Jeremy Clarkson opens up on Top Gear's return as show axed

Almost a year after Freddie Flintoff's crash on the show's test track, Jeremy Clarkson has finally spoken out in response to the news that Top Gear will not be airing on television going forward.

In December 2022, Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff was airlifted after being involved in a devastating crash resulting in broken ribs and severe facial injuries after his car flipped over during a test drive on the show at the Dunsfold Park Aerodrome.

Earlier this month, the BBC, citing "exceptional circumstances", announced its decision to axe the show for the "foreseeable" future.

Speaking on the BCC's decision to axe the show "indefinitely" following Flintoff's crash, Clarkson credited fellow host Richard Hammond for being "always keen to get back to work," as the reason behind the show was never off-aired when the duo along with James May were the hosts, whereas Flinoff, he continued, isn't eager to come back to work, reported Express.co.uk quoting his column for The Sun.

He also acknowledged that replacing Flintoff would make the new host a "heartless" person saying, "Sure, the producers could try to find a replacement. But would you want that gig? Really?"

The former Top Gear show also took a veiled jibe, saying that the new presenter would essentially be working for an organisation that likes "cycle lanes" and on a show that's "written and produced every week by a newly invigorated and all-powerful health and safety department.

Recalling the days when the trio used to host the famed programme, Clarkson poked fun at Hammond — who was involved in several accidents on the show over the years — saying that often a call had to be made regarding him being "airlifted" after another accident.