Comedian Jimmy Carr is reportedly in discussions with BBC executives about hosting a reboot of the television show Top Gear. This development comes four years after the program was taken off the air following a serious accident involving former host Freddie Flintoff.
Sources indicate that Carr, 53, is close to signing a contract to lead the revamped series. A source told The Sun that production is looking to Carr as the ideal person to usher Top Gear into a new era, suggesting he is eager to take on a mainstream project after years of hosting comedy panel shows. The comedian is also described as a car enthusiast, which would make the role a passion project for him.
Casting directors are reportedly working to assemble a new ensemble cast to join Carr. The BBC is said to be considering including a female presenter and online personalities to complement the comedian.
Carr has a history with the show, having appeared on Top Gear in 2004 and topping the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' leaderboard. He has also publicly expressed interest in hosting the program, stating in the past that he would accept the role "in a heartbeat" and considers it "maybe the best job in television."
A new lineup of hosts would replace the most recent presenting team of Freddie Flintoff, Chris Harris, and Paddy McGuinness. The trio had fronted the show since 2019. Before them, the show experienced a period of change after the departure of Jeremy Clarkson in 2015, which led to co-stars James May and Richard Hammond also leaving.
The show was shelved in December 2022 after Flintoff sustained severe injuries when an open-top car he was testing overturned and slid on the track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey. At the time, co-presenter Chris Harris had previously voiced safety concerns to the BBC, warning that "unless you change something, someone's going to die on this show" months before the accident.
Following the crash, the BBC announced that Top Gear would be rested for the "foreseeable future." Flintoff, a former England cricket captain, has since returned to public life and is pursuing a coaching career. Reports indicated that he received a settlement of approximately £9 million from the BBC after the incident.
Top Gear remains a globally recognized brand, with the UK version licensed in over 150 territories and 11 local format versions. Its accompanying magazine is also published in 30 international editions.