AS Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond continues his remarkable recovery today from a 300mph jet car crash, the focus switches from him to the programme itself.
The BBC says the broadcast date for a new series of Top Gear is in the balance pending Hammond's recovery, while the crash has raised health and safety concerns about the show.
Hammond is said by doctors to have suffered a "significant brain injury" when the 370mph jet-powered Vampire dragster he was driving crashed at Elvington airfield, near York, on Wednesday.
In the Observer today the programme's executive producer, Andy Wilman, said he would quit the show if the BBC attempted to tone down the show's emphasis on speed.
He added that the new series of Top Gear should not be screened unless Hammond could rejoin the show with fellow presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May.
He said: "The only Top Gear I'm interested in making is the one with those three it it, and it has to be those three.
"I wouldn't do it, couldn't do it 1/8without Richard3/8."
He added: "We've shot most of this series but we won't do anything with it until he's better, because he's it."
The show's apparent preoccupation with risky stunts and driving at high speeds has come in for criticism.
But Clarkson defended that side of the show, telling the paper: "Next week I intend to be down on the track driving faster than ever. It's what we do."
He insisted that heath and safety was never neglected on the show.
'Overboard'
He said the producers had gone "completely overboard on making sure no stone was left unturned" regarding health and safety for Hammond's drive in the dragster.
He said it seemed likely the crash was an accident caused by a tyre blow-out, adding that "you can't possibly foresee that".
Writing in the Sunday Times, he rejected any suggestion the show should be toned down or axed, adding of Hammond: "He's only 36 so he still wants to be put in a car and drowned or electrocuted.
"It gets the limbic system in his brain twitching, dumping the dopamine and making him feel alive."
In a statement yesterday, the BBC said that it was too early to say when the new series, due to begin on October 8, will return.
Joke
The corporation "would not think of finalising plans for the next series without discussing it with everyone involved", the statement said.
Also yesterday, Hammond was well enough to share a joke with his wife Mindy.
Mindy said: "The family and I are overwhelmed by the flowers and messages of support we have received from well wishers.
"However, Richard is now beginning to worry that Jeremy and James will start taking the mickey, so it would be great if - instead of flowers - people could make a donation to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance."
Hammond has received 40,000 messages of goodwill since the accident and nearly é65,000 has been raised so far. Contributions can be made to the charity at
www.justgiving.com/phrichardhammond
Hammond's brother Nick added: "He's making good progress. We are very happy."
Medical staff at Leeds General Infirmary said Hammond has made such good progress from his injuries that he has now been moved from a high dependency unit on to a general medical ward and is in a stable condition.
The Top Gear star is recuperating on a general ward at Leeds General Infirmary after being transferred from a high dependency unit yesterday. "He is continuing to make good progress. He's doing well," a hospital spokesman said this morning.
By 9am the Yorkshire Air Ambulance appeal had raised almost é130,000 after a single donor - named on the site as David Curtis - pledged é50,000.
The overall target for the appeal has now been raised to é150,000.
Mr Eede said there had always been a long term plan to buy a second helicopter for Yorkshire, but this strategy was now being "brought forward" because of the success of the appeal.
He said: "Such has been the success of the appeal that we want to mark this in some significant way.
"It has always been the objective to get a second air ambulance for Yorkshire, which is bigger than New Zealand in terms of population."
He added: "We thought this was the right way to mark the response from fans of Richard Hammond."
Mr Eede said he understood that the é50,000 donation was genuine because it had appeared on the public website.
But he said he did not have any information about the donor apart from the name posted on the site.
"It is absolutely fantastic. It shows the incredible esteem that (Richard) is held in. We are overwhelmed by it," he said of the huge donation.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance later said that the response to the appeal had been so incredible that it was launching a bid to buy a second helicopter for the service.
All the money raised so far for the appeal - at least é130,000 - will go towards buying the new helicopter, charity chief executive Martin Eede said.
DID the Top Gear show go too far in persuit of ratings? Have your say.
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Sad to see the anti-car PC brigade using this unfortunate accident to try and get Top Gear axed. I am sure Hamster wouldn't want that to happen!
Top Gear IS the best program on TV.
Health and saftey?
Jesus put us all in saftey air-tight suites to stop us getting a cold..
Hamster.. get well and hope to see you back on TV where you belong
Safety and Health concerns?
Are these folks nutters?
This danger is part of the territory, and the concern is out of context and a kneejerk reaction. I don't need to list all the potential risks of motorsports, stuff happens, it just hurts more at 300+ mph.
They can come here to the US, screw the BBC tightys.
If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!
I think that the incident involving Richard Hammond was nothing to do with the safety of Top Gear. It has always been an interesting show and by no means of this accident should it be cancelled or toned down.
You can die in a crash at 10MPH ,so most of the time top gear tells of the safety of traveling at speed ,Its part of the show that people like "Speed" Why do you think people watch the formula one ,its not to watch people drive sensibly?
No, they didn't go too far. They do what they do because they enjoy it, are good at it, and know the risks ahead of time, and were in no way endangering others.
Anything is risky. I'm a musician--a string on my violin could snap, hit me in the eye and cause me to go blind. Does that mean I should stop practicing? They were going fast, true--but not on the street. They had taken every precaution possible. Leave them alone; there are already too many foolish rules about what people are allowed to do, most of which wouldn't be needed if everyone took the precautions they do on Top Gear to control conditions.
I think it was inevitable that something like this was going to happen on this show. It was like the Noel Edmunds Late Breakfast show (nicknamed at the time The Next of Kin Show. It's like the Steve Erwin thing and will be like what will happen to David Blaine in the future. You cannot keep pushing things to the edge without something bad happening. I think many of the things featured on Top Gear are totally irresponsible like Jeremy racing in a car against the other two in a plane.
going fast is just that: fast. things happen. what is more remarkable is that he is still alive after that kind of crash, in that the vehicle and other safety concerns had been addressed, obviously, or he would have been a mass of pulped gore. get over it folks: the world is not a safe place. i'd certainly rather die doing something a bit crazy than in my sleep or of a stroke.
For god sake is there no end to do gooders!!! It was the Hamsters choice to get into that dragster - nobody elses. How dare "do gooders" should infringe on his personal rights to do as he wishes (within the boundaries of the law). Carry on Top Gear - Top programme.
Top Gear is and alwas as been a programme that apeals to a wide variety of veiwers.I'm in my fifties and still love it! this tragic accident was just that an accident (they do happen) and it should in no way be a reason for the show to be discontinued. One person for sure would not want that and that is Richard Hammond himself.
Let the nannies focus on something more worthy, like hunger or human rights.
This is a show for auto enthusiasts and, as such, it involves speed. Hammond understood the risk all too well. Risk that is a part of life itself every time you walk out the front door. If you don't understand that then by all means, change the channel and watch a cooking program.
It's not the speed that hurts people - its the stopping. Speed never did anyone any harm.
The top gear team did a marvellous job of making a drab programme on cars very entertaining to watch even for people who are not fond of cars. I and many of my friends watch the programme every week and also catch Jeremy's column dutifully every weekend on my local paper.
Thank goodness Hammond is recovering and I hope that the show will be continued in its current format.
NO it is a great show as it is
Top Gear is one of the best shows on Aust TV at the moment. My kids love it. Even the wife enjoys watching it! The show doesn't promote bad driving on public roads so what is the problem. The show has just the right balance so leave well alone.
Well; who did not see that one coming. No doubt the so called charity 'BRAKE' will be sat at his bedside hoping to get some mileage out of his accident. Speed is good!
What is this world coming to? Are we all going to be required to live in padded cells so we can't get bruised? Is life worth living or simply something to be survived?
Unfortunately, accidents occasionally happen. Let's all spend our lives in padded cells so they can't.
Psh! Safety questions?!? Doing stuff like this is obviously risky and there's always that chance of a crash.
However, that's what makes some of the things they do on the show so entertaining. If the presenters didn't want to partake in such 'stunts' - they wouldn't be on the show.
I hate how people react AFTER something happens. If there were saftey concerns about the show; surely they should've been voiced before the crash.
Well I for one wasn't suprised to hear one of the TG presenters was hurt in an accident. (I was however suprised it came from a jet-car accident) I've seen these guys fly through wet road courses in open top cars with no helmets and thought to myself it was a matter of time. I love the show but comon, these guys are usually guilty of trying ot be a little too "macho." Put on a freaking helmet. (I do not doubt Hamster was wearing a helmet in the Jet car)
I hope he gets better soon and they keep making good TV.
Accidents can happen yea. But sticking a jet engine on the back of a go-cart, what did you expect!
Richard Hammond is an adrenaline/speed junkie. He would probably have another go in the car, if it was in one piece and if he was allowed to!
The health and safety on the show was apparently very tight. It's the TG trio that push to do these stunts, and have to convince the management they should do it. You can't foresee a blown tyre. I read that TG have a better safety rating than a lot of non-speed related shows.
TG, best show on TV today. BBC are right to wait until Richard is well enough to participate in the show when it goes back on air, its the three of them that make it what it is. If any one of them was out of the programme, especially Richard, I wouldn't watch it!
Get well soon Hamster. Am soooo pleased to hear you are making great progress. Missin you already. Luv to you and your family!!! XXX