BBC Benches Top Gear

The BBC is halting Top Gear in the U.K. “for the foreseeable future.”

The news comes after a December 2022 accident involving Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff while filming season 34.

“Given the exceptional circumstances, the BBC has decided to rest the U.K. show for the foreseeable future,” the pubcaster said in a statement. “The BBC remains committed to Freddie, Chris and Paddy, who have been at the heart of the show’s renaissance since 2019, and we’re excited about new projects being developed with each of them. We will have more to say in the near future on this. We know resting the show will be disappointing news for fans, but it is the right thing to do.”

Other Top Gear activities, including international versions, digital, magazines and licensing, are not impacted by the U.K. hiatus.

In March of this year, BBC Studios said it had concluded its investigation into the accident at the Top Gear Test Track in Surrey and had apologized to Flintoff. At the time, it said it was embarking on a health and safety review of the show while suspending production on season 34.