The BBC has confirmed that Top Gear will return to screens, nearly four years after presenter Freddie Flintoff was seriously injured in an accident during filming.
Filming of series 34 was suspended in March 2023 following the crash involving Flintoff during production. The BBC subsequently stated that Top Gear would not return for the "foreseeable future."
Announcement at Edinburgh TV Festival
At the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday, August 27, the BBC's Director of Entertainment Ed Havard announced: "We can confirm that Top Gear is coming back but we're not go talk about talent today."
The announcement arrives almost four years after Flintoff's crash, which took place at the show's testing facility at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.
Flintoff's accident and recovery
Flintoff became part of the Top Gear line-up in 2019 alongside presenters such as Chris Harris. Following his December 2022 crash, the 45-year-old ex-cricketer sustained facial injuries and fractured ribs, and required an air ambulance to hospital after allegedly waiting 45 minutes for the helicopter to arrive.
A few months ago, he made his first public appearance since the incident, attending England's opening one-day international against New Zealand at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff to support his fellow cricket professionals. Shortly afterwards, he spoke publicly for the first time, delivering a speech while presenting cricketer Tom Hartley with his England cricket team cap.
During the address, he said: "Play with passion, play with pride, play with belief. And also part of a family of people. They'll share the good times with you, share the successes. But as I found over the past few months, they'll be there for you in the hardest times of your life."
Potential new host
The Sun has reported that executives at BBC Studios, the production company behind the programme, are "close to signing" Carr, with claims that a new series "could be aired next year."
A source told the newspaper: "Production have their sights set on Jimmy, he's the ideal host to take the show into a new era and revive Top Gear. He's keen to work on something mainstream after spending so many years fronting comedy panel shows. He's a real car buff, too, so it would be a passion project."
Nevertheless, Mr Havard confirmed at the Spotlight on BBC session that Jimmy "would be a great host," adding that further details would be disclosed in due course.
