Hopes rise for Richard as he is moved out of ICU

Top Gear host Richard Hammond looks to be making a dramatic recovery, doctors' reports today suggested.

The TV presenter, suffering from brain injuries following his 300mph jet car smash, has been moved out of intensive care.

A spokesman for Leeds General Infirmary, where the 36-year-old was airlifted following the crash on Wednesday afternoon, said: "Richard Hammond is making satisfactory progress. This morning he has been moved out of intensive care and on to a high dependency unit."

The positive news comes as pressure mounts on the BBC over the safety of its Top Gear stunts.

Staff on the programme have revealed "very, very serious concerns" over safety and working hours - and police and health and safety officials have launched probes into the accident.

A source close to the programme said: "The pressures on the Top Gear team are just enormous. They are working all the hours they humanly can."

Crew members were reportedly planning to air their concerns at a meeting with programme executives this week.

In a recent incident, staff allegedly narrowly avoided injury when a car skidded off a test track during filming.

The source told TV industry website Broadcastnow: "The test driver wasn't happy about the position of the crew but they are expected to get the shots that are needed. People working on the show have been really concerned about health and safety and having to work from dawn until dusk."

The BBC denied the near-miss and a spokesman said the planned meeting this week was "categorically not about health and safety". He added: "All BBC programmes, including Top Gear, take health and safety extremely seriously."

Nevertheless, if the BBC is found to have failed in its care of duty to the TV host, it could face criminal charges.

Today his fellow Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson told how he had raised a smile from his injured colleague. "I said, 'The reason you're here is because you're a crap driver.' He then smiled at me. It was an amazing moment," he said.