The show and its trio of hosts made waves around the world in October after being driven out of their filming location in southern Argentina by what they described as an "angry mob." After months of anticipation, the episode is finally set to air and fans will get to see the show's mass exodus for themselves.
So what caused all of this trouble? At the heart of the controversy is the license plate on the car driven by host Jeremy Clarkson.
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Top Gear Season 22 Patagonia Christmas Special |
According to the Daily Telegraph, the angry mob confronted the BBC crew at a hotel in the town of Ushuaia. During the confrontation, the show's hosts — Clarkson, along with James May and Richard Hammond — concealed themselves "under a researcher's mattress."
After the initial confrontation, the show's hosts and the female members of the crew were ushered onto a chartered plane and flown to safety in Buenos Aires. However, 29 members of the "Top Gear" crew stayed behind and were forced to escape the mob by driving the convoy of production vehicles to safety in nearby Chile.
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Top Gear Season 22 Patagonia Christmas Special |
The Falklands War is a particularly touchy subject for Ushuaia. The city was the last port for the Argentine battle cruiser General Belgrano before it was sunk by British submarine's torpedoes during the conflict — taking the lives of more than 300 sailors. Controversy, over the sinking of the warship and ownership of the Falklands Islands linger more than 30 years on.