Top Gear Not Returning for the Foreseeable Future, BBC Says

Hit automotive series “Top Gear” is being put in park “for the foreseeable future,” the BBC revealed on Tuesday.

The news comes after presenter Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was injured in an on-set accident in December, resulting in a pause in production on the show’s 34th season. Flintoff had been a presenter on the series since 2019, alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris.

“Given the exceptional circumstances, the BBC has decided to rest the U.K. show for the foreseeable future,” the statement reads. “The BBC remains committed to Freddie, Chris and Paddy who have been at the heart of the show’s renaissance since 2019, and we’re excited about new projects being developed with each of them. We will have more to say in the near future on this. We know resting the show will be disappointing news for fans, but it is the right thing to do. All other ‘Top Gear’ activity remains unaffected by this hiatus including international formats, digital, magazines and licensing.”

“Top Gear” has a storied history on the BBC, with its original format airing from 1977 to 2001. After its cancellation, the show was revived in 2002 under the leadership of Jeremy Clarkson and Andy Wilman and became a cultural phenomenon due to its automotive challenges and often controversial humor.

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In 2015, the BBC chose not to renew Clarkson’s contract due to what the broadcaster called an “unprovoked physical attack” on a producer. This prompted the departure of Clarkson’s co-hosts, James May and Richard Hammond, as well as Wilman. “Top Gear” then struggled to hit its stride before finding success with its most recent presenting lineup in 2019, which saw a boost in ratings.

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Larita Shotwell

Update: 2024-07-22

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