The series has come to an end (Picture: BBC Studios/Vincent Dolman)
Top Gear has officially been axed, it has been confirmed.
The BBC will ‘rest’ hit motoring show Top Gear ‘for the foreseeable future’, it was announced, following Freddie Flintoff’s horrific crash last year.
In a statement given to the PA news agency, the broadcaster said: ‘Given the exceptional circumstances, the BBC has decided to rest the UK show for the foreseeable future.
‘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 filming was halted after Freddie’s accident (Picture: Philip Brown/Popperfoto via Getty Images)
The news comes almost a year after Flintoff’s devastating accident, which occurred at the programme’s test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.
While Top Gear was previously hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond, Freddie joined the cast in 2019 with presenters including Chris Harris.
After his crash in December 2022, the 45-year-old former cricketer was left with facial injuries and broken ribs after the crash, and was airlifted to hospital after reportedly having to wait 45 minutes for a helicopter.
A couple of months ago, he was pictured at his first public outing since the incident, supporting fellow cricket stars by watching England’s opening one-day international against New Zealand at Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens.
Shortly afterwards, he spoke publicly for the first time, making a heartwarming speech while presenting cricketer Tom Hartley with his cap for the England cricket team.
Former Top Gear stars James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond pictured in 2011 before their departures from the show (Picture: Wayne Coetzee/Gallo Images Getty Images)
In his speech, he said: ‘Play with passion, play with pride, play with belief. And also part of a family of people. They’ll share the good times with you, share the successes.
‘But as I found over the past few months, they’ll be there for you in the hardest times of your life.’
It was recently claimed that Freddie agreed to a seven-figure sum in compensation from the BBC following his crash, receiving £9million in the settlement.
According to The Sun, he decided not to sue and turned down a bigger payout while making the deal with BBC Studios (BBCS), the makers of Top Gear.
As BBCS is the Line of Duty broadcaster’s commercial arm, the compensation would not be funded …read more
Source:: Metro
