BBC confirms Top Gear reboot with return of The Stig

The BBC has confirmed that the motoring program Top Gear will return following a hiatus that began in 2022. Ed Havard, the BBC’s director of entertainment, announced the revival during the Edinburgh TV Festival.

While the reboot is expected to feature format changes and a new presenting team, reports indicate that the iconic masked racing driver known as The Stig will return to provide a sense of familiarity. An insider noted that bringing back the character is a “no-brainer” due to the character's importance throughout the show's history, spanning from the era of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May to the most recent series.

The show has been off the air since 2022, following a near-fatal accident involving presenter Andrew Flintoff during filming.