--- title: "Top Gear Is Officially Off-Air for the ‘Foreseeable Future’" description: "After presenter Freddie Flintoff's crash last year, Top Gear is officially stopping production for the foreseeable future." date: "2023-11-21" modified: "2023-11-21" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/top-gear-is-officially-off-air-for-the-foreseeable-future" categories: - "Culture" - "News" - "People" --- # Top Gear Is Officially Off-Air for the ‘Foreseeable Future’ ![]() *Getty* The iconic [automotive show]() *Top Gear* is being taken off the air, potentially permanently. The *BBC* announced Tuesday morning that the show isn't returning "for the foreseeable future." The decision had been expected for [some time now]() after presenter Freddie Flintoff was seriously injured in a crash while [filming]() last year, but it is now official. "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," the *[BBC]()* said in its statement. Last year, Flintoff was filming a *Top Gear* episode at the show's famous Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey, England when the [Morgan]() Super 3 he was driving flipped. Flintoff suffered head injuries and broken ribs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. He's since been recovering from the trauma, both physically and emotionally, and both the show-runners and the *BBC* felt that it was best to halt the show's production. *Top Gear* magazine and other spinoffs—both physical and digital—will reportedly remain untouched. ![]() **Paddy McGuinness (left), Freddie Flintoff (middle), Chris Harris (right)* | *Getty** However, this doesn't mean the show won't return, nor does it mean the three current hosts—Flintoff, Chris Harris, and Paddy McGuinness—won't return with it. The *BBC* says it remains committed to all three and is "excited about new projects being developed with each of them." Though, that doesn't seem likely at this point. Following Flintoff's crash, the *BBC* apologized to the presenter and an external health and safety investigation was conducted. The investigation was closed in March but its findings weren't made public. The *BBC* reached a $11.2 million settlement with Flintoff as a result. *Top Gear's* future remains murkier than ever and it's unclear whether the show will return. If it doesn't, its death has been a slow one, starting when famed host [Jeremy Clarkson]() was fired for punching the producer in 2015. Since then, it's had a [revolving door of different hosts,]() as the *BBC* tried, and mostly failed, to recapture the old magic. The most recent trio was the best since Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. Reigniting the flame seems nigh impossible and it wouldn't be surprising to see the *BBC* just call it quits on the show for good. If this is the end of *Top Gear*, it's a sad one, despite its slow, predictable death. Like most millennial car enthusiasts, Clarkson, Hammond, and May made a lasting impression on me and how I feel about cars. They're a huge part of why I even do this job. Chris Harris, too. So it makes me sad to think that this could be the end of a show that meant so much to me as a young man, even if it's been a long time coming. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()