Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is critically ill in hospital after a crash in a jet-powered car while filming for the programme.

The 36-year-old presenter was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary's neurological unit.

A North Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesman said he was unconscious when they got to the scene and a hospital spokesman described him as "critical".

The Top Gear shoot was at the former RAF airfield in Elvington, Yorkshire.

Inspector Mike Thompson, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "At 5.45pm this evening we received a report via the fire service of a male person trapped in what was described as an overturned jet car which had been driven on the airfield.

"The male occupant has received serious injuries and has been airlifted to hospital at Leeds."

Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson said the presenter was "irreplaceable".

He said: "He is a wonderful, unique and distinctive Top Gear presenter.

"He has brought an awful lot to the programme and his indefatigable energy, the fact that he tries absolutely anything once, may have been the reason that he has overstepped the mark a bit.

"He has turned Top Gear into a gang show with Jeremy and James and the three of them have wowed audiences all over the world and he is an international personality."

Mr Willson added: "There is no pressure from the BBC or the producer to take undue risks.

"But that pressure is in your own head. You want to do an item on the programme which is mindblowing.

"You want to do a fantastic item that blows everybody away."

The presenter was born in Birmingham, educated in Yorkshire and lives near Cheltenham.

In addition to presenting Top Gear for the BBC, he also fronted Brainiac on Sky One until recently.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north...365676.stm

Why are all the cool people either ill or dead? :cry: I hope he's alright though, I can't think of what Top Gear would be like without him. They might even have to get another presenter to replae him... :cry:

Ouch. I agree, he is a bril presenter.

Here is hoping that he makes a speedy recovery. Top Gear would have to be one of, if not the best show on TV at the moment. The show just would not be the same without him.

I heard about it this morning, and people have been going on the net all day to see if hes ok. Luckily he is stable!

Hope he recovers soon

Same here. brainiac is a great show also don't forget top gear :P

I hope he gets better!

:grin:

The last i herd was that he was taken out of intencive care. And hes becoming more stable. Jeramey clarckson went to see him at hospital. Apperantly making a joke along the lines of "you never could F*****g drive" and got a smile from him.

Allthough there seems to be a big worry of servere head injurys that could lead to brain damage.