British motoring series Top Gear is returning to television four years after being taken off air, the BBC has confirmed at the Edinburgh Television Festival.
Ed Havard, director of entertainment at the British public broadcaster, announced the revival of the flagship show but declined to disclose who will host the new series.
Comedian Jimmy Carr is currently in negotiations to join the presenter lineup. Asked directly about Carr's potential involvement, Havard said Carr would make a great presenter, though he clarified that the network is not yet ready to speak about the talent chosen for the new era.
Former rugby union player Joe Marler has also emerged as a candidate following his rise in popularity on British television in recent years. The BBC noted that neither presenter has been officially confirmed and promised further details in the near future.
Potential presenter lineup and candidate talks
The search for new presenters follows years of reshuffles for the brand. The BBC, the UK national public broadcaster, holds the rights to the Top Gear format and has sought to refresh the presenting team across multiple iterations.
Carr is a well-known British comedian and television host, while Marler is a former England rugby player who has built a secondary career as a media personality and podcast host. Neither has signed a contract with the network yet.
Early history and the Clarkson era
Top Gear originally debuted on British television in 1977, hosted by presenters Rippon and Coyne. Jeremy Clarkson joined the show in 1988 and became the sole host retained when the BBC produced the series' first major reboot in 2002.
The 2002 relaunch introduced Richard Hammond and later James May as co-presenters alongside Clarkson. The trio established the show as a global television phenomenon over the next decade, combining automotive reviews with large-scale travel challenges.
Departure of hosts and launch of The Grand Tour
The long-running presenter lineup came to an end in June 2015 when the BBC decided not to renew Clarkson's contract following an altercation with a show producer. Hammond and May departed the program weeks later in solidarity.
Shortly after leaving the BBC, Clarkson, Hammond, and May were signed by streaming service Amazon Prime Video to create The Grand Tour. The competing motoring show went on to rival and surpass the original Top Gear in viewership.
Following the departure of the original trio, the BBC launched a new phase for Top Gear with several host variations, including former Friends star Matt LeBlanc. The network eventually settled on a trio formed by former England cricketer Freddie Flintoff, comedian Paddy McGuinness, and automotive journalist Chris Harris, who presented the show together until 2022.
Production halt following filming accident
Production on Top Gear was abruptly halted in late 2022 after Flintoff suffered a severe accident during filming. The crash resulted in serious injuries to his face and ribs. Show producer Paul Rees, who was in the passenger seat during the incident, was also affected.
The BBC made the decision to pause the program following the crash. In the years that followed, the hiatus was widely interpreted by viewers and media industry observers as a permanent cancellation.
Havard's announcement at the Edinburgh Television Festival confirms that the BBC will return Top Gear to television broadcasts after four years off air, with further announcements regarding the new hosting cast expected in due course.
