Richard Hammond critically injured in crash

[Chloe O'brien]

Richard Hammond has been seen behind the wheel of his car, just weeks after his horrific high-speed crash. He is pictured in today's Sun sat in the driving seat of the stationary vehicle outside his Gloucestershire home.

A friend of Hammond told the paper that it is a question of time until he can drive again: "He knows he’s got to wait until he’s passed fit before he can drive."

The Top Gear presenter's recovery from September's crash has amazed doctors. At one stage he reportedly had only a 50% chance of survival from the jet car crash, in which he sustained severe head injuries.

[Jojo]

Television presenter Richard Hammond has got behind the wheel of a car for the first time since his horrific high-speed crash.

The Top Gear front man suffered a serious brain injury in a 288mph jet car crash while trying to break the British land speed record for the BBC2 show in September.

He had to face two hours of complex mental tests before winning back his driving licence.

He told the Daily Mirror: "I will remember this day for the rest of my life. Now I feel more like me. As soon as I got back into the driving seat it felt like I was back where I belonged.

"It was wonderful to be away from everything, being able to tootle around the lanes in the foothills of the Malverns in Gloucestershire on a sunny Sunday afternoon."

The Mirror reports Hammond, nicknamed the Hamster by Top Gear colleagues James May and Jeremy Clarkson, chose his Morgan, the classic British sports car, ahead of the other motors in his garage, which included a Porsche, vintage Mustang and a Range Rover.

Hammond took things at a slower pace compared to his last high-speed outing, not venturing above 50mph.

He said he felt as confident as ever and did not have any nagging fears or doubts about getting back in the driving seat.

But doctors have advised the 36-year-old father-of-two to take things slowly, so he says his driving will be limited to local trips for the time being.

The popular presenter told the Mirror he is bracing himself for ribbing from pals May and Clarkson. He joked: "I am expecting to see a set of L-plates in the post any day."

[Abigail]

New series starts in January, can't wait
Good to see him back driving, he's been so lucky.

[Jojo]

Top Gear host Richard Hammond is to give his first TV interview since his near-fatal accident to Jonathan Ross.

The 36-year-old will appear on BBC One's Friday Night With Jonathan Ross on 22 December.

Hammond almost died when the 300mph jet-powered dragster he was driving veered off the track at Elvington airfield, near York, in September.

He was treated for a brain injury at Leeds General Infirmary and has since made a "remarkable" recovery.

Hammond's severe injury had reduced him to a "child-like state" in which he became obsessed with Lego, which he said helped him recover.

He suffered short-term memory loss, became disorientated and also endured "excruciating" pain, for which he was prescribed morphine.

Filming on the new series of Top Gear was suspended after the accident, but has since resumed.

Hammond will be back in the studio in early 2007 when the first episode is broadcast.

[pookie1968uk]

cant wait to see the interview. his recovery has been amazing hasnt it when you think of how bad he could have been.

[Sam-Elle]

TOP Gear will return to TV on January 28 — and WILL screen Richard Hammond’s crash.

BBC chiefs have been deliberating for months whether to show the 288mph dragster smash that left presenter Richard — nicknamed The Hamster — close to death.

But last night co-host Jeremy Clarkson, 46, said: “Half the world wants to see the crash so I’m sure we will show it.

“We’re looking into whether we’ve enough footage of good quality. I imagine we’ll be using it in the first show.”

Sun columnist Clarkson said Hammond, who suffered brain damage and amnesia after the September crash, was happy for the footage to be broadcast as he wanted to view it.

He said: “Richard has no idea what happened to him so he will be as keen as everyone else to see it.”

Dad-of-two Hammond, 37, has made an amazing recovery and will join Clarkson and their fellow host James May in the studio on January 24 to film footage for the show’s BBC2 return the following Sunday.

Clarkson joked that Hammond could mark his return in daredevil fashion — by PARACHUTE or arriving in a TANK. He also revealed that, despite Hammond’s crash, the next series will feature 35 stunts — including the launch of a home-made space shuttle.

Clarkson added: “We have also got footage of us being chased out of Alabama after locals thought we were homosexuals.”

[pinkles14]

I will have to remember the date 28th of january as i want to watch it