The BBC is set to reboot Top Gear and is reportedly in talks with comedian Jimmy Carr to become the new main host. The news comes four years after the show was taken off air following Freddie Flintoff's serious car crash.
Flintoff's Life-Changing Injuries
The former cricketer had been in the middle of testing an open-top vehicle when it flipped, and he was left with life-changing injuries. Despite the 48-year-old's lasting scars, BBC bosses believe it is the right time for the programme to make a return.
A TV insider said: "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. Casting directors are now working to find talent to join him in the new-look ensemble."
Top Gear's History and the 2022 Crash
Top Gear first aired in 1977 but was cancelled by BBC in 2001, with Jeremy Clarkson and Andy Wilman bringing it back one year later. A number of presenters were included on the show, including Chris Evans, Eddie Jordan and Jason Dawe. However, the main hosts between 2002 and 2015 - and the names most synonymous with the show - are Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
Flintoff took over presenting in 2019 and was joined by Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris. He spent three years as one of the main faces of the popular BBC programme. This came to a halt when Flintoff was seriously injured during a crash in 2022.
The accident took place at Top Gear's test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey. Flintoff was left with serious facial injuries and later reached a £9million settlement with the BBC, who stated the show would be paused "for the foreseeable future" as a result of the crash.
Flintoff's Recovery and BBC's Response
In a statement in March 2023, the broadcaster said: "We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery. We understand [halting the show] will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we'll make a judgement about how best to continue later this year."
Flintoff admitted he believed he "was dead" in the immediate aftermath of the crash and "remembers everything about it." Speaking in the Disney+ documentary, Flintoff, the ex-Top Gear host said: "I thought I was dead, because I was conscious but I couldn't see anything."
"I was thinking, is that it? Is that it? You know what I mean? Just black for the rest of my days? My hat came over my eyes - so I pulled my hat up and I thought, no I'm not [dead], I'm on the Top Gear track, this is not heaven."
Flintoff has recovered from the incident, although he still has scars across his chin and nose after revealing that he feared his face had been ripped off. He added: "I thought my face had come off. I was frightened to death."
Flintoff's Post-Crash Work and Top Gear's Future
The former England international has worked with the BBC since the Top Gear crash, producing the 'Freddie's Field of Dreams' show that was dedicated to creating a new cricket team in Preston. He also worked with the England Lions cricket team for two years before accepting a job to work with the Sydney Thunder later this year in Australia's Big Bash League.
Meanwhile, the latest reports indicate that the BBC will revive Top Gear with Carr as the main star. A BBC Studios spokesperson has said: "We have no update on the TV show and we don’t comment on speculation."
