The route took the presenters through a diverse and often dangerous landscape, crossing several international borders during a period of relative regional stability just months before the Arab Spring.
The team navigated the mountainous terrain of southern Turkey, which tested the limits of their low-slung sports cars.
The , originally aired on December 26, 2010 , is widely considered one of the most ambitious and visually stunning episodes in the show's history. Spanning approximately 1,200 miles, the 76-minute extended episode follows Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May as they retrace the biblical journey of the Three Wise Men across the Middle East to Bethlehem. Episode Overview and Premise
The Middle East Special was a ratings success, watched by approximately in the UK, making it one of the top ten most-watched episodes of the series. Jeremy Clarkson has since described it as the best of the adventures to watch, and it remains a staple of holiday television marathons. Today, the three main cars from the special are part of the World of Top Gear exhibition at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.
