Again and again, it has been the rubber ball of BBC programmes, always bouncing back. Top Gear has long survived turbulence which would have instantly killed off other, less lucrative shows. Richard Hammond‘s 2006 car crash which left him in a coma for two weeks – and the subsequent Health and Safety Executive report which criticised the BBC for having a ‘gung ho’ attitude towards safety – if anything, only added to its blokey kudos.

Even losing its mighty presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Hammond to Amazon after Clarkson had a fight with a BBC producer in 2015 didn’t spell its demise. The disastrous reboot – who can forget the awkward Chris Evans/Matt LeBlanc pairing – may have hit a ratings low, but it didn’t extinguish the BBC’s loyalty to its golden goose.

That looks very different today, however. The Mail on Sunday has been told by multiple sources that the overwhelming likelihood is Top Gear will not – and cannot – come back for another series. We can also reveal its production team has been quietly dismantled.

BBC sources confirm there is no development of a new series and no plans to broadcast any of series 34, which had been part-filmed.

Why? This seemingly sudden turnaround is explained with just one glance at the pictures of Top Gear host and former England cricketer Freddie Flintoff, seen in public last week for the first time since December 13, 2022, when a car he was driving for one of the show’s stunts crashed, with disastrous consequences. At Dunsfold aerodrome in Surrey, home of the programme’s test track, and in icy conditions, Flintoff, 45, was driving a three-wheeled Morgan Super 3, a novelty miniature vehicle with no roof or airbag. It flipped over at speed, sliding across the track, dragging his face along the asphalt with it.

Some reports suggest Flintoff wasn’t wearing a safety helmet but a co-driver was. One source said Flintoff’s final words before the smash were: ‘Do I need a helmet?’

Neither he nor the BBC will comment on this. It’s also been said that nobody at Dunsfold was able to find a stretcher for him.

Flintoff suffered serious facial injuries and several broken ribs and waited 45 agonising minutes for an air ambulance. Some staff who witnessed the crash and its aftermath were said to have required counselling.

He spent four hours on the operating table and his son Corey, 17, later said his father was ‘lucky to be alive’. His wife Rachael hurried to Surrey from the family’s Cheshire home to be at his side and was told to expect the worst.

Nine months of silence followed until he emerged at Cardiff on September 8 to watch England’s opening one-day game against New Zealand. This week he took training sessions at The Oval and Lord’s before further one-dayers in the series, which insiders believe could herald his full-time return to the sport.

The physical aftermath of the accident was sadly evident, with scarring from his nose to chin, suggesting multiple reconstructive surgeries, while the right side of his face suggests signs of nerve damage. Gauze covered his nose, grazes on his face were still fresh.

As to the psychological toll, that’s also said to be great. Some formerly close friends of Flintoff – beloved across the world for his sense of humour and fun-loving nature – said they were kept at arm’s length for months after the crash as he concentrated on his recovery, supported by close family only.

Neither his representatives nor his legal team will make any comment on his injuries and recovery.

Relaunching a light entertainment show, then, which has so maimed a sporting hero would require an imperviousness to criticism, and personal callousness, both of which are alien to BBC boss Charlotte Moore.

More significant, perhaps, is the liability of the BBC for the accident. BBC sources suggest there is no ongoing legal action from Flintoff’s side and there is nothing lodged from him or his companies at the High Court. Why? This could indicate that the BBC has already quietly paid Flintoff compensation.

Relations between Flintoff and the BBC are said to be ‘cordial’ and there have been ‘constructive discussions’ – all pointing towards BBC bosses being keen to draw a line under the debacle, at whatever cost. The Mail on Sunday can also reveal Flintoff is understood to have co-operated with two separate reviews by the BBC, one having concluded and another ongoing. So how much have they paid him? Judicial college guidelines suggest ‘very serious facial fractures with permanent effects’ may attract compensation of up to £45,000.

Damage to his broadcasting career, on which it seems he has now turned his back, would be a more substantial sum. He and co-presenter Paddy McGuinness were on deals worth around £500,000 a year for Top Gear and he will have earned a similar amount from his regular appearances on panel show A League Of Their Own. Flintoff’s company has around £7million in its accounts, earned from his ventures into TV thus far.

One thing is certain: the amount paid will be substantial – millions of pounds – and the BBC will hope to make a claim against insurance to cover it; hence their first, rapid, investigation, which seems to have cleared them of negligence. The Health and Safety Executive also made initial inquiries but decided that it did not meet the threshold for further investigation.

After their first investigation ended, the BBC said: ‘BBC Studios has concluded its investigation into the accident which regrettably injured Freddie. We have sincerely apologised and will continue to support him with his recovery.’

The BBC never released the results of that investigation, and seem unlikely to do so.

Their second investigation, then, could be seen as a helpful tool to quietly explain killing off the show, officially closing this painful chapter. This investigation is said to be more far-reaching, a ‘wider review’ sponsored by the BBC and conducted by an external third party which the BBC decline to name.

Sources say the reviewer is talking to a ‘broad group of people who have been involved in making Top Gear over the last several years’.

Clearly, it is not just looking at that day last December but at the culture, scope and format of the show, which was officially put ‘on hold’ in March. Whether it can, or should, continue is the ostensible question it ‘seeks’ to answer. It’s possible it will recommend that only professional racing drivers and not amateur presenters take part in the dangerous stunts if – and that’s a very big if – the BBC wanted to bring Top Gear back.

Many think such a recommendation would effectively smother the show, providing a helpful ‘box tick’ against any possibility of its return, which would no doubt relieve a concerned BBC management.

Regardless of what the report says, the days of Flintoff’s debut Top Gear series in 2019 are unrepeatable. Back then he bungee-jumped off a 540ft dam in a Metro car, crashed a Subaru, flipped and rolled a rally car in which his co-hosts were passengers, and came off the track while riding a bespoke trike at 124mph.

These kinds of dangerous stunts were dreamed up by an executive layer which was well used to prangs and smashes, some say fuelled by a macho one-upmanship.

As executive producer Alex Renton mused in 2021: ‘The challenge now is how to top a car bungee jump in how to scare Freddie.’

Today, though, such challenges would be verboten. The team which had recently moved production down to BBC Bristol is quietly being dismantled.

Top Gear’s editorial director Clare Pizey – in charge of reinventing the show after Clarkson, Hammond and May departed – quit her job at BBC studios three weeks ago while the investigation rumbled on.

Paddy McGuinness, 50, said: ‘This lady kept all us naughty boys in check on @topgear. Gutted you’re leaving us @clarepizey.’

A few weeks previously, Chris Payne, the development producer in charge of all the show’s big ‘challenge films’, also quit to take up a job with Gordon Ramsay’s outfit Studio Ramsay.

As well as this, McGuinness apparently feels it wrong to return to the show without Flintoff. Richard Hammond’s take on the show’s future earlier this year was that viewers tune in for the jeopardy, which is a part of the entertainment. ‘Pratfalls and somebody else hurting themselves, hopefully not too badly, is one of the oldest forms of humour, isn’t it?’ he said.

He added: ‘If you’re taking risks, you have to mitigate everywhere against those risks. But also we’ve all got to remember, just because we’re on TV doesn’t mean we’re in some sort of magic protected bubble. Real world things still apply.’

Former England bowler Steve Harmison, one of Flintoff’s closest friends, said last week: ‘The first time I saw him after the accident, I was in tears. But there was also a lump in my throat when I saw the big fella back at The Oval.

‘He went off and did something else after cricket and I could understand that but the problem cricket had is what [Freddie] went into next paid him a hell of a lot of money and it was hard to get him back. But if you think about the knowledge he has, he will be a great addition to anything England want to involve him in.’

It was announced last week that Flintoff will make one more show for the BBC this year (a second series of Field Of Dreams, in which he mentors under-privileged Lancashire youngsters to turn them into cricketers), but his TV days are effectively done. Field Of Dreams is a passion project, more about sport than showbusiness.

Flintoff’s fans will be pleased to note one bright spot. Back at The Oval this week, onlookers noted Flintoff was smiling. Fit enough to cope with the fast bowling of current England stars, he greeted them warmly, embracing some, that smile never leaving his face.

Cricket, then, his old friend, could be the comfort he so sorely needs as he adjusts to a new life ahead.

British Airways and British Airways Holidays have launched their end-of-summer sale, offering flight and holiday savings for travel in both 2023 and 2024.

Running until 3 October, 2023, the sale features short and long-haul destinations, with highlights including European beach holidays from £219pp, New York city breaks from £499pp and Caribbean resort stays from £599pp.

British Airways Holidays says that it is offering ‘a wide range of enticing holiday packages for customers booking their flight and hotel together’.

Those jetting off to far-flung destinations in the Caribbean, says British Airways Holidays, ‘can enjoy week-long holidays to Tobago from £599pp, Barbados from £749pp and Antigua from £719pp’.

For European city break lovers, these start from £139pp for two nights, for flights and a hotel.

British Airways Holidays reveals that two-night breaks to Nice and Prague can be snapped up from £139pp, while customers can bag a seven-night holiday to the Algarve for £219pp.

For Brits looking to catch some winter sun close to home, they can soak it up in Mallorca for seven nights from £459pp on an all-inclusive basis, or Egypt for seven nights all-inclusive from £469pp.

Claire Bentley, Managing Director of British Airways Holidays, said: ‘We are excited to announce our holiday sale to popular travel destinations.

‘Whether you desire a quick getaway or a long-awaited trip to visit family and friends, we have offers to suit all. We remain dedicated to providing our customers with ample choices, flexibility, and value.’

Flight only

Travellers looking for transatlantic flight-only options can book return flights to New York from £333, Orlando from £373, Boston from £370, San Diego from £428 and Chicago from £419.

In addition, customers who book ‘World Traveller’ (BA’s name for long-haul economy) will have the option to upgrade to World Traveller Plus (premium economy) on selected routes for an extra £249 return.

Those who upgrade will enjoy wider seats and more legroom, two meals and complimentary bar service, priority boarding, more luggage allowance and a ‘stylish’ amenity kit made from recycled plastic bottles.

Executive Club members also have the option to save by paying with Avios, with examples including returns to New York from £173 + 36,000 Avios and Dubai from £179 + 62,500 Avios.

Those looking to travel in Club World (business class) can secure return flights to Dubai from £1,599, New York from £1,762 and Tel Aviv from £1,100.

Further information on the flight and holiday sale can be found at www.ba.com/sale.

British Airways Holidays deals, from Barbados to Boston via the Cote d’Azur

Caribbean

Barbados: Seven nights at the three-star Travellers Palm from £749pp on a room-only basis on selected dates in May 2024. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/barbados or calling 0344 493 0120.

Tobago: Seven nights at the three-star Shepherds Inn from £599pp on a B&B basis travelling on selected dates in May 2024. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Gatwick Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/tobago or calling 0344 493 0120.

St Lucia: Seven nights at the three-star Bay Gardens Hotel from £739pp on a room-only basis travelling on selected dates in June 2024. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Gatwick Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/stlucia or calling 0344 493 0120.

Aruba: Seven nights at the three-star Talk of The Town Hotel & Beach Club from £649pp on a room-only basis travelling on selected dates in June 2024. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Gatwick Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/aruba or calling 0344 493 0120.

Middle East

Dubai: Three nights at the four-star Four Points by Sheraton Bur Dubai from £499 on a room-only basis travelling on selected dates in June 2024. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/dubai or calling 0344 493 0123.

Indian Ocean

Mauritius: Seven nights at the three-and-a-half-star Tropical Attitude from £849pp on a B&B basis travelling on selected dates in June 2024. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Gatwick Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/mauritius or calling 0344 493 0778.

Europe

Prague: Two nights at the four-star Grand Majestic Plaza from £139pp on a room-only basis selected dates in January 2024. Includes economy (Euro Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow Airport and 23kg luggage allowance and accommodation. Book now: www.ba.com/prague or call 0344 493 0125.

Nice: Two nights at the three-star Monsigny Hotel Nice from £139pp on a room-only basis on selected dates in January 2024. Includes economy (Euro Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/nice or calling 0344 493 0125.

Egypt: Seven nights at the four-star Xperience Sea Breeze Resort from £469pp on a B&B basis on selected dates in January 2024. Includes economy (Euro Traveller) return flights from London Gatwick Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.britishairways.com/holidays or calling 0344 493 0125.

Greece: Seven nights at the five-star Ikos Oceania from £929pp on an all-inclusive basis on selected dates in April 2024. Includes economy (Euro Traveller) return flights from London Gatwick Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/halkidiki or calling 0344 493 0125.

Malta: Seven nights at the five-star The Westin Dragonara Resort from £499pp on a room-only basis on selected dates in December 2023. Includes economy (Euro Traveller) return flights from London Gatwick Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/malta or calling 0344 493 0125.

The US and Canada

Orlando: Seven nights at the three-star Ramada Plaza Resort and Suites International Drive from £499pp on a room-only basis travelling on selected dates in April and May 2024. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Gatwick Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/orlando or calling 0344 493 0124.

New York: Three nights at the four-star Tempo by Hilton New York Times Square from £699pp on a room-only basis on selected dates in January and February 2024. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/new-york or calling 0344 493 0122.

Boston: Three nights at the four-and-a-half-star Fairmont Copley Plaza from £619pp on a room-only basis on selected dates in January and February 2024. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/boston or calling 0344 493 0122.

Toronto: Three nights at the four-star Chelsea Hotel Toronto from £559pp on a room-only basis on selected dates in January and February 2024. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/toronto or call 0344 493 0122.

San Francisco: Five nights at the four-star Hotel Abri from £699pp on a room-only basis on selected dates in February and March 2024. Includes economy (World Traveller) return flights from London Heathrow Airport and 23kg luggage allowance. Book by visiting www.ba.com/sanfrancisco or calling 0344 493 0122.

Sex And The City without Samantha Jones has been like toast without butter. Little wonder then, that her hotly anticipated cameo in last night’s finale of And Just Like That — the sequel to SATC — has caused such a stir.

Following a bitter six-year feud with Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP), who plays Carrie Bradshaw, Kim Cattrall had sworn never to play man-eating PR executive Samantha again. But earlier this year she was persuaded to reconsider after fans said the story of life and love in Manhattan just wasn’t the same without her.

Here, original SATC super fan CLAUDIA CONNELL gives her riotous take on Kim’s big comeback as the second series concluded and the other surprising twists in the final episode (spoiler alert!)

A VERY COSTLY CAMEO

Kim Cattrall was on screen for all of 60 seconds last night. It’s rumoured that the actress was paid $1 million (£790,000) to film the scene — and she speaks just 20 lines, working out at an impressive £13,166 per second of airtime.

According to Cattrall, the chief executive of TV network HBO called her and asked what it would take for her to return. Being styled by Patricia Field, the celebrated costume designer who worked on the original series, but not the reboot, was one of her asks.

Officially, Field was unavailable for the reboot due to working on Emily In Paris, but some suggested Field was not actually asked to do And Just Like That because SJP resented her close friendship with Cattrall and was punishing her.

Insisting on Field, who dressed Cattrall in a red dress, a gold coat and had her clutching a giant, oversized green bag, is perhaps Cattrall’s swipe back.

Cattrall also insisted on her make-up being done by celebrity cosmetic artist Kyra Panchenko and her hair by Ryan Trygstad — who gave her a new wispy fringe.

The scene was filmed in March in New York, taking four hours, after which Kim says she ‘went home and had a large Martini’, having not encountered a single one of her three former co-stars.

THE LAST SUPPER

Carrie Bradshaw may be SATC’s main character, but it’s Samantha Jones who became the fan’s firm favourite.

Over the course of six seasons of SATC, Carrie went from being a gutsy, independent sex columnist to a whinger with a shoe fetish who couldn’t seem to function without a man. 

But bed-hopping, toy boy loving, child-free by choice Samantha always stayed true to herself.

And 60 seconds was all it took for Kim Cattrall to bring the sparkle, warmth and a star quality to And Just Like That it has lacked for nearly two years. 

Smiling as she sees Samantha’s name flash on her phone screen, ‘Hello London, what’s shakin’ lady?’ asks Carrie as she takes the call.

Having intended to be a surprise guest at the ‘last supper’ party Carrie is hosting to say goodbye to her bachelorette flat, Samantha — calling from her car — tells her friend that she won’t be able to make it after all, due to flight delays. Asking to go on loud speaker so she can say her own goodbye to Carrie’s famous home, she puts on a fake English accent and trills, ‘thanks for everything you f*****g fabulous, fabulous flat’.

And just like that she was off, leaving us to assume she probably slept with the chauffeur before heading out to dinner with her new British girlfriends.

THE NEW MR RIGHT?

In series two of And Just Like That, Carrie reignites her romance with Aidan Shaw, the furniture maker she first dated in SATC’s series three. 

She broke his heart by cheating on him with Big and, later, breaking off their engagement. Carrie tells Miranda that this time around sex with divorced father-of-three Aidan is the best she’s ever had and she’s started to think that ‘Big was a big mistake’.

But just as she’s about to move into the new, four-bedroom duplex she plans to share with Aidan, he arrives in New York to tell her they have to put their relationship on hold for five years. His troubled youngest son needs him.

He returns to Norfolk, Virginia, breaking Carrie’s heart just as she did to him two decades earlier.

CRAZY CAT LADY

Carrie becomes a doting ‘mum’ to a tabby kitten that she names Shoe. Yes, really! 

Shoe sleeps in a Manolo Blahnik shoe box. The kitten was part of a litter that had been abandoned and taken to the veterinary practice where Che, Miranda’s (non-binary) ex, works. Is she set to become a crazy cat lady?

SPANX SILLINESS

Earlier in the series, annoyingly ditsy Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) makes the decision to return to work full-time. Charlotte purchases a chic, black lace Prada dress to wear to her first day in her new job at an art gallery, but it’s tight on her stomach.

She tries a bone broth crash diet, but can’t shift the pounds. Instead, 22 years after Bridget Jones made big knickers famous, she squeezes herself into body-control underwear that’s so restricting she can barely walk. 

Arriving at the gallery, she’s greeted by a 20-something, plus-size assistant, wearing a crop top. 

In a highly contrived scene, a liberated Charlotte runs to the bathroom to rip off her Spanx to let her tiny tummy take centre stage.

WORST PARTY EVER

As good luck would have it, Carrie wins a raffle prize for a chef to cook dinner for her and her pals. She decides to hold a ‘last supper’ at her flat before she moves.

The table is decorated with roses and linen napkins bearing Carrie’s initials. As she uses her kitchen for extra clothes storage, the chef cooks at a neighbour’s place. 

Seated around the table, she asks her guests say one word that represents something they want to let go of.

‘Guilt’ says Miranda. ‘Limits’ says Charlotte. ‘Shoes’ says Carrie. Not really, especially given her new pet’s name. She goes for ‘expectations’.

MESSED-UP MIRANDA

Miranda’s estranged husband Steve spoke for us all in the final episode when he says ‘you’re not going to flip and be straight again are you?’ after meeting up with his ex, who ditched him for Che in the first series of And Just Like That.

Once the fiercest, most successful of the characters, Miranda’s turned into an insecure, bumbling midlife Mr Bean. 

Describing herself as a ‘sexually confused alcoholic,’ she’s single for the second half of this series after splitting with Che.

Working as an intern at a human rights charity, the former hotshot lawyer seems lost … until she meets plummy BBC producer Joy (Dolly Wells) who looks set to be her love interest in the next series.

SEEMA: THE NEW SAM?

Outspoken, successful and with an insatiable sex drive, real estate broker Seema Patel (Sarita Choudhury) has helped fill the void that Samantha left behind.

She became besties with Carrie after selling the apartment she shared with Big. In this series, she becomes involved with film director Ravi and — in true Samantha style — has sex with him in the master bedroom of the multi-million-dollar flat she’s showing him.

She even gets the honour of sharing the finale’s last scene with Carrie. Relaxing on sun loungers on a Greek island, the two women are seen sipping Cosmopolitans — the cocktail SATC made famous.

Itsu sales bounce back as workers return to office

• Itsu’s restaurant division saw sales hit £101m in 2022, up 73% on 2021
• But sales remain below pre-pandemic levels 
• Profits soared 42% to £6.5m; record number of restaurant openings in 2022

By Daily Mail City & Finance

Updated: 18:01 EDT, 22 August 2023

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Ruth Wilson teases a return to Luther during an appearance on Good Morning Britain despite her character Alice ‘falling to her death’

By Lily Jobson For Mailonline

Published: 05:23 EDT, 22 August 2023 | Updated: 06:40 EDT, 22 August 2023

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• Scotland saw almost as many cases of rickets as the whole of England in 2022

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Man United DELAY making a decision on Mason Greenwood’s return because they want to consult their Women’s World Cup players – and saga could now drag on into next week

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Dele Alli suffers setback in recovery from hip surgery… with his Everton return delayed as he is forced to ease off current training schedule

• Alli had a hip operation earlier this summer and the club are being cautious
• The 27-year-old midfielder hopes to return to first-team action with the Toffees 

By Sami Mokbel For Mailonline

Published: 08:28 EDT, 9 August 2023 | Updated: 08:28 EDT, 9 August 2023

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By Katelyn Caralle, U.S. Political Reporter

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