Top Gear to return to TV four years after Flintoff crash, BBC confirms

BBC Studios has confirmed that the long‑running motoring programme Top Gear will return to television after a four‑year hiatus. The announcement came during the Edinburgh TV Festival, where the BBC’s director of entertainment, Ed Havard, said the show was “coming back” but would not reveal the new presenting lineup.

The programme, which has been a staple of BBC programming since its 1977 launch, went off‑air in 2022 after co‑host Andrew Flintoff suffered serious facial and rib injuries when the open‑topped Morgan Super 3 overturned at the show’s test track. Flintoff, a former England cricketer, was one of three presenters at the time, alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris. The incident prompted a temporary pause of the series and a BBC apology, as well as a financial settlement with Flintoff for the injuries sustained.

Havard told the festival that while “there has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that Top Gear is coming back,” he would not discuss talent decisions in the immediate future. “Jimmy would be a great host but I won’t be discussing that today. We will have more information on Top Gear shortly,” he added. This comment follows reports that comedian Jimmy Carr has been in talks to join the programme, and that former rugby player and Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler has also been mentioned as a potential host.

The BBC’s decision to revive the show comes after a period of uncertainty following Flintoff’s injury. In the years since the crash, the series has struggled to find a new identity. The original format was most famously carried by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May in the 2000s. Clarkson was replaced in 2015 by broadcaster Chris Evans and Friends star Matt LeBlanc, who hosted until 2018 when Flintoff, McGuinness and Harris took over. The trio’s tenure ended with the 2022 accident and the subsequent “rest” of the programme.

In addition to the host speculation, the BBC has not yet confirmed whether the iconic Stig will return. The Stig, a masked driver who has been a key part of the show’s brand since its early days, remains an unconfirmed element of the upcoming season.

Legal proceedings related to the crash have also continued. Racing driver and expert adviser Paul Rees, who was in the car with Flintoff, has sued BBC Studios for up to £150,000 in personal injury damages. BBC Studios has disputed the claim, stating that it is defending itself against the lawsuit.

Top Gear’s revival is expected to be produced by BBC Studios, which has not released further details about the format or broadcast schedule. Viewers and fans of the series will likely await additional announcements regarding the new presenting team and any changes to the show’s structure. The BBC’s confirmation marks a significant step toward re‑establishing the programme as a staple of British television, following a period of uncertainty and legal challenges.