In a moment of pure, uncut Top Gear , the trio stops at the Dead Sea. It is here that Richard Hammond, in a stroke of horrific genius, produces the "Mankini" (a borat-style lime-green thong). The image of Hammond floating in the saltiest water on Earth, dressed like a peeled lime, while Clarkson and May weep with laughter, is the comedic peak of the entire Clarkson era.
As they approach the Jordanian border with Israel (the West Bank), the sat-nav routes them through a literal minefield. Leftover warning signs in Arabic and faded red triangles mark the edges. They resort to throwing rocks to "test" the path. James May’s Mazda—the reliable steed—is nearly blown up. They survive by pure, stupid luck. The Verdict The Middle East Special works because it balances on a knife-edge. One side is a geopolitical commentary about a region torn apart by conflict; the other is a farce about three men trying to fix a Fiat’s electrics with a stick. top gear - middle east special full episode
Where to watch: Available on Amazon Prime Video (via the "Top Gear" channel) or BBC iPlayer (legacy rights permitting). In a moment of pure, uncut Top Gear