The BBC has confirmed the return of the iconic series Top Gear to television. The announcement was made by the broadcaster's entertainment director, Ed Havard, during the Edinburgh Television Festival. Havard mentioned that there had been much speculation about the return, but the BBC was able to assure its comeback, although without details on cast or premiere date. Production will remain under the responsibility of BBC Studios.
Regarding presenters, no decision has been finalized. According to the website Deadline, comedian Jimmy Carr, aged 53, is reportedly in negotiations. Havard commented that Carr would be a good candidate but declined to discuss the matter further. Another name being considered is Joe Marler, a 36-year-old former rugby player who gained visibility in the reality show The Celebrity Traitors.
The program has been suspended since the accident that occurred on December 13, 2022, which nearly killed presenter Andrew Flintoff. At the time, the former cricketer was driving a Morgan Super 3, a convertible sports tricycle, on the testing track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey. The vehicle overturned and dragged Flintoff along the ground for approximately 50 meters, resulting in rib and jaw fractures, requiring surgery and leaving him with permanent facial scars.
In October 2023, BBC Studios reached an agreement with Flintoff, the value of which was estimated by the British press at £9 million. In the following month, the broadcaster announced that the program would be paused indefinitely.
The case has had subsequent developments. In December 2025, Paul Rees, a 41-year-old driver and instructor, filed a lawsuit against BBC Studios, claiming up to £150,000 in personal damages. This lawsuit brought to light information previously unknown: there was a second person in the car. Rees was in the passenger seat, hired to assist Flintoff during filming, where cameras and microphones were installed.
The broadcaster not only contests the requested amount but also denies any allegation of negligence. In its defense, the BBC argues that it was Rees's instructions that proved incorrect and dangerous when reacting to the wheel coming off the ground. Furthermore, the BBC states that Rees did not report injuries at the time or subsequently.
Since its debut in 1977, Top Gear became a global success starting in 2003, with the participation of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. These three left the program in 2015 to participate in The Grand Tour, produced by Amazon, which ran until 2024.
After the departure of the three, the BBC tested various combinations of presenters between 2016 and 2018, including Chris Evans, Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris, Rory Reid, Eddie Jordan, and Sabine Schmitz. In 2019, Paddy McGuinness, Flintoff, and Harris formed the trio that was active when the program was interrupted.
The current schedule brings together former competitors. The Grand Tour also plans its return, scheduled for September. After a ten-year separation between the streaming service and free-to-air television, both programs will compete again for viewership.