The BBC has confirmed that Top Gear will return for another series, with the broadcaster’s director of entertainment Ed Havard making the announcement on Thursday. The show – most recently hosted by Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris – ended after Flintoff was seriously injured in a car crash during production in December 2022.
Jimmy Carr linked to the show
Comedian Jimmy Carr, a known car enthusiast, has already been linked to the upcoming series. Asked about reports that the comic could host the next series at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Havard said: “We can confirm that Top Gear is coming back, but we’re not going to talk about talent today.” He added: “Jimmy would be a great host but we are not discussing talent today.”
Carr was a guest on Top Gear in 2004, and said: “It’s one of the biggest shows in the world. It’s a global phenomenon.”
Joe Marler and Jodie Kidd in the running
Joe Marler is another name that has been rumoured for the new series. The former rugby union player has seen his star rise considerably since reaching the final of The Celebrity Traitors in 2025. He will also be the first-ever celebrity Gladiator on the BBC’s Gladiators when it returns next year, where he will perform under the name Mauler.
Another potential host is model Jodie Kidd, who has appeared on Top Gear in the past and was told by The Stig that she was “quite talented” and “should race”. She later got her racing licence and began racing in Italy. She has also hosted various automotive shows including Channel 5’s The Classic Car Show, Chubb Insurance’s classic car podcast, and her own automotive YouTube channel, Kidd In A Sweet Shop.
Gordon Ramsay and Rowan Atkinson
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s passion for cars runs just as deep as his love of cooking. He owns an extensive collection that includes multiple Aston Martins, Ferraris and others including a Porsche, Land Rover and McLaren Senna. He has also appeared on Top Gear several times, including in the first series of the reboot in 2002.
Rowan Atkinson is another car enthusiast and owns a multimillion-pound collection, making him another possible contender for Top Gear. He has been a regular racing competitor and is particularly fond of the Goodwood Revival, saying there is no other race meet “in the world” that can match it. Atkinson appeared on Top Gear during series 17, where he set a lap time of 1:42.2, making him the fastest celebrity on the leaderboard at the time.
