Top Gear, which was once among the most profitable crown jewels in the BBC’s programming portfolio and a show that has run for some 46 years, is being put on an extended hiatus.
The British public broadcaster revealed Tuesday that the flagship motoring show would not be returning for the “foreseeable future” and that it had “decided to rest” the series.
The news comes following a high-speed car crash involving host Freddie Flintoff during filming of the show that led to production of the latest season being halted.
The accident — Flintoff’s third on the show — occurred in late 2022 and saw the former cricketer having to be airlifted to a hospital. In October, press reports confirmed that BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC which produces Top Gear, had reached a compensation settlement of 9 million pounds ($11.3 million) for the injuries that Flintoff sustained.
The decision to take the series off screens was made after an external BBC health and safety investigation, one they said would not be published. A separate health and safety report examining previous seasons of Top Gear found that “there were important learnings” in the way the show was produced.
In its Tuesday statement, the BBC said that it remained “committed” to the hosting trio of Flintoff, Chris Harris and Paddy McGuinness and was “excited about new projects being developed with each of them.” It didn’t immediately share further details.
Added the BBC: “We know resting the show will be disappointing news for fans, but it is the right thing to do.”
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