The BBC made the decision to "rest" Top Gear following the near-fatal crash involving presenter Freddie Flintoff
Top Gear fans could be in for a treat after the show's producer admitted it might make a comeback. However, he insists there is one key factor to any return for the hugely successful car programme.
The BBC made the decision to "rest" the show following the near-fatal crash involving presenter Freddie Flintoff in 2022. At the time, the former crickets was seriously injured in a crash while filming at the Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.
His injuries were very severe and "life-altering". He had been the face of the show alongside Chris Harris and comedian Paddy McGuinness since 2019.
Now, with the show having been off-air for almost three years, producer Andy Wilman has had his say on the future of the show. While reports suggest there are big concerns the stunts that made the show a hit can never be safe going forward, Andy disagrees.
Speaking to The Sun ahead of the release of his memoirs titled Mr Wilman's Motoring Adventure, Andy said: "Freddie's crash was preventable, avoidable. You can make the danger levels acceptable."
And he went on to say he believes Top Gear could hit our screens again in the future. "I think it could return, but there's got to be a will," he admitted. "No one's pushing it."
Andy, who was a co-creator of Top Gear, is also a childhood friend of previous presenter Jeremy Clarkson. The outspoken presenter ended up being fired from his role on the show in 2015.
His dismissal followed claims of a violent outburst and subsequent investigation into his conduct. It is alleged that he got into an altercation with Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon at a Yorkshire hotel and that is said to have kicked off because no hot food was provided after a day's filming.
At the time, Jeremy reported himself to BBC bosses. Oisin didn't lodge a formal complaint.
However, when the decision was made to fire Jeremy, Oisin released a statement which read: "I've worked on Top Gear for almost a decade, a programme I love. Over that time Jeremy and I had a positive and successful working relationship, making some landmark projects together. He is a unique talent and I am well aware that many will be sorry his involvement in the show should end in this way."
Away from Andy's Top Gear duties, he admitted he is currently fully focused on the upcoming series of Clarkson's Farm. And he labelled series six a "much gentler production" than the car set-up.
"The worst that can happen is a few bumps and scrapes involving agricultural machinery or Jeremy getting butted in the nuts by a goat," he joked.