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The BBC said it had concluded its investigation
into the crash - which had initially led to filming being
suspended - and that it would now halt filming.
It was unclear when or if at all filming would resume and the
broadcaster said it would make a decision later this year.
"We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to
support him with his recovery. Under the circumstances, we feel
it would be inappropriate to resume making series 34 of Top Gear
at this time," BBC Studios said in a statement.
"We understand this 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 BBC also said it would carry out a health and safety review
of "Top Gear", one of its most successful programmes that has
been running since 2002 in its current format, a revival of a
1977-2001 eponymous BBC motoring programme.
Flintoff, 45, a former England cricketer who became a "Top Gear"
host in 2019, was said to be "lucky to be alive" following the
accident at Top Gear's test track in Surrey in southern England.
The Times newspaper reported, citing insiders, that Flintoff was
quitting as the show's co-presenter. He hosted the show along
with Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris.
Flintoff is revered by England cricket fans for his heroics in
the 2005 Ashes series against Australia, a career highlight that
earned him cult status. After retiring from cricket, he had one
professional bout as a boxer in 2012.
(Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru and Sachin Ravikumar in
LondonEditing by Chris Reese)
(Photo: Formula One F1 - British Grand Prix -
Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain - July 3, 2022 Former
cricketer Andrew Flintoff is seen before the race REUTERS/Peter
Cziborra)
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