Entertainment
Top Gear in chaos as show boss ‘quits’ months after Freddie Flintoff’s horror crash-Stella Akinwumi-Entertainment – Metro
Freddie was involved in a horrific crash last year.
Top Gear show boss Clare Pizey has reportedly left the programme (Pictur: Clare Pizey)
Top Gear’s future remains uncertain after its show boss has reportedly quit the series months after Freddie Flintoff’s crash.
Editorial director Clare Pizey has stepped down from her role after joining the programme in March 2022.
A former staff member shared: ‘Everyone is assuming that it’s over for Top Gear now Clare has left.’
An insider added to The Times: ‘I’m not sure it quite signals the end for Top Gear but it’s definitely on life support.’
This comes after former cricket star Freddie, 45, was said to have been airlifted to hospital after being involved in an accident while filming the BBC programme last year.
It was claimed that the TV personality had to wait for nearly an hour with agonising facial injuries following the incident at the test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey in December.
The BBC previously said they ‘continue to support Freddie with his recovery’ (Picture: BBC/Lee Brimble)
It has been alleged that he wasn’t wearing a helmet at the time, while the BBC launched a probe to investigate what happened as the future of the series remains up in the air.
A spokesperson for the BBC told Metro.co.uk: ‘In March we concluded our investigation into the accident at the Top Gear Test Track in Surrey, which regrettably injured presenter Freddie Flintoff.
‘We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and continue to support him with his recovery. A health and safety review of the show is underway, in line with our procedures.’
Freddie reportedly suffered injuries to his jaw (Picture: ITV)
Chief content officer Charlotte Moore later said the focus is on his recovery, rather than rushing to get the show back on air.
‘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,’ she said at a Broadcasting Press Guild event last month.
‘I think when we get to the point where he feels ready … and we’ll get to thinking about getting him back.’
She added: ‘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.’
Metro.co.uk has reached out to BBC for comment.
Top Gear is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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