The BBC has announced the return of Top Gear, a popular motoring television series that has been off the air since 2022. The show was paused following a serious accident involving presenter Andrew Flintoff, who was injured during a segment. While no exact date has been set, the reboot is expected to air sometime next year. The new version of Top Gear will feature a completely new presenting team, with comedian Jimmy Carr being considered for a role. The series will undergo significant changes in both format and personnel, but it will keep The Stig—the mysterious, masked racing driver known for driving high-performance cars at extreme speeds—on board. According to a source close to the production, The Stig was one of the most iconic elements of the show's most successful era, when it was hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. Those three hosted the series from 2003 to 2015 until Clarkson was fired by the BBC after an altercation with a producer. Hammond and May then left to create the rival show The Grand Tour for Amazon Prime Video. Since Clarkson's departure, Top Gear has had several different hosts, including radio DJ Chris Evans, actor Matt LeBlanc from Friends, and racing driver Sabine Schmitz. During the 2022 hiatus, the show was presented by Flintoff, racing journalist Chris Harris, and comedian Paddy McGuinness. The Stig, who has been portrayed by several drivers over the years, including Formula One driver Perry McCarthy and others, has always remained anonymous in the iconic white suit and helmet.