Hammond to give Ross TV interview

Hammond will appear on the show with Jarvis Cocker and Lee Evans

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.