New series: first episode rehearsal gallery

You'll probably recognise the gentleman with his arm raised in the picture above these words. That's Jeremy Clarkson. He fronts a programme called ‘Top Gear'. And it's back this weekend in its usual slot - 8pm, Sunday, BBC2 and BBC HD.

But before then, here's what happened at our studio rehearsals this week (and if you want some more enticing preview pics, head this way)

L-R: James May, Jeremy Clarkson, not-Richard Hammond

Spot the orange slice of Teutonic driftiness in the corner? Of course not, you were staring at that man's beard, weren't you?

He has a girl's name. He's not actually a girl. Is actually very cool.

Richard explained his difficulty in torgling the grunk splonge

Richard again, showing the aftermath of an untorgled grunk splonge

James shares Richard's woe in being utterly unable to torgle

Jeremy points to the BMW 1 Series M Coupe's finely wound tyre compound. He would later spend many laps finely unwinding it.