Last year, the BBC abruptly canceled Top Gear after one of its hosts, former cricketer Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, endured severe injuries from a crash while filming. Since that incident, the other two hosts—car journalist Chris Harris and comedian Paddy McGuinness—along with the network, have remained largely silent about the events of that day. However, Harris recently shed some light on the situation during his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, sharing that he had raised concerns with the BBC about the show’s inadequate safety measures long before the accident occurred.
Although the exact circumstances surrounding Flintoff’s crash are not fully disclosed, it is understood that he overturned a roofless Morgan 3-Wheeler while not wearing a helmet. Harris noted that Flintoff’s excellent physical condition, developed during his athletic career, was likely what saved his life. Nonetheless, the injuries he sustained were catastrophic.
According to Harris, on the day of the accident, he was unable to provide Flintoff with any pre-driving guidance. Typically, Flintoff and McGuinness would consult Harris before tackling a challenging vehicle, as he was the most skilled driver among them. Unfortunately, that day, he missed the opportunity.
“Due to our schedule that day, it was the first instance where I hadn’t had the chance to discuss how he should handle a challenging vehicle, and that was the day it all went wrong. That’s something I struggle with,” Harris told Rogan. The relevant part of the interview can be viewed in the embedded video below.
Harris expressed his frustration, noting that he had anticipated an incident like Flintoff’s.
“What was never discussed was that, three months prior to the accident, I had approached the BBC, warning them that ‘Unless you implement some changes, someone is going to die on this show,’” Harris stated.
Throughout its history, Top Gear has featured perilous stunts, including the infamous moments where hosts Clarkson, Hammond, and May drove dangerously close to cliff edges. Drivers have taken vehicles onto the water, and Richard Hammond has faced near-fatal accidents several times. Due to these high-risk activities, safety crews are expected to be present, alongside thorough pre-show preparations, to ensure the safety of all involved. Harris pointed out a decline in these safety protocols and made attempts to alert the producers.
“Too often in the past year, I observed situations becoming too risky.” He recounted a moment when McGuinness fell from a moving vehicle, and although he ended up unharmed, the ambulance on standby was reportedly two miles away and smoking a cigarette. Harris claims that the BBC disregarded his warnings, which ultimately contributed to Flintoff’s crash.
Fortunately, Flintoff has since healed from his injuries and remains active, recently producing and appearing in another BBC series where he mentors a group of young cricketers. Nonetheless, this does not excuse the incident or the BBC’s alleged negligence in addressing safety concerns. “I’m really happy and proud of my time on Top Gear, but I’m deeply saddened by how it ended,” shared Harris.
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