Top Gear is officially returning to BBC screens after four-year hiatus

Top Gear’s 'rest' is officially over

The programme was taken off the schedule in 2022 following a serious crash involving presenter Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff, who suffered facial and rib injuries while filming. Flintoff had been presenting the show alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris at the time.

The BBC initially said it had decided to “rest” the UK version of Top Gear and that it would not return “for the foreseeable future”. That has now changed, with the broadcaster confirming the news at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday.

BBC director of entertainment Ed Havard told the festival: “There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that Top Gear is coming back.”

The new presenters are still a mystery

Exactly who will be behind the wheel remains unknown, as the BBC has not revealed the new presenting line-up. Jimmy Carr was reportedly in talks to join the show, while former rugby player and Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler has also been linked with the role.

When asked about Carr, Havard said he would be a “great host” but declined to discuss the speculation further, adding that more details about the revival would be announced soon.

The new series will be produced by BBC Studios, which has not provided any further details about the comeback.