BBC says Top Gear will not return for ‘foreseeable future’ after Flintoff crash

Published

2 years ago

November 21, 2023

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The BBC says it will “rest” hit motoring show Top Gear “for the foreseeable future” following a crash that left host Andrew Flintoff seriously injured.

Production of the show has been halted since 45-year-old Flintoff – known as “Freddie” – was taken to hospital in December 2022.

In a statement, the corporation said: “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.”

“All other Top Gear activity remains unaffected by this hiatus including international formats, digital, magazines and licensing.”

Former England cricket captain Flintoff was photographed in public in September for the first time since the crash. Nine months on, his facial injuries were still visible as he joined the England cricket squad for their one-day international series against New Zealand.

The accident happened at the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, and left the sports star with several broken ribs.

Following the crash, the BBC announced it would pause production on the show, co-presented by comedian Paddy McGuinness and automotive journalist Chris Harris, as it was felt it would be “inappropriate” to continue at that time.

In October, the BBC said it had agreed a financial settlement Flintoff, reported to be worth £9m.

A health and safety production review of Top Gear covering previous seasons before the accident found that “while BBC Studios had complied with the required BBC policies and industry best practice in making the show, there were important learnings which would need to be rigorously applied to future Top Gear UK productions”.

The report included “a number of recommendations to improve approaches to safety”.

A separate investigation into the crash concluded in March but its findings are not being published.

Previous Top Gear crashes

The accident was not the first faced by Flintoff during his time on the show. It followed a minor incident in February 2019 when he crashed into a market stall in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

And in 2006, former presenter Richard Hammond was filming for the show when he crashed a jet-powered dragster called Vampire at nearly 320mph.

The presenter spent two weeks in a coma following the incident, which took place at the former RAF Elvington airbase near York.

He recovered and returned to the show in early 2007, but revealed in February this year that he fears he has memory loss as a result.

Flintoff and McGuinness joined Harris on Top Gear in 2019, taking over from Chris Evans and Friends star Matt LeBlanc.

The show was initially launched in 1977, featuring a range of presenters and reporters in a half-hourly slot on BBC Two which proved popular throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

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But its relaunch in 2002 as an hour-long entertainment motoring show, led by Jeremy Clarkson, Hammond and James May, turned it into a worldwide hit.

The UK show is currently sold to more 150 territories and there are 11 local format versions, including in the US, France and Finland.

Entertainment

Unreleased Beyonce music stolen from car

Published

6 hours ago

July 15, 2025

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Unreleased Beyonce music stolen from car

Unreleased Beyonce music – along with footage and show plans – has been stolen from a car in Atlanta, police say.

The vehicle had been rented by the star’s choreographer and a dancer last week.

But on 8 July – just before she was about to begin a four days of performances in the city – the SUV’s back window was smashed, and two suitcases were taken.

Two MacBook laptops, Apple headphones and luxury clothes are also missing – alongside the five thumb drives containing the songs.

An arrest warrant has been issued for a suspect, but their identity has been withheld.

“Light prints” have been detected at the scene, and the robbery was captured on CCTV.

Entertainment

MasterChef presenter John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in report

Published

14 hours ago

July 14, 2025

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MasterChef presenter John Torode says allegation he used racist language upheld in report

MasterChef presenter John Torode says an allegation he used “racial language” was upheld in a report as part of a review into the behaviour of his former co-presenter Gregg Wallace.

The report, led by law firm Lewis Silkin, found 45 out of 83 allegations against Wallace were substantiated.

There were also two standalone allegations made against other people.

In a statement posted on his Instagram page, Torode said he was one of those people, but added that he had “no recollection of the incident” and said he “did not believe that it happened”.

He commented: “Following publication of the executive summary of the investigation into Gregg Wallace while working on MasterChef, I am aware of speculation that I am one of the two other individuals against whom an allegation has been upheld.

“For the sake of transparency, I confirm that I am the individual who is alleged to have used racial language on one occasion.

“The allegation is that I did so sometime in 2018 or 2019, in a social situation, and that the person I was speaking with did not believe that it was intended in a malicious way and that I apologised immediately afterwards.

“I have absolutely no recollection of any of this, and I do not believe that it happened.

“However, I want to be clear that I’ve always had the view that any racial language is wholly unacceptable in any environment. I’m shocked and saddened by the allegation as I would never wish to cause anyone any offence.”

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Entertainment

Gregg Wallace: Over half of allegations against MasterChef presenter substantiated, including one of unwanted physical contact

Published

1 day ago

July 14, 2025

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Gregg Wallace: Over half of allegations against MasterChef presenter substantiated, including one of unwanted physical contact

An investigation into Gregg Wallace’s “inappropriate behaviour” on MasterChef has found that more than half of the allegations against him have been substantiated, including one of “unwanted physical contact”.

MasterChef’s production company Banijay UK shared a summary of its report into historical allegations of misconduct against the 60-year-old presenter, carried out by independent law firm Lewis Silkin over seven months.

The report also said the number of sustained allegations made Wallace’s return to MasterChef “untenable”.

The investigation heard evidence from 78 witnesses, including 41 complainants.

There were 83 allegations against Wallace, and 45 of them were substantiated. All were related to MasterChef.

While the majority of the substantiated allegations related to inappropriate sexual language and humour, a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated.

One allegation of unwanted physical contact was substantiated.

Nearly all the allegations against Wallace were related to behaviour which is said to have occurred between 2005 and 2018, with just one substantiated allegation taking place post-2018.

Ahead of the publication of the summary, Wallace had said he had been “cleared of the most serious and sensational accusations” made against him.

Additionally, the report summary found that there were also 10 standalone allegations about other people between 2012 and 2018/2019, two of which were substantiated. Those people were not named in the summary.

The investigation found that complaints had previously been raised with the production company between 2005 and 2024.

While the report flagged inadequate reporting procedures prior to 2016, when Endemol merged with Shine ahead of Banijay acquiring Endemol Shine in 2020, it said there were significant improvements to HR processes and training after 2016.

While the investigation said some formal action was taken by the BBC in 2017, it also noted the corporation held no information regarding concerns raised over Wallace centrally, resulting in issues being addressed as a first offence.

Sky News has tried to contact Gregg Wallace for contact today.