2015 in review: The most popular Evening Standard stories from the past year

Ever-popular: Former Top Gear hosts Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May
BBC
Robin de Peyer29 December 2015

As 2015 comes to an end and London prepares to welcome in a New Year which promises to be an important one for the capital, we look at the most-read stories on the Evening Standard's website in the past 12 months.

First look at Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond back in action ahead of live tour

The fall-out from Jeremy Clarkson's infamous "fracas" with a Top Gear producer provided endless headlines and captured the nation's imagination.

Reflecting on their friendship, Clarkson said at the time: "We're very lucky with the chemistry. Over a period of time we realised we're very different and that works very, very well. It's like one of those chorizo sausages with a poached egg. Who knew that would go together?"

Man called Phuc Dat Bich posts passport to Facebook after being repeatedly banned from site

'Proof': Mr Bich said it was 'highly irritating' people did not believe 'Phuc Dat Bich' was his real name

An exasperated Vietnamese-Australian man has shared a photo of his passport to prove his name really is Phuc Dat Bich after he was banned from Facebook several times.

The 23-year-old said he finds it “highly irritating” that “nobody seems to believe me when I say that my full legal name is how you see it”.

Unfortunately for the world's media, most of whom reported the story, it emerged the stunt was the work of a prankster.

'I can't be racist because I'm an ethnic minority woman', says Goldsmiths university diversity officer Bahar Mustafa

Race storm: Former Goldsmiths SU diversity officer Bahar Mustafa

A student union officer who banned white people and men from an event promoting equality claimed she "cannot be racist" because she is an ethnic minority woman.

Goldsmiths University's former student union welfare and diversity officer Bahar Mustafa sparked a backlash when she told white people and men they should not attend an event on "diversifying the curriculum".#

But she insisted: "I, an ethnic minority woman, cannot be racist or sexist towards white men, because racism and sexism describe structures of privilege based on race and gender.

"Therefore, women of colour and minority genders cannot be racist or sexist, since we do not stand to benefit from such a system.”

Ms Mustafa later faced a police investigation over an alleged racist comment but the charges were dropped and the case was discontinued.

Developer must rebuild historic pub brick by brick after it was demolished without permission

A property developer who demolished a historic pub without permission was ordered to rebuild it brick by brick.

Wandsworth Council rejected an application for retrospective planning permission from Udhyam Amin following his decision last month to demolish the Alchemist pub in Battersea.

The Victorian pub, near Clapham Junction station, was open for more than 100 years before it closed in 2013 and fell derelict.

But after Mr Amin tore it down he was ordered to rebuild it using original materials.

Drinking three glasses of champagne can help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease, scientists have found.

Drinking three glasses of champagne can help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease, scientists have found - capturing the imagination of Londoners.

A compound found in Pinot noir and Pinot meunier grapes used to make bubbly, is said to prevent the onset of the brain diseases.

Crystal Maze London tickets go on sale as venue is secured

Plans to revive Nineties game show The Crystal Maze in London as an immersive experience are finally underway - with venue, set designer and ticket information officially confirmed.

The team confirmed they have acquired a 30,000 square ft venue between Kings Cross and Angel, North London, for three years with the experience officially opening to the public on March 15.

Filmmaker captures how London women react to being asked out in a 'traditional' way in park in Hackney instead of on dating apps

Actor Tom Greaves approaches a random woman in the film

A film showed one man's gutsy attempts at 'traditional' courtship in the age of online dating and apps like Tinder and Happn.

Shot by a Bafta-nominated film-maker, the video follows a single man round Hackney as he tries to woo random women into joining him for a date.

Watch it here.

Amazon Prime sign Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May for exclusive new show

Jeremy Clarkson with a copy of the Standard on the day his next career move was revealed
Em Clarkson

Top Gear trio Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May signed to present a new car show on the Amazon Prime streaming service in one of the biggest coups in TV history.

The deal ended months of speculation about the future of the most bankable star on British TV following Clarkson’s spectacular departure from the BBC after 27 years.

This Tube map shows the cost of renting a one-bedroom flat at every stop on the Underground

London Underground rent map: The average rent for a one bedroom flat close to each Tube station
Thrillist

A new version of the London Underground map revealed the average rent at every Tube stop in London.

The map, produced by website Thrillist, shows the median cost of a one-bedroom flat within a kilometre of each station.

It allows Londoners to find out the average prices in their neighbourhood and provides a clear picture of the disparity between rents in different parts of London, highlighting the huge premium paid for property in the more central areas.

Leytonstone stabbing: Man 'screams this is for Syria' in knife attack at Tube station

A man was arrested and later charged after a stabbing at Leytonstone Tube station in which it is claimed he screamed "this is for Syria".

The incident came weeks after 130 people were killed in Islamic-State backed terror attacks in Paris, and days after MPs voted to launch air strikes in Syria.

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