Fifth Gear - Fztvseries Fifth Gear Fifth Gear (formerly 5th Gear) is a motoring television magazine from the United Kingdom. The programme started its sixteenth series in June 2009. Originally shown on Five, Fifth Gear has also been broadcast on the Speed Channel in the USA for a short period in 2004 to early 2007. Fifth Gear began broadcasting in Australia in November 2009, on Seven Network's free-to-air digital channel 7Two. Repeats of Fifth Gear also started being broadcast on UKTV channel, Dave in April 2008. Fifth Gear was first broadcast in 2002 as a continuation of the original incarnation of the BBC show Top Gear, which was cancelled in 2001 due to low ratings. Five originally wanted to carry on using the Top Gear name, but the BBC refused. Several of Top Gear's ex-presenters, including Quentin Willson, Tiff Needell and Vicki Butler-Henderson were hired by Five to present Fifth Gear.[1][2] In October 2009, the Mail Online reported that the show would end due to declining audience figures. Fifth Gear's cancellation was also mentioned on rival programme Top Gear in a show first broadcast in November 2009. Presenters Tiff, Vicki and Jonny Smith, however, later denied these rumours at Autosport International and via Twitter, the show will return for a 2010 series in the spring. Last Updated: 03 September 2010
