The BBC is reportedly bringing back Top Gear, four years after a crash left presenter Freddie Flintoff with life-changing injuries. The show was suspended in 2022 following the accident at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, and the BBC announced in November 2023 that it would not return 'for the foreseeable future'. However, insiders now say BBC Studios has begun work on a reboot, potentially airing next year.
The new series will feature a fresh presenting team, replacing Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness, and Chris Harris. The search for new hosts is already underway. An insider told The Sun: 'BBC bosses are keen to revive Top Gear because they have never filled the space it left behind and so many viewers hanker after a motoring show.'
Top Gear originally launched in 1977 and reached its peak with Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May from 2002 to 2015, attracting audiences of around 7.5 million on BBC Two. The brand has spawned books, DVDs, and a global following. A BBC Studios spokesman said: 'The Top Gear brand continues to thrive across digital, publishing, and global formats. As a commercial producer, we’re always exploring new ways to develop the brand.'
Despite the insider's claims, the BBC and BBC Studios stated they had no updates on whether the show is returning. The reboot would come as Prime Video announces a revival of The Grand Tour, the motoring show hosted by Clarkson, May, and Hammond after they left Top Gear.
