Top Gear is set to return to the BBC four years after it was pulled from screens following Freddie Flintoff's near-fatal crash, with comedian Jimmy Carr lined up to host the revived series, according to a report by journalist Katie Hind.
Carr, best known for fronting Channel 4 panel shows including 8 Out of 10 Cats and Big Fat Quiz of the Year, is soon to be unveiled as the show's new host and is expected to bring a "comedy edge" to the programme. A source said the deal is in place and ready to be signed, and that bosses regard him as the perfect man for the refresh, adding that some people initially thought the choice was a joke.
Carr is also a genuine car enthusiast. His personal collection includes an Aston Martin DB6, a Ferrari California and a Bentley GT, and he has previously owned a Rover 75, which he jokingly calls "the mock-Tudor Jag," and a Range Rover. In 2014 he told Top Gear Magazine about driving a Marussia F1 car, saying he did three laps and reached around 160mph, "maybe 180mph on the straight." He described the acceleration as extraordinary and said the brakes "take your breath away."
New co-host and returning Stig
Sources say the revamped show will also feature influencers well known in the car community appearing in the audience to offer their own expertise. Carr's predecessors, Paddy McGuinness, who was widely criticised during his time on the show for having little knowledge of cars, and automotive journalist Chris Harris, are not expected to return.
Insiders say bosses want Carr's co-host to be a woman, with rally champion Catie Munnings heavily tipped for the role. The 28-year-old is a regular contributor to the official Top Gear magazine and podcast and became Ladies European Rally Champion at just 18. She has also hosted her own CBBC show, Catie's Amazing Machines, and holds a sponsorship deal with energy drinks manufacturer Red Bull.
A source said Carr had signed on and been told the show would be built around a core pair, himself and one co-host, a shift from previous line-ups, though guests may also appear. The source called Munnings "an absolutely perfect fit," citing her professional racing background, TV experience and her long involvement with the Top Gear brand.
The Stig, the show's anonymous helmeted driver, is also set to return. Paul Rees, who played the character in the last series, was a passenger in Flintoff's car during the crash and says he suffered a broken back and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. He is suing BBC Studios for up to £150,000 in personal injury damages. Bosses are reportedly not ruling out casting a woman as the new Stig.
Return to Dunsfold Aerodrome
The revived show is set to return to the scene of Flintoff's crash, Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey. The site had been earmarked for a housing development after the BBC halted production and council chiefs approved planning permission, but that work has since been stopped, preserving the track.
Alongside the main hosts, bosses are considering bringing in celebrity guests for individual features. Names under discussion include Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson, a self-described car fanatic, and former England rugby player and Celebrity Traitors favourite Joe Marler.
History of the show and past crashes
Plans to revive Top Gear were first raised at the Edinburgh TV Festival last month, where BBC director of entertainment Ed Havard confirmed production of the global franchise was restarting.
Top Gear launched in 1977 as a conventional consumer programme before being relaunched in 2002 under executive producer Andy Wilman with presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond. The format became a major hit, broadcast in more than 200 territories at its peak and recognised with a Guinness World Record as the most watched factual TV programme.
The show's appetite for high-speed stunts also produced several serious incidents. In 2006 Hammond suffered severe brain injuries after crashing a jet-powered dragster at 288mph.
Flintoff, travelling in an open-top car without traditional airbags and wearing an unsuitable helmet, suffered life-changing facial injuries and broken ribs when his three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 rolled over at Dunsfold Aerodrome in December 2022. The crash prompted an internal BBC review, a financial settlement for Flintoff reported to be worth around £9million, and public criticism of production safety. The BBC subsequently said the format would be indefinitely "rested."
Safety measures for new series
The new version is expected to carry stricter safety procedures, with some of the most dangerous stunts dropped and professional drivers likely used for the riskiest segments. A source said dedicated safety executives and fully qualified medical emergency professionals would be present at every filming session, adding that "nothing will be left to chance" and that "serious lessons have been learned."
According to a source, the next step is to confirm the co-host before drawing up a production schedule for early next year, with bosses hoping to get the show back on screens as soon as possible.
