The BBC has said it will “rest” Top Gear for the foreseeable future after presenter Andrew Flintoff was seriously injured while filming.
Having previously denied the show would be axed, the broadcaster announced on Monday that it had decided to shelve its 34th series and backed former cricketer Flintoff as well as other presenters Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris. The three have been at the helm since 2019 while Top Gear has been on air, in its current format, since 2002.
"We know resting the show will be disappointing news for fans, but it is the right thing to do,” a statement from the broadcaster read.
"All other Top Gear activity remains unaffected by this hiatus including international formats, digital, magazines and licensing."
Former England captain “Freddie” Flintoff reached a settlement with the BBC, said to be worth £9 million, which will be from the corporation’s commercial arm and not the licence fee.
The UK show is one of the BBC’s most profitable ventures and is currently sold to more than 150 territories. There are 11 local format versions including in the United States, France and Finland.
Flintoff was airlifted to hospital after last December’s crash at the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome but this is far from the first time the show has faced controversy.
A timeline of Top Gear controversies
2003
Only one year into its reincarnation, Top Gear’s ‘tame racing driver’ The Stig put an antique £1 million Le Mans sports car through its paces - a bit too roughly for its owner. Adrian Hamilton, a classic motor dealer, told [an OG-looking] Standard that the test had left the C-type Jaguar with a damaged clutch.
"They behaved like hooligans joy-riding in a supermarket car park. The idiot who drove it showed no respect for a unique piece of racing history.”
2006
After a relatively tame first few years, Clarkson, May and Hammonds’ antics began to attract more press attention when staging a campsite fire and arranging for a producer to play an asylum seeker hiding in a van for a skit for series eight. The previous year, Clarkson had performed a Nazi salute.
The BBC said at the time: "In addition to making fun of each other, Jeremy Clarkson and his co-presenters frequently make jibes at members of the audience and at individuals and organisations featured in the programme. This is part of the appeal of the show and no one is immune from the team's acerbic comments and observations. We trust most viewers are familiar enough with the style and tone of the show not to take offence."
A year later, Clarkson presented a mock safety video of the importance of not driving between barriers on level crossings, his takeaway message being ‘always wear a high visibility jacket’. It was broadcast after a major train crash in Cumbria.
2008
More than 500 people complained after Clarkson joked about killing sex workers, in a skit about driving a lorry, in relation to five murders in Ipswich. "This particular reference was used to comically exaggerate and make ridiculous an unfair urban myth about the world of lorry driving, and was not intended to cause offence,” the BBC said in response.
2011
On a trip through Albania, the show drew 600 complaints for a challenge when presenters had to decide which of their cars would best fit a “murdered” Mafia member.
2014
Clarkson unusually responded to allegations after he was accused of using a racist term while reciting the old-fashioned rhyme, eeny, meeny, miny, moe. He said he did not use the word, despite claims to the contrary. The final take, which was broadcast, saw Clarkson use the word ‘teacher’ in place of the word.
2015
The BBC suspends Clarkson after a “fracas” with a producer on the show before then terminating his contract. This event would then bring the resignation of Richard Hammond and James May.
2022
Flintoff, a presenter since 2019 and not a racing driver, sues the BBC after crashing while filming a high-speed test.
2023
The BBC pauses the return of Top Gear and n a statement, says: "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."
