BBC confirms return of Top Gear after four-year hiatus

The BBC has officially announced the return of its iconic motoring program, Top Gear, ending a nearly four-year hiatus.

The show went on hiatus after co-host Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff sustained severe injuries in a crash while filming at Dunsfold aerodrome in Surrey almost four years ago. Following the accident, the BBC stated the series would be "rested for the foreseeable future."

“

There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that Top Gear is coming back.

Ed Havard, the BBC's director of entertainment, confirmed the news at a panel event at the Edinburgh TV festival. "There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that Top Gear is coming back," he stated. However, Havard declined to comment on potential new hosts, amidst reports linking comedian Jimmy Carr and former England rugby player Joe Marler to the role.

“

I’m not going to talk about talent today.

Flintoff's accident involved a Morgan Super 3, an open-topped three-wheeled car, which flipped and skidded on the tarmac. The BBC later reached a financial settlement with Flintoff, reportedly around £9 million. Flintoff has spoken about the profound impact of the crash, revealing he remained housebound for six months, only leaving for medical appointments.

Top Gear, which originally began in 1977, achieved significant global popularity in the 2000s under Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. Subsequent iterations featured hosts including Chris Evans, Matt LeBlanc, Paddy McGuinness, Chris Harris, and Flintoff.

“

We will have more information on Top Gear shortly.