Yahoo News Top Gear: Is it the right time to 'rest' the BBC show?
Top Gear has a chequered history and was never shy of controversy
It has finally been decided that Top Gear will come to a halt.
Now the BBC has announced its decision to "rest" the show after TV host Freddie Flintoff was severely hurt in an accident while filming.
It comes as the future of the show had been hanging in the balance for almost a year as the crash happened in December last year.
The broadcaster has said it was the "right time" to end the show for the foreseeable future.
But was it the right time to put the brakes on the show? Was there a way the BBC could have kept the show going?
It also raises questions over whether Top Gear was ever safe?
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Why BBC say it's the 'right time' to rest Top Gear
The BBC said they knew the news would be "disappointing" for fans but insisted it was "the right thing to do".
Also, the broadcaster revealed there were new upcoming projects with the former hosts of Top Gear - Freddie Flintoff, Chris Harris and Paddy McGuinness.
It said in a statement: "It 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.
"All other Top Gear activity remains unaffected by this hiatus including international formats, digital, magazines and licensing."
Top Gear timeline
As the show comes to an end for the foreseeable future, take a look at some of the biggest milestones in Top Gear's timeline...
What happened with Freddie Flintoff's crash?
Flintoff sustained facial injuries and he was airlifted to hospital on 13 December last year after the accident.
The Top Gear star had been driving at 130mph in a three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 at the Dunsfold Park Aerodrome, the Top Gear's test track, in Surrey.
Flintoff reached a settlement with the BBC in October this year.
In recent weeks Flintoff, who is rarely seen now, spoke publicly for the first time since the crash and he described the last few months as the "hardest" in his life as he gave a speech to England cricketers.
Watch: Andrew Flintoff speaks publicly for the first time since crash
In the days after the crash, his 16-year-old son Corey said he was lucky to be alive. "I'm not too sure what happened but he is lucky to be alive," he told MailOnline.
"It was a pretty nasty crash. It is shocking. We are all shocked but just hope he’s going to be ok."
At the time BBC put the brakes on filming the series, saying: ”Under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making series 34. We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery."
Previously, Flintoff had been involved in a minor accident while filming Top Gear in 2019. At the time, Flintoff said: "I'm absolutely fine and was back filming today."
He added: "I go to great lengths to make sure I do well in Top Gear drag races but on this occasion I went a few lengths too far! It will look more ridiculous than dangerous when you see it on TV."
An independent third party was brought in to conduct an investigation after the Flintoff crash. BBC Studios, who produce the show, also carried out their own investigations.
Was Top Gear safe?
Top Gear has a chequered past though. While it was once one of the most beloved TV shows, it has never been shy of a bit of controversy.
In 2006, Richard Hammond cheated death when he was involved in a crash while filming Top Gear. At the time, he was rushed to intensive care and sustained serious head injuries.
The petrolhead had been going at nearly 320mph when he crashed at the former RAF Elvington airbase, near York. Following his recovery, Hammond returned to the show in early 2007 and it was a ratings hit for the show.
This year, however, previous Top Gear star Hammond shared his fears that his memory worsening could be linked to the crash.
He told The Diary of a CEO podcast: "I have to consciously write memories down and work hard to recall them sometimes. It might be because I'm 53, it might be because I'm working a lot and I'm tired, it might be the onset of something else."
After Top Gear, Hammond teamed up with Jeremy Clarkson and James May again to present The Grand Tour - one of Amazon Prime's biggest show.
