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The BBC has confirmed that the popular motoring show Top Gear will be returning to television after a four-year hiatus. The program was put on hold following a serious accident involving co-host Andrew Flintoff during filming in 2022. Flintoff sustained significant facial and rib injuries when his open-topped three-wheeled vehicle flipped over on the show’s test track. At the time, he was part of a presenting team that also included Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris.
Details about the new presenting lineup for the show’s revival have not been officially revealed. However, recent media reports have suggested that comedian Jimmy Carr may be in discussions to join the hosting team. Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, BBC’s director of entertainment Ed Havard stated, “There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that Top Gear is coming back.” He added, “I’m not going to talk about talent today,” though he did mention, “Jimmy would be a great host but I won’t be discussing that today.” Furthermore, former rugby player and Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler is also rumored to be a potential host. The production will be handled by BBC Studios, which has not provided additional comments.
Top Gear has a long history dating back to 1977 and climbed to major popularity in the 2000s when Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May were the faces of the show. Following their departure, Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc took on hosting duties before Flintoff, McGuinness, and Harris became the presenting trio in 2018. The BBC issued an apology and provided compensation to Flintoff after his crash, which he described as a terrifying ordeal. In a Disney+ documentary, he recounted being dragged face-down for about 50 meters under the Morgan Super 3 car and said, “I thought I was dead.”
In addition to Flintoff’s injuries, Paul Rees, a racing driver and expert adviser who was a passenger in the car during the crash, has initiated legal action seeking up to £150,000 in personal injury damages from BBC Studios. The production company has denied the claim and confirmed that it is defending against the lawsuit. Despite these setbacks, the announcement of Top Gear’s return has sparked excitement among fans eager to see the show back on air
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