Top Gear tops iPlayer most watched list of 2013

Rex

The BBC's flagship motoring programme Top Gear dominated the most popular shows watched on the iPlayer on-demand service in 2013, new figures reveal.

The Africa Special part one was the single most watched programme, with 3,422,000 views last year, the BBC said.

More and more people are watching programmes on catch-up via their computers, tablets or phones: a record three billion shows were streamed on iPlayer in 2013, a rise of 33% on the previous year.

And Top Gear epsiodes dominated the iPlayer streaming chart, hogging 10 of the top 20 slots.

Numerous episodes from series 19 and 20 were watched more than two million times each on iPlayer.

If you're suffering from Top Gear withdrawal symptoms, fret not; the new series - the 21st - airs this weekend on BBC2 in the usual family-friendly 8.00pm slot.

MSN Cars will have a full preview this weekend.

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By Tim Pollard, managing editor, MSN Cars