Top Gear audience member claims canned laughter used to cover 'long, awkward silences'

Canned laughter: An audience member has hit out at the programme
BBC
Mark Chandler4 June 2016
The Weekender

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The BBC has defended is new-look Top Gear show over claims canned laughter was added to cover “awkward silences” during filming.

Former fans have slammed this week’s first episode of the programme, now fronted by Chris Evans with Matt LeBlanc after Jeremy Clarkson’s controversial exit.

And an anonymous audience member quoted by The Sun today claimed there were "long, awkward silences" during filming, saying they "couldn't believe how much laughter they had added in” to the broadcast version.

The apparent disparity was noticed by viewers who took to social media to point out a difference between the reaction of those in the audience and the levels of laughter heard.

Jason Linsel wrote: "The best part of Top Gear is the canned laughter when you can clearly see that nobody's laughing."

But a Top Gear spokesman defended the show, saying: "There were no awkward silences during filming as reported by The Sun newspaper which clearly has an agenda against the show.

"It's well known that Top Gear isn't a live programme and that the show is edited after filming, but last week's episode was edited in exactly the same way as previous series."

The BBC said all laughter is taken from the studio audience and no artificial laughter is used.

Its first episode, which aired on May 29, drew 4.4million viewers, with a peak of 4.7million, while Jeremy Clarkson's series bowed out with 5.8million viewers.

Viewers were quick to criticise the motoring show on social media, with many of the comments referring to Evans' "shouty" and "too excitable" hosting style. Fans also felt that he had tried - unsuccessfully - to imitate former frontman Clarkson.

But Evans defended the show on Twitter, writing: "Top Gear audience grew throughout the hour. FACT. Won its slot. FACT. Still number one on iPlayer. FACT. These are THE FACTS folks."

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