You won’t be able to watch Top Gear on TV for a while, according to the BBC. The show has been off the air since the host, Andrew Flintoff, got seriously hurt in a crash, resulting in a big payout and a safety review.
Just now, the BBC announced that they’ve decided to take a break from the UK show for the time being, pointing to “special circumstances.”
The company said they are still dedicated to Flintoff and his co-hosts, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris. They’re looking forward to working on new projects with each of them, and there will be more details about this soon.
The statement said, “We understand that fans will be disappointed by the show taking a break, but it’s the right decision. Other Top Gear stuff, like international versions, digital content, magazines, and licensing, will continue as usual.”
Flintoff has only recently started appearing in public after the crash, showing noticeable injuries on his face. The accident happened last year at Surrey’s Dunsfold Park Aerodrome, causing the filming to stop right away.
In March, the BBC apologized to Flintoff for his injuries, around the same time a safety review was finished. The review won’t be made public, but BBC Studios mentioned that they’ll learn important lessons from it, and there were several recommendations. Since the crash, a number of producers have left the show.
The announcement confirms what a lot of people already suspected and is a significant setback for one of the BBC’s long-standing shows. Top Gear was doing much better with Flintoff, Harris, and McGuinness after a tough couple of seasons when viewership had dropped.
Source: Deadline
