Top Gear legend hits out at BBC bosses after Freddie Flintoff horrific crash
Richard Hammond has hit out at his former Top Gear bosses after the show was paused following Freddie Flintoff's horrific crash.
The BBC show made the names of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond as they became the face of the well known show, the world over. Hollywood stars including Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz and comedians such as John Bishop appeared on the show to complete a lap in a racing car in record time. But now, the show is reportedly set to be axed following a near fatal car crash that left former cricket captain Freddie Flintoff with severe injuries.
And Richard Hammond, 53, has now publicly spoken out against BBC bosses who took unecessary risks to gain ratings. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: "Television makers have to be aware that you’re not in some special bubble just because you’re making a TV show, and things can and do go wrong. Just like when my tyre blew at that speed – it’s going to be bad."
He added: "But what are you going to do? Track it back to the person who tapped the rubber? Something went wrong and things do go wrong." He also gave his opinion on the future of the show saying: "I don’t know if Top Gear will come back. It’s up to the BBC – often they will rest a brand. My connection with Top Gear was that I watched it as a kid and loved it. Then I was lucky enough to be involved in making our version, and I’m sure there will be other versions in the future."
Richard Hammond speaks out against Top Gear bosses (Getty Images)
Freddie Flintoff was involved in a near fatal car crash while filming Top Gear (James Marsh/REX/Shutterstock)Freddie, 45, who is a father of four, was driving at a break neck speed of 130mph in an open-topped three-wheeled Morgan Super 3, when it flipped over at the Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey. At the time he was not wearing a helmet and this meant that his face was in direct contact with the ground, causing it to scrape across the coarse area.
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The crash left him with serious scars and broken bones. Earlier this month Freddie, who had remained out of the spotlight in a bid to recover, broke his silence following his accident. In a touching video, posted on Twitter, now called X, he presented cricketer Tom Hartley with his cap for the England Cricket team. In the heart-warming video, Freddie praise the team that he considers to be family, by saying they will "be there for you in the hardest times of your life".
He added: "It gives me so much pleasure to share what's going to be a day Tom that you're going to remember for the rest of your life. When you get this cap, this changes your life. It's one of those things, it's before and after it. This enables you to walk tall and move faster. Play with passion, play with pride, play with belief. "
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May in their final Top Gear show (PA)He continued: "And also part of a family of people. They'll share the good times with you, share the successes. But as I found over the past few months, they'll be there for you in the hardest times of your life. They will stand next to you. So, like the lion on the cap Tom, be brave, be, fearless, be proud and enjoy every minute."
But Richard has also been the victim of a near fatal car crash back in 2006. The TV personality was speeding down a Yorkshire airfield while filming for the programme at 288mph, in a jet-powered Vampire dragster when a tyre burst. He was rushed to hospital and was in a coma for two weeks. But this was not an isolated incident. In 2017, he was involved in another accident when he lost control of a Rimac Concept One supercar while in Switzerland.
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