Top Gear boss speaks out on resuming filming following horror Flintoff crash
A boss at the BBC has commented on what the future looks like for Top Gear after Freddie Flintoff's horror crash.
The cricket star is still in recovery after the getting into a crash at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in December, that left him with broken ribs and facial injuries.
Flintoff, who has been part of the Top Gear team since 2019, had to be airlifted to hospital, though the BBC were able to assure concerned fans that his injuries weren't life threatening.
Advert
While internal investigations into the accident are underway, the BBC suspended production, stating that it would be 'inappropriate to resume making series 34 of Top Gear at this time'.
The statement from the national broadcaster added: “We understand this will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we’ll make a judgement about how best to continue later this year. This has also impacted the production team, who we continue to support."
The update left people wondering if or when Top Gear might return to their TV screens.
Now, Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer at the BBC has more information for worried fans.
Speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild event on Thursday (20 April), Moore said, per Metro: "My priority at the moment is supporting Freddie through his recovery, so I think it would be really inappropriate for us to resume filming now.
"I think when we get to the point where he feels ready... and we’ll get to thinking about getting him back."
She continued: "I think we’ve got to talk about what Freddie wants to do.
"When someone’s in recovery, I don’t think we would push that... I think that would be really inappropriate, I wouldn’t be happy."
Moore added that ‘you’ve got to be really human about this and do the right thing.'
After Freddie's crash, his son Corey said he was 'lucky to be alive'.
"It was a pretty nasty crash," he told MailOnline.
"It is shocking. We are all shocked but just hope he's going to be OK."
It wasn't the first time that the father of four had wound up in a nasty car crash since joining the Top Gear team.
Back in 2019, when Flintoff was just getting to grips with his new gig, he lost control of a motorised trike while driving at 124mph.
In that instance, he managed to walk away relatively unscathed, saying afterwards: "I go to great lengths to make sure I do well in Top Gear drag races, but on this occasion I went a few lengths too far! It will look more ridiculous than dangerous when you see it on TV.”
Topics: BBC, TV and Film, Top Gear, Freddie Flintoff
Ali Condon