Top Gear is officially returning to the BBC, almost four years after Freddie Flintoff was seriously injured in a crash while filming the show. The announcement was made at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday, August 27, ending years of uncertainty over the future of the popular motoring programme.
BBC confirms comeback at Edinburgh TV Festival
Ed Havard, the BBC's director of entertainment, made the announcement during a panel event after being asked whether Top Gear would make a comeback. “There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that Top Gear is coming back,” he said. However, fans will have to wait for more details on who will be behind the wheel when the programme returns.
Background of the hiatus following Flintoff's crash
The news comes after the show was put on hiatus following Flintoff's serious accident in December 2022. The former England cricketer was filming at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey when he crashed while driving a Morgan Super 3. The three-wheeled car, which did not have a roof, flipped upside down and skidded along the tarmac before coming to a stop. Flintoff suffered significant facial and rib injuries and required extensive surgery.
Production of the 34th series was halted following the incident, with the BBC later announcing that Top Gear would be "rested" for the foreseeable future. In 2023, Flintoff and the broadcaster reached a financial settlement following the crash, reportedly worth around £9 million.
Speculation over presenting lineup
Rumours have already been circulating over who could take on presenting duties when the show returns, with comedian Jimmy Carr reportedly tipped to host the reboot. When Havard was asked whether Carr would be fronting the programme, he replied: “Jimmy would be a great host but I won’t be discussing that today. We will have more information on Top Gear shortly.” He was also asked about the show's talent more generally, replying: “I’m not going to talk about talent today.”
Top Gear was created by Jeremy Clarkson and Andy Wilman and first premiered in 2002. It has had 13 presenters over the decades, with Flintoff, Chris Harris and Paddy McGuinness making up the most recent presenting trio. The programme also became famous for its mysterious helmet-wearing test driver, known as The Stig. The identity of the character was kept secret for years before it was eventually revealed to be racing driver Paul Rees.
