Comedian Jimmy Carr is in talks with BBC bosses to front a reboot of Top Gear, four years after the motor show was shelved.
Reports emerged in May that the broadcaster was planning to return the flagship programme to television screens following its cancellation after presenter Freddie Flintoff suffered a near-fatal crash. Insiders now say that Carr, 53, is close to signing a contract to lead the new series.
A source told The Sun that production teams have set their sights on Carr to revive the long-running show. "Production have their sights set on Jimmy, he's the ideal host to take the show into a new era and revive Top Gear," the source said. "He's keen to work on something mainstream after spending so many years fronting comedy panel shows."
The insider added that Carr is a genuine motoring enthusiast. "He's a real car buff, too, so it would be a passion project," the source told the publication. "Casting directors are now working to find talent to join him in the new-look ensemble. Bosses are considering a woman and online celebrities to complement Jimmy."
Responding to the reports, a BBC Studios spokesperson said: "We have no update on the TV show and we don't comment on speculation." The British Broadcasting Corporation originally rested the format following safety reviews.
Jimmy Carr and Top Gear
Carr has a long history with the television programme. In 2004, he topped the leaderboard in the show's popular "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" challenge while driving a Suzuki Liana compact sedan. He is also known to boast an impressive motor collection.
The stand-up comic and presenter has previously expressed a strong desire to anchor the series. "If it comes up, yeah, call me! Call me straight away," Carr said in an earlier interview. "I would do that in a heartbeat. I think it's maybe the best job in television."
Carr has built a career as one of the United Kingdom's most prominent comedians and television personalities, known for hosting major comedic panel broadcasts before seeking a mainstream return with the BBC.
The 2022 Crash and Production Halt
Any new presenting team would replace the previous hosting trio of former professional cricketer Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff, motoring journalist Chris Harris, and comedian Paddy McGuinness.
The BBC halted production on Top Gear after Flintoff, 48, was left with horrific injuries in a high-speed accident in December 2022. The former England cricket captain was testing an open-top, three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 sports car at the Dunsfold Park Aerodrome test track in Surrey when the vehicle flipped over.
The car dragged Flintoff nose down across the tarmac for 50 metres. Following the accident, the BBC announced that the show would be rested for the "foreseeable future." Reports later indicated that Flintoff received a £9million settlement from the broadcaster.
Flintoff has since made a return to the public eye, establishing a cricket coaching career with guidance from his long-time friend Rob Key, the England and Wales Cricket Board's director of men's cricket.
Safety Warnings and Host History
Flintoff, Harris, and McGuinness had fronted Top Gear together since 2019. They guided the show back to success following a period of turmoil after the 2015 departure of Jeremy Clarkson, whose contract was not renewed after he punched a producer. Clarkson's departure prompted co-stars James May and Richard Hammond to quit out of loyalty.
Before the 2022 crash, Harris raised safety concerns regarding the stunts featured on the show, which had gradually moved away from providing consumer advice on cars in favour of motoring-based entertainment. Speaking on podcaster Joe Rogan's show, Harris revealed that he had warned the BBC three months prior to Flintoff's accident that there could be a "serious injury" or "fatality."
Harris told the podcast: "What was never spoken about was that three months before the accident, I'd gone to the BBC and said, 'Unless you change something, someone's going to die on this show.'" He said he informed executives of his concerns as "the most experienced driver on the show by a mile," adding that while Flintoff and McGuinness were "brilliant entertainers," they "didn't have the experience I had in cars."
Global Brand and Format Reach
Despite being off air in the UK, Top Gear remains a major global franchise. The UK show is currently sold to more than 150 territories worldwide.
There are 11 local format versions of the show, including productions in the United States, France, and Finland. In addition, Top Gear magazine is the world's largest monthly motoring magazine, with 30 licensed local editions including China, France, and Japan.
