The BBC has made the decision to temporarily suspend the airing of Top Gear after a recent accident involving Freddie Flintoff. This move comes after 46 years of the show's successful run, as the broadcaster has decided it
The BBC has made it known that Top Gear will not be coming back on television "in the near future" following the 2022 accident which involved presenter Freddie Flintoff.
The BBC announced that they have made the decision to temporarily suspend the UK show.
The ex-captain of the England cricket team, who now works as a broadcaster, was transported to the hospital in a helicopter in December of last year following a fast-paced collision at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey. This location has been frequently used in the BBC show since 2002. This wasn't his initial accident, as he had previously lost control of a motorized trike while racing against his co-hosts Chris Harris and Paddy McGuinness, reaching a speed of 124mph.
Following an external investigation conducted by BBC on health and safety concerns, the decision to remove the motoring show from television was made. The findings of the investigation will not be made public. Another health and safety report, focusing on past seasons of Top Gear, revealed valuable insights on the production process of the show.
Following the incident in 2022, the BBC issued an apology to the presenter and came to a financial agreement with him, believed to be around £9 million. Flintoff has been observed in public with visible injuries on his face, and his legal representatives informed the Sun newspaper that he is still in the process of recovering from significant injuries that have had a profound impact on his life.
Another presenter, Richard Hammond, also experienced a serious accident that impacted his health. Hammond, who co-hosted the show with Jeremy Clarkson and James May during the 2000s and early 2010s, sustained severe injuries in 2006 at York's Elvington airfield. While driving a dragster at a speed of 288mph, the vehicle spun out of control. Medical professionals described Hammond's condition as a "significant brain injury" following the incident. He had been attempting to set a new British land speed record with the jet-propelled vehicle. As a result, Hammond spent two weeks in a coma.
In 2019, Flintoff became one of the hosts of the popular television show Top Gear on BBC One. He joined alongside McGuinness and Harris. The most recent season of the show was a hit, garnering an average of 4.5 million viewers.
The BBC has stated that it is still dedicated to Freddie, Chris, and Paddy, who have played a crucial role in the show's revival since 2019. They are also enthusiastic about upcoming projects that are being developed with each of them. Further information will be provided in the coming days.
"We understand that fans may be disappointed by the decision to pause the show, but we believe it is the correct course of action."
No other activities related to Top Gear will be affected by this break, such as international versions of the show, digital content, magazines, and licensing.
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