1. 113- Comparing Magazine
Programs
Top Gear and The One Show
Jambo Dann and Adam Broome

2. Introduction
• The shows that I have chosen to compare for my first task
are Top Gear and The One Show. This is because despite
them both being magazine shows, their content and style
differ greatly. First of all, The One Show is much more of a
light hearted chat show, where the conversations with
guests never get risky or rude. The videos of the presenters
out in the real world that accompany The One Show are
also very tame, featuring sometimes comical scenarios
(which are supposed to be funny) and are clearly aimed at
families.

3. • The show has more differences than similarities to Top Gear.
One of these is that instead of Top Gear being a light hearted
chat show, it is much more a topical program heavily based on
cars. There is a guest on the show each week whom they
interview, but the conversation is often far from light hearted,
and is quite often rude, and there is often a lot of 'risky' banter
between the guest and presenters. Top Gear's program is
primarily video's of the presenters testing new cars and
partaking in various challenges with the car that they have that
week.

4. The Content
• As stated before, the content differs greatly in each show. Where as
Top Gears content is mostly about cars and challenges, The One Show
is primarily a light hearted show covering a range of topics from new
headlines to celebrities. The One Show treats the weeks events more
seriously, such as having the latest celebrity on the show or getting
the audience to share what they think about a topic raised in the
news.
• This is different to Top Gear, who don’t really focus on anything in
the media unless it is to mock and poke fun at it. The show is mainly
focused on cars and when not on this theme it is about something
closely related. E.g. an interview with the head of transport.
• Also, where as Top Gears guests are always heard of and in the public
eye, The One show often invites quirky people onto the show. Such as
two owners of a dog who apparently can sing.

5. The Presentation
• The presentation of The One show is quite casual and, I found, slow
paced. The presenters speak to the audience in a very direct and calm
way, often joking around. This is the same on Top Gear, except it is
not slow paced and the hosts tend to mock each other and the
audience. This is not the same on The One Show, as the presenters
often don’t aim jokes to jokily pick fun at the audience. Top Gears
presenters are loud and brash, rather than conservative.
• The stars on Top Gear are more famous than those on the One Show.
This could be because of the controversy. I would say the younger
generation know Jeremy Clarkson much more than Adrian Chiles. The
stars on Top Gear are often film and TV celebrities, this is the same
with The One show, except Top Gear makes the stars interact more
with the show. They do this by letting them drive around the test
track setting a time record and trying to beat other stars.

6. The Look
-The One Show has a completely different look to Top Gear all together.
The studio
consists of one long sofa and a table in the middle as well as some lights
behind the
sofa and The One Show logo behind. It is very simple and the viewer is
drawn completely to the presenters rather than the look of the set.
Top Gear on the other hand has a vast array of different props scattered
around the studio. The props range from anything from the table that
is made from an old engine, right to real cars on podiums. This is
however because the presenters tend to move around the studio a lot
throughout the show.
I think that graphics on the One Show do not really apply. Top Gear on
the other hand tends to have graphics included when test driving a

7. Sound
• Based on the introductory title sequences, The One
Show features a trumpet, and Top Gear features a
guitar accompanied by a drum beat.
• Both tunes are rather cheesy, opening the shows
with a rather light-hearted feel.

8. Audience
• The One Show is aimed at both genders, as the topics a
generally quite varied, and the show is hosted by a man and a
woman.
• Top Gear, naturally, is aimed more towards men. The topics
are generally motor-related (stereotypically a masculine
theme). The show is hosted by three male presenters.
• In addition to this, The One Show is perhaps aimed at an older
audience (forties to sixties) due to the calm way the show is
presented.
• Again, Top Gear differs, as it is more radical, louder and more
energetic. This would mean a younger audience would take
more to this show.
• Ironically, The One Show’s presenters are actually younger
than those from Top Gear.
• A question - would Top Gear be even more popular if a female
presenter were to join? (nods to Laura Mulvey)
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9. Likes / Dislikes
• Of course, since we’re both in the target category
for Top Gear, we’ll warm to that more than The One
Show.
• The One Show is perhaps more interesting if you
have less desire in cars.
• Top Gear, however, is perhaps the funnier show
because it’s sense of humour (more outrageous)
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