Top Gear set to return to BBC, corporation confirms

After being “rested” for the foreseeable future in 2022 by the BBC following Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff’s devastating crash, Top Gear is set to return to TV, the corporation has confirmed.

The show has been off air since Flintoff’s crash at the show’s test track at Dunsfold aerodrome in Surrey, with the former England cricketer suffering serious facial and rib injuries when his open-topped three-wheeled car overturned during filming. Flintoff, along with Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris, made up the show's last presenting lineup.

The news was confirmed by the BBC’s director of entertainment, Ed Havard, at a panel event at the Edinburgh TV festival on Thursday. Havard said: “There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that Top Gear is coming back.”

While there has been no official confirmation regarding who will be part of the show’s new presenting lineup, reports from The Sun last week have suggested that comedian Jimmy Carr is one potential name being touted.

Responding to speculation on Carr, Havard said: “I’m not going to talk about talent today,” he replied to questions. “Jimmy would be a great host but I won’t be discussing that today.”

Other potential names reportedly in the frame for co-hosting duties include former England rugby player Joe Marler, and model and automotive YouTuber Jodie Kidd.

Top Gear originally began in 1977, although the show’s most successful period came after a reboot in 2002, when the now legendary presenting team of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May was eventually formed a year later. The trio’s time on the show lasted until 2015, before jumping ship to Amazon Prime’s The Grand Tour between 2016 and 2024.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: BBC Top Gear