Richard Hammond hits back at claims that Top Gear is too dangerous after show's cancellation

Richard Hammond dismisses safety concerns

Richard Hammond has responded to criticism that Top Gear is too dangerous to produce following the recent cancellation of the show. The BBC motoring program, which was famously hosted by Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson, and James May, faced scrutiny after co-host Freddie Flintoff was injured in a horrific crash during a taping. However, Hammond, who himself survived a serious crash while filming the show in 2006, dismissed claims that Top Gear is inherently dangerous.

Mitigating risks and the nature of accidents

Hammond emphasized that accidents can happen in any situation, not just on the set of Top Gear. He stated, "I think with all shows occasionally things go wrong. You've got to mitigate against that as best you can – and then hope. There are dangers to anything. You can fall off a ladder."

Richard Hammond's own crash

During his time on the show, Hammond experienced a life-threatening crash in 2006. He suffered serious injuries and was unconscious when he was rescued from the wreckage. Hammond was airlifted to a hospital in Leeds, where he made a full recovery after spending two weeks in a medically-induced coma.

Freddie Flintoff's accident and compensation

Freddie Flintoff's recent crash on the show bore similarities to Hammond's accident and resulted in a £9 million compensation payout. The cricket star negotiated a settlement with Top Gear makers BBC Studios, which covered two years' loss of earnings. Flintoff opted not to sue and waived a potentially larger payout. Both parties have expressed satisfaction with the agreement and are looking forward to continuing their collaboration in the future.