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Hang on lads, we won’t do the Italian Job says Top Gear
Mark Prigg, Technology Correspondent3 Apr 2009
TOP Gear has pulled out of an attempt to “solve” the final scene of The Italian Job where the robbers are stuck at one end of a coach as their gold balances precariously over a cliff at the other.
Last year the Royal Society of Chemistry said it had solved the problem of how to recover the gold following a national competition, which was won by John Godwin of Surrey.
It had been hoped Top Gear would recreate the stunt, and prove that his solution of draining fuel from the coach to alter the weight distribtution actually works.
Producers and presenter James May had visited the Royal Society and even asked for a team of chemists to be on the bus which was to be hung on the edge of a Midlands quarry. But today the programme confirmed that it had decided not to go ahead with the stunt.
A Royal Society of Chemistry spokesman said: “Our volunteer chemists were happy to board the bus in order to push the frontiers of human knowledge.
“We are shocked that a team of self-proclaimed petrol-heads retreated from a great opportunity to celebrate the most important British car film ever made.
“We are very disappointed. The Top Gear office said something this morning about budgets not being big enough. It's pretty deflating to discover that they have backed out after having been so enthusiastic.”
The BBC did not return calls.
In the film, gang leader Charlie Croker, played by Michael Caine, tries to reach the gold, but as he does so, the coach tips up dangerously.
Croker turns around and says: “Hang on a minute lads, I've got a great idea...”
Reader views (3)
How much was this all going to cost, and who was going to pay the bills?
- Trunk, US, 03/04/2009 18:33
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Now the Top Gear Team has a reprieve from this dangerous stunt they will be able to turn their attention to making a programme about motoring - now that would be a first for them.
- Rick, Ipswich, UK, 03/04/2009 16:26
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I'm glad to hear "our boys" will survive to host another series of Top Gear or two .... !
- Marianne, SW France, 03/04/2009 16:02
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