BBC confirms Top Gear return after four-year hiatus

The BBC has officially confirmed that Top Gear will return to television, ending a four-year hiatus that began after presenter Freddie Flintoff was seriously injured in a crash during filming. The announcement was made by Ed Havard, the BBC's director of entertainment, at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Havard stated, "There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that Top Gear is coming back." While he declined to discuss specific talent, he acknowledged that comedian Jimmy Carr "would be a great host.