The BBC says it has halted the latest series of Top Gear after presenter Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was hurt in an accident while filming.
The presenter was injured in December at Top Gear’s test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.
The BBC said: “Under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making series 34.”
The broadcaster said a decision on how best to continue would be made later this year.
Following the accident on 13 December, the former England cricketer received medical care at the scene before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
In a statement, the BBC said: “We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery.
“We understand this [halting the show] will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we’ll make a judgement about how best to continue later this year.”
The decision has also impacted the production team, said the BBC, adding that there would be a health and safety review of the show, undertaken by an independent third party.
BBC Studios, which produces the show, also conducted its own investigation of the accident.
A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – the national regulator for workplace safety in England, Wales and Scotland – said: “We’ve completed our enquires into this incident and will not be investigating further.”
It is understood the circumstances of the incident did not meet the threshold for further investigation. The regulator can launch criminal prosecutions against employers where staff have suffered serious injury or died at work.
Philippa Childs, head of Bectu, the union for workers in the creative industries, told the BBC: “Crew wellbeing on set is paramount, and it’s critical productions have stringent policies and procedures in place to protect freelancers’ physical and mental health.
“Productions must ensure they are meeting the highest safety standards and, where incidents occur, must ensure lessons are learnt and appropriate support is provided for the workforce.”
Top Gear, one of the broadcaster’s most successful and exported programmes, has had a series of different presenters since 2002.
December’s accident was not the first Flintoff has suffered since he first began presenting the show.
The father-of-four crashed into a market stall in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire in February 2019.
In September of the same year, he also crashed during a drag race while he was filming at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire, but walked away unharmed.
In June 2022, Flintoff was racing in a bobsleigh at a course in Norway when it flipped over, but he again came out of the crash unscathed.