was iconic lol
Some of his best lines are from that series
I’m watching season 1-9 as quickly as possible. I’m 17 and always grew up with top gear on but never watched it from the start. Found out they are removing it from BBC iPlayer in 19 days
Sorry you haven’t been watching series 1 top gear has been running since the late 70’s and started with Angelia Rippon and Noel Edmonds has hosts
@@CricketEngland good point. It has been showing for many years. Many different formats and presenters. That new guy, Clarkson was good wasn't he? That 'white goods' review was fresh and funny.
James made such a good impression on the first episode belittling Clarkson during the news section. From the very first time we saw them all on screen for the first time, the dynamic was concrete.
I binged TG from episode one to the last shows with Hammond and May. It was interesting to watch things slowly develop and come together piece by piece
Did you watch all of the specials as well?
Did that too. It was kind of sad to see, how overly scripted it became in the last seasons. Not gonna even mention tgt...
@@wetplant1748 I am deeply offended that you even have to ask
I did too during the first quarantine. It was amazing.
Same except an episode in season 15 because it was not available
Worked with Jason in the early 2000s, nice fella with a decent sense of humour. He’d have got better with time. All the presenters were awful to begin with and the show now relies heavily on researchers.
I agree, he should have been given another chance and allowed to remain on the show, if not as a presenter then in some other capacity.
@@shriharihudli8596 he couldn't be arsed doing basic research. He was shit at the role
I remember the reboot and "new Top Gear" like it was yesterday when I was just a 15 year old car nut. Jason had always been a good and knowledgeable car presenter and always provided some useful tips when it came to buying new or used cars. It's hard to remember a time before Clarkson, Hammond and May but season 1 in particular featured more of the old Top Gear consumer advice format and Jason fit in well with it. But the moment we were introduced to the floppy haired James May in season 2 it just felt like a really balanced trio was formed and then the classic challenges started to appear. You feel for Jason a bit but there's no chance at all the show would have become what it did had he stayed and that's no dig at him. It's just that the famous three shaped what the show would become as the seasons rolled on. The format that it became is mostly down to to those three and Andy Wilman's relationship on and off screen. Nothing quite like putting on what has now become "old Top Gear" when I'm feeling like a good nostalgia trip
James May fills up that harmless, inoffensive middle class role that Dawes could not. Dawes is more Basingstoke than Guildford. For that, they already had Hammond. May just balanced Clarkson’s toff arrogance and Hammond’s various insecurities. With May, the programme had a wider audience as it was more of an all-rounder, in my view. They had beer, but by adding lemonade, they could sell their shandy to a lot more people when not many others were selling drinks.
I was there for the recording of the first episode in 2002 when Jason Dawe was part of the Trio. I supplied the Cavalier Convertible for the star with a car. Jason did his own show for a while but not seen him on tv for many years.
The first star in reasonably priced car was Harry Enfield, if you didn’t know.
I think Dawe could have done really well on CZcams.
Being able to research and put together content on his own time and with out any meddling (not to imply sabotage by anyone. More like just letting his natural tone out more) plus his expertise in used cars would have been amazing to see
he simply is not the kind of person thats entertaining to watch. he has all the personality of plaster. he's a used car salesman. nothing more to be said.
Dawe is such a likable guy and his insights into the car markets were always very interesting to me. If he started a CZcams channel with information about the inner workings of the car markets I’d 100% be a subscriber.
He collided with Volvo estate and wasn't erased from the timeline? Tough bloke.
He then drove a Volvo estate years later, or at least he did the day I saw him in Tesco car park
Jason was brilliant in the show called’ the used car show’. Was so sad when that finished.
Meet Jason many years ago at the used car roadshow where my car. (Porsche 928) was used on the show. Great guy to talk too,
had a lot of information about cars. Pity he did not stay longer on top gear.
I first saw Jason on Used Car Roadshow and I really liked him, shame you don't see much of him anymore.
0:48 Dawe was shown the door haha!
I would’ve loved to seen Jason make a cameo in the grand tour but that probably won’t happen.
I always cringed when he sat on the hoods, lol. The used car bits were really boring and now really pointless. Bringing James May back as one of the presenters probably one of the best decisions they ever made.
And the last good decision they ever made
Really pleased to see this, I know so little about Dawe, and I know you’d cover him well!
Keep up the great work!
Your documentaries are awesome mate. Thoroughly researched, interesting and eye opening. I've never stopped to consider the missteps taken in top gear's production. It always appeared as a smooth success! Can't wait for more of this content, thanks for doing it.
Very nicely researched. I directed a test for Top Gear in 2001 with Jason about the Zonda and a bunch of primary school kids and, as you said, he was a nice enough chap but was somewhat stiff and working very much outside his comfort zone. The shoot was OKish but I wasn't involved in the edit and I got the feeling that the whole thing was designed to be a failure. The caretaker exec producer was a guy from Bristol (where I worked) and I think there was a bit of a power struggle between Andy Wilman and the exec, so it's probable there were other issues working in the background too. It was what it was and the best outcome prevailed as the overall chemistry of Dawe, Hammond and Clarkson simply wasn't that great and didn't really fit into the Wilman vision. Good job too cos the final trio created something that doesn't come along everyday. However, the whole thing, Top Gear and The Grand Tour really need to be put out to pasture as they're from another era and we need to move on.
Move onto what? Look around you, there's nothing to move onto that isn't a cringey money-driven shit on the wall made by 20 year olds made to get rich fast then cash out. You're from another era too, when are you going to move on? Why do you think people want to watch musicals? This isn't 1942. You're living in a dead society that nobody cares about. Imagine how much more things you could do if you focused on modern music like pop music and hip hop.
@@HuskyGamersUNITE LOL
When I was a kid I used to love the “back in the fast lane” DVD and there’s a small clip of Jason in the section where Richard tried to beat a speed camera and it always confused me as a kid not knowing who he was lol
Even after watching this and if i had to guess id say TG was off in a direction that wasnt about consumer advise .... so the fella didnt lose a role he just didnt have a role .
Shame as i found him a warm nice guy .
I suspect there was lots behind the schene of clarson wanting to create a show around cars and not a car show .
Imagine an alternative universe where all FOUR of them remained on TopGear.
I love how you go trough back catalogues, and extensive research to bring us rare clips and articles.
You are the Top Gear archivist!
Glad to see you’re back making videos. Can’t wait for more!! 😃😃
Great to hear about Jason! Thank you so much for yet another brilliant and informative video!
It's sad that he got booted off after just one series, but Captain Slow was definitely the right decision and - well the rest is history for all of us fans :D
Nice!!! Been missing your content! I actually like Jason Dawe - I like his show wheeler dealers and I have seen the entire first season with Jason - he was actually really good in it but didn’t have the chemistry like May did with Clarkson and Hammond. For not having any screen experience he actually did really damn good. When motortrend on demand had top gear up until a month ago they had the complete season 1 of top gear with all of Dawe’s scenes.
Agreed
The presenter of wheeler dealers was Mike Brewer
@@The-NS damn you’re right - why was I so convinced it was Jason Dawe?
@@WoodsPrecisionArms Jason and Mike look similar, though I prefer Jason's more chill demeanour to Mike's overexcitability.
@@WoodsPrecisionArms hold out yer hand.
Still better than Chris Evans and Matt Leblanc.
I feel bad for Jason. It was his first go at tv and he still needed to grow a bit.
12:47 I'm sure Dawe appeared in at least one segment on that DVD, as that's how I first heard of him. Unless the Aus/NZ was slightly different?
he's so forgotten that in my country Top Gear is mostly shown starting from 2nd season, not the 1st
Series 1 of "new" Top Gear that included Jason Dawe was available on Amazon Prime Video, in New Zealand at least, when I watched it last year.
Nicely presented Gearknob 👍. The work you've put in was well worth it. New sub 🙂.
I feel a little guilty now. I emailed "The used car roadshow" asking if they had dragged the audience into the studio out of the rain from a local bus stop. The 20 or 30 people would stand around trying to look interested in an obviously poor copy of "Top Gear". Penny would have to ask Jason questions about technicalities, in an obvious "I'm just a dumb girl" way that belied her skills and knowledge as a rally driver. And of course, the big white marker pen detailing the features of the car with the price, in the style of an Arthur Daily bomb site dealer. Funny thing, soon after that the show ended.🤡
Wouldn't have happened with Dawe though, like you say a nice enough chap who seemed to be starting to get it, but James May instantly had chemistry and charisma around Clarkson that Jason didn't. It's a bit unfair however that he has been redacted from the wedding photos.
If May hadn't appeared, we wouldn't be talking about Top Gear today. When you said _used car salesman_ I literally laughed because I remember the first time I saw Dawe on Top Gear I said: "He looks like a used car salesman."
I’m 21 and actually went back to rewatch Top Gear and I found Jason Dawe’s segment fascinating just especially with how the market is right now. I don’t know about anyone else but does anybody wonder how Jason is getting on these days?
Honestly after watching series 1 and then series 2, the difference is night and day, Dawe was just "okay" but didn't really have the same chemistry as Clarkson, Hammond and May had. Dawe is literally the Pete Best of top gear.
He was only a placeholder for May who got lost on the way lol. Thats the running joke 😂😂😂
I'd love to get dedicated video breaking down why top gear post the trip hasn't been very good
As it’s been proven in every other top gear around the world and even the reboot no one can ever replace those three chaps.
I do remember him in the early stages of the new TG but for some reason i thought there were 4 of them at the start as series 1 and 2 are kinda mixed in my mind. I did re-watch the first series of new TG on iplayer last year and its odd its like a hybrid of new and old TG. It`s also odd seeing JD talking about used cars from 2002 but kinda nice at the same time, got some nostalgic vibes.
When I watched the first season for the first time I always liked Jason. Nice good lad.
the Think was a real contender for Auto slalom here in Scandinavia... I knew a guy with 3 of these, he used to run them in the Norwegian championship, he had done something to get decent acceleration up to 50mph. and he came second 2 of the years and on 4th 2 years with a Think on used Prius tires.
I feel bad for me, the iconic trio made Top Gear what it is, but he is also part of the success, I think they should bring him into The Grand Tour as a guest or part of the show in some way, but yeah
The part with the school kids has always stuck in my mind, it was a great segment and lets face it, we all love the Lambo!
3:39 I have literally never seen an Avantime in such pristine new condition. Seeing one on the road was always rare enough, but when you did they were always absolutely wrecked by neglect.
'Literally never'? Do you mean never? Just say never, cretin.
its a great car, i wish i could import one.
I think you're being quite kind to him here. I remember watching at the time and him being dull. He was a worse version of quinton in a show that was moving on from that format.
Greatest presenting trio…In the world!
Jason Dawe effectively got the Yezhov treatment, as so it seems.
Fantastic video.
To be honest, I could see Dawe growing into the role. May was pretty dull and uninteresting for his first season or two, given the time I think Dawe absolutely could have stayed on.
What is your video source for the Jason Dawe top gear episodes? most of the clips you used look to be of very high quality but ive only seen them going around on the internet at like 360p mostly.
I always liked Jason Dawe. It was always obvious that the chemistry between him and the other two didn't quite work, but I actually preferred the original series to the later ones that just became silly. Jason's problem ultimately is that he's a serious presenter, and not a children's entertainer.
He should have gone to do Fifth Gear instead. He would have worked brilliantly there
Amazing video mate! You should do the Stig next.
good video don't know why more people didnt see this
It's been out for a couple of hours lmao
@@TacoInvader69 funniest shi ive seen today
Jason was the economy man. It was interesting to watch his reviews.
In the interests of pedantry Dawe couldn't have had a Spitfire with a 2 litre engine from a TR6 as TR6s had 2.5 litre engines. Thank you I feel better now.
It was probably the 2.0 straight six from the GT6 or Vitesse... Sorry, my pedantry kicked in too!
I remember used car roadshow. I liked it a lot.
Nothing against Jason he was good at his job but he represented what Old Top Gear was more facts and less entertainment.
Great vid 👍 Can you do a video explaining how James may got on top gear please 🙏
Jason's comments about Clarkson's firing being an opportunity for other programmes to fill his void is such a hilarious yet sad cope
Glad he gave his 2 cents because that's what he is worth now probably
Well done, great video boyo.
I hope Dawe is doing well.
Jason was an excellent presenter and series 1 worked well. He offered genuine insight into the car buying market of the time, and this was before Top Gear decided it was entertainment instead of informative. As someone who eventually learned to love the trios freindship and adventures, I certainly don't regret what happened, but even as someone who likes him, its difficult to watch early Jeremey and not wince. His opinions and dominent behaviour dont age well and time has proved him very wrong on many many issues.
And Jason Dawe was "fat". Which, of course, is unforgivable when you're on TV. It's probably the underlying reason why he got dumped.
Yet another fantastic video. Like
A number of CZcams car channels are better than MSM shows of that era. Jason Dawe was a bridge between Chris Goffey and William Woollard Top Gear, and the Jeremy Clarkson period.
Considering series one of top gear never gets repeated, the whole series of top gear from series one with Jason in is on iPlayer.
Great vid bud!
He always had that ambience of that teacher you hated at school who tries to hang with the kids at the prom.
Awesome video
Jason was a decent presenter but he played very straight.
You could Clarkson trying to start the banter and Jason didn't contribute.
I don't think it would have been as big with Jason.
The early seasons were Clarkson with the other two, but they became a trio and thats when it took off.
He was the answer to a question on ant and dec limitless win
The first episode, starts with Clarkson pledging, this is a serious motor show.
The early seasons followed it.
Was there a 2 litre tr6? I thought they only did the 2.5?
CZcams must be spying on me. The other day, I was literally wondering whatever happened to him after he left Top Gear.
I think Jason was kind of brushed off, James, who was given the chance to join on the first season, and then refused, after seeing the success, then suddenly wanted to be in.
Does anyone know where i can watch Classic Gear on tv in the UK?
I remember "old top gear", "Driven" on men and motors so already a fan of Dawe, He did really good in new top gear but I think people misunderstand the dynamic.
They'll say "top gear wouldn't be what it was without May"..... yes, obviously it would have been a different show.
It would have been an informative show about cars instead of the the scripted hollywood style "reality show" that Top Gear became by about half way through (season 11 ish) and then continued for another 11 seasons of fantasy world adventures.
BBC wanted a goofy soap opera to entertain the teens and they got it, Now amazon is doing it after the breakup. That real world vacuum left behind is why so many youtube channels like carwow, The late brake show and carthrottle etc are doing so well.
Top gear went from a factual show to an entertainment show and in my opinion the best TV show ever made.Clarkson and Whilman totally changed car shows from being boring to being funny and more exciting and being a show that the whole family would sit and watch, with Hammond and May too it all just clicked.Top Gear will never be as good as it was with Clarkson Hammond and May again no matter who presents it because as even Andy Whilman has said many times the whole concept and idea was Clarkson's from the start.
Hope the Grand Tour continues for many more years because after seeing a few episodes of the current Top Gear I think it has just gone so unbelievably bad with Mcguiness and Flintoff's -lads lads lads -shout shout shout approach to presenting it now
(Chris Harris does seem to know his stuff and can really drive to be fair to him)
kinda off topic to the video but at 9:32 i remember watching these old jeremy clarkson videos when i was very young.. ive tried to look for them online because i wanna watch them again but it seems to be lost media at this point lol
He looks like the person showed up in Studio while Jeremy pronounced all of the cars in American Accent :3
Jason's Career is like that Coldplay song
"When you try your best but you don't succeed"
Personally I really liked Jason Dawes advice on buying used cars and new car bargains and I liked him on the show. However I don't think it would have been as big with them 3 instead of May. Purely down to comedy.
A long time ago, Top gear was a show only played in old people's homes and a hospital waiting area. They made changes and serious decisions and it became world wide mega success. Props to them really.
30 seconds in and im fed up of him already lmao, James all day
He's not forgotten, he was just a third wheel...I really didn't understand his presence on the show.
6:19 rx7 is a sports car, nsx close but still a sports car, supra more of a gt more than anything, 300zx 100% gt car
I'm currently watching Series 1 for the very first time (I think they started showing Top Gear her on FTA TV around Series 3 or 4, well I remember becoming aware of it around 2004/05) and while I personally like Jason's segments and his interesting 'Insider Dealings' bits, it does feel like it's two different shows being put together, the old TG and the post 2002 one, while James came along and it started to become what we all knew and loved.
Within a few weeks of series 2 you could see James May was working better than Jason Dawe. He got the audience laughing, had more of a relationship with Jeremy and Richard and you could tell the production team realised they made a good choice. They gave him more to do and it worked. Jason Dawe was competent, inoffensive but dull. There was little wit to him. James May was superior.
never knew of him until I started watching from series 1 on Iplayer, shame that he never really worked out
James May and the other two are television gold together.
I'm 27 and weirdly remember this guy and It was a strange nostalgia