The bulk of Top Gear is owned by JC and Andy Wilman, the producer. They go back a long way - if memory serves - from when they both were at Performance Car in the 1990's.
JC's articles even then in a sort of pre-PC world were always contentious.
Worth looking up Bedder 6. All sold to the Beeb 18 months ago.
The 'product' is built around JC, so they could call it "Wanked out old Bangers" and many people would still watch it due to him fronting the show.

He took that title from one of his "videos",,,,,,,,
