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Carly Duffy & Meg Jorsh & Aaron Morris

Top Gear's original Stig says BBC should stop celebs doing stunts following Flintoff crash

The original Stig from BBC's Top Gear has urged the broadcasting company to prevent presenters from taking part in future high-speed stunts - dubbing challenges to risky for the 'untrained'.

Perry McCarthy, who filled the role of The Stig between 2002 and 2003, made the comments following on from presenter Andrew Flintoff's horrifying crash back in December last year - in which the host flipped a car at high speed and had to be airlifted to hospital.

In that instance, the 45-year-old - often known as Freddie - suffered broken ribs and facial injuries.

Read more: Top Gear cancelled after BBC investigate Andrew Flintoff's devastating crash

The Star reports that speaking on how dangerous the stunts can be, 62-year-old Perry said: "They have to be very careful about placing untrained presenters in a very difficult and high-speed situation.”

Following the car flip at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, Andrew has reportedly now quit the series - leading to widespread fears that the show could be cancelled for good. Bosses at the BBC are said to be holding a full review before deciding Top Gear's fate.

Flintoff has worked as a TV and radio presenter and he was formerly an international cricketer. He's now also known for presenting Top Gear alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris, but it's currently unclear if Freddie will be returning to the show.

A source told The Times that Freddie has been "emotionally and physically affected by the crash", and doesn't feel he is able to continue to be the "daredevil" on the show. On Thursday (March 23), it was reported that BBC will not resume filming the latest Top Gear series following Freddie's accident.

They said: "Under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making series 34."

The BBC are yet to give a further update regarding Top Gear's next season.

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