- BBC Studios has confirmed that Top Gear will return.
- The studio said it is not willing to discuss potential hosts.
- British comedian Jimmy Carr and rugby player Joe Marler are rumored to be under consideration to host the show.
Top Gear is coming back. BBC Studios has confirmed that the iconic motoring show will return, but the network did not say when the new episodes will air.
Ed Havard, BBC’s director of entertainment, confirmed the news during the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday. According to the BBC, he said:
‘There has been a lot of speculation about this, and we can confirm that Top Gear is coming back. I’m not going to talk about talent today.’
Clarkson, Hammond, And May
Photo by: Top Gear
Who Will Host The New Top Gear?
While Havard would not comment on who could serve as the hosts, there has been speculation. The Sun reported last week that British comedian Jimmy Carr could fill one of the roles.
Havard would not confirm if Carr is under consideration when asked. Instead, he said:
‘Jimmy would be a great host, but I won’t be discussing that today. We will have more information on Top Gear shortly.’
There are also reports that rugby player Joe Marler is in talks to serve as a co-host.
Why Did BBC Suspend Top Gear Production?
BBC Studios suspended Top Gear production in late 2022 following a devastating crash during filming. Co-host Andrew Flintoff was driving an open-top Morgan Three-Wheeler when it overturned on the famous test track.
Flintoff suffered severe injuries because of the crash. Paul Rees, a racing driver and expert adviser, was also in the car with Flintoff when the accident occurred.
Nearly a year later, in November 2023, the BBC announced it was “resting the show” and that there would be no new Top Gear episodes “for the foreseeable future.”
The show has struggled to find its footing after the studio fired Jeremy Clarkson from the program nearly a decade ago. James May, Richard Hammond, and Andy Wilman also departed, with the quartet courted by Amazon Prime Video to start The Grand Tour.
In their absence, the BBC tried to replace the iconic trio with Chris Evans and Friends star Matt LeBlanc. Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness, and Chris Harris took over in 2018.
Motor1’s Take: Are you ready for another iteration of Top Gear? Or is the show just the same as the iconic trio? The Grand Touring is also returning with new hosts, so there is clearly an interest in motoring shows. Which do you want to watch?
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