Use of English PRO

(0) THE BBC's flagship motoring programme (1) ............ aired in 2002. It has become the most widely-watched factual television programme in the world. (2) ............ to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Top Gear was sold to 214 'territories', with a total global viewership estimated to be 350 million. It is (3) ............ essence a motor review show, which originally served to advise potential buyers of the pros and (4) ............ of buying a particular car, (5) ............ as reliability and cost. Where Top Gear began and continues to differ from any previous programme of this type is in its inclusion of weird and wonderful vehicles, (6) ............ definitely appeal to the typical man or woman (but which would probably never be driven by them). It also contains interviews with celebrities, close-to-the-bone humour, and races and challenges for its presenters and guests. From time to time the alternative, wacky style focuses more (7) ............ the presenters' adventures than on the motor vehicles (8) ............. That, mixed with the high-octane fun of driving and testing some of the world 's best (and most expensive) sports cars, has guaranteed the show's success.