Top Gear's former host details reasons fan's shouldn't be 'too sad' over show's 'axing'

This week the BBC confirmed that the long-running motor show Top Gear will be paused for the foreseeable future.

Ex Top Gear host says fans shouldn't be too sad as show is paused

Former Top Gear presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson has explained why fans shouldn’t be too sad about it being shelved.

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The BBC confirmed it will rest the popular car motoring show for the foreseeable future following Freddie Flintoff’s horror crash last December.

As the presenter suffered serious injuries, the broadcaster told PA News Agency that pulling it from the air is currently the right thing to do."

On Wednesday's instalment of BBC Breakfast, hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent spoke to former Top Gear host Vicki Butler-Henderson about the show being shelved.

Vicki was part of the show's original format alongside Jeremey Clarkson, Quentin Willson and Tiff Needell back in 1994 through to 2001.

Vicki Butler-Henderson addresses the future of Top Gear (Image: BBC)

Sally asked: “What’s your reaction to this decision that the BBC have made to pause the production of such a huge show?”

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She replied: “Well, let's just use the word pause and understand it, it doesn’t mean it’s being buried.

“It’s just being put on a shelf and I’m sure at some point in the future it will be dusted off because Top Gear is such a global brand.”

The former host highlighted that the show has been evolving every decade it's been on since it first launched back in the 1970s.

The BBC confirmed the show has been pulled for the forseeable future (Image: BBC)
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Admitting it has become more adventurous in terms of its stunts and challenges, Vicki stated fans have a real connection to the show.

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She continued: “I don’t think we should be too sad and I think we should rejoice the word pause.”

Jon highlighted this isn’t the first time the show has had a break as it happened once before when Vicki was part of it.

She explained: “We were paused and some of us went off to make Fifth Gear which we still do and then Top Gear came back in the three-person format that everybody knows and loves now.

Freddie Flintoff was left seriously injured after his crash last year (Image: BBC)

“There is movement and time and will I am sure, to evolve it once more.”

Although the show won’t be returning anytime soon, the BBC confirmed other Top Gear activity won’t be affected.

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This includes international formats, digital, magazines and licensing.

See the BBC’s full statement to the PA News Agency here.

BBC Breakfast continues weekdays on BBC from 6am.

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