Car show Fifth Gear, produced by all3media indie North One, is to transform into an electric car show, Fifth Gear Recharged.
The show was launched in 2002, and has run for 28 series and is sold all over the world. However, given the revolution in the car manufacturing world it was decided to make the switch for series 29.
Fifth Gear hosts Jason Plato and Vicki Butler-Henderson will be joined by Rory Reid, ex-Top Gear presenter, and former Formula 1 and Formula E driver Karun Chandhok. They will be assisted by EV consumer journalist Grace Webb and engineering ace Jimmy de Ville.
Fifth Gear Recharged will launch in the UK on November 25 on discovery+, before moving on to Quest on December 2. It will be sold worldwide by all3media International and is funded by programme finance specialists Infinitum.
The new series includes all the Fifth Gear favourites, such as team tests and shoot outs. It will also look at fitting home chargers, buying a second hand EV and understanding the future of the UK’s EV charging network.
North One CEO Neil Duncanson said: “In the last 18 months the car world has undergone the most seismic change. Our audience wants to know everything about these new electric cars, which are now being produced at an incredible rate. They also want to know about cars powered by all kinds of alternative energies and we’ll show them.”
‘It’s not a worthy polemic, it’s still going to be a high-paced, entertaining hour of fun, speed, driving skill and take-out information. Everything you need to know about the cars and how to keep them on the road.’
Simon Downing, Discovery’s SVP Marketing and Head of Factual & Docs, said: “North One’s Fifth Gear Recharged has all the fizzing energy, expertise and speed of its predecessor, but this new incarnation reflects a social and consumer transformation which is only set to accelerate.”
All3media International CEO Louise Pedersen said: “Fifth Gear has had huge success internationally and is very popular with global broadcasters. This fresh new electric iteration of the show feels timely, fresh and innovative and we are confident that our buyers will respond extremely positively.”
North One also host produces both Formula E and Extreme E, as part of a joint venture with sister company Aurora. They also scored a rating success this summer on Channel 4 with Guy Martin: World’s Fastest Electric Car.
Fifth Gear Recharged was ordered for discovery+ by Simon Downing, commissioned by Victoria Noble. Richard Pearson was an Executive Producer at North One. It is produced from North One’s Birmingham base and will be distributed worldwide.
Jon Creamer
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