It’s been almost two years since Freddie Flintoff was involved in a horrific crash while filming Top Gear, which has now been taken off air by the BBC.
The 46-year-old has since returned to the world of TV for another programme, the second series of his show Field of Dreams, where he mentors young budding cricketers and takes them on a trip to India.
The former professional cricketer was seen with healing facial injuries in the aftermath of the accident, which almost claimed his life in December 2022.
The news of Top Gear being put to rest was confirmed after months of speculation surrounding the motoring show’s future, following the 130mph crash.
In addition to facial injuries, Flintoff also sustained broken ribs and has said in new comments that he ‘should not be here’ after the traumatic incident.
In September 2023, he was seen in public for the first time since the crash with visible scars to his face and tape on his nose during England’s cricket one-day international match against New Zealand in Cardiff.
So, what exactly happened to Freddie Flintoff?
Here’s everything we know about his Top Gear accident and what’s been happening in the aftermath.
What happened to Freddie Flintoff?
Flintoff was involved in the crash on December 13, 2022, at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey, which has been the Top Gear test track since 2002.
He was driving an open-topped, three-wheel Morgan Super 3 at 130 mph when it flipped and slid along the track during filming.
Flintoff was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident along with a crew member in the passenger seat.
He was airlifted to hospital and suffered multiple facial injuries and broken ribs – but not before having to wait 45 minutes for the helicopter to arrive.
Flintoff’s injuries were described at the time as being non-life threatening, but his son Corey said he was ‘lucky to be alive.’
A source previously told The Times: ‘Freddie has been seriously emotionally and physically affected by the crash. He is a daredevil, that’s what he does, and he doesn’t feel like he is able to continue to play that role on the show.’
It was not the first time Flintoff had been involved in an accident whilst filming for Top Gear, having lost control of his motorised trike at 125mph in 2019.
He was not injured at the time and resumed filming afterwards.
What has the BBC said about the future of Top Gear?
Following the incident, production of series 34 of Top Gear was halted, with the BBC then confirming in March 2023 that filming would not resume.
The broadcaster said in a statement: ‘Under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making series 34.
‘We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery.
‘We understand this [halting production] will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we’ll make a judgement about how best to continue later this year.’
The BBC has also said there will be a health and safety review on the motoring show.
Last November, the broadcaster officially confirmed that Top Gear had been taken off air.
‘Given the exceptional circumstances, the BBC has decided to rest the UK show for the foreseeable future,’ the company’s statement read.
Referencing co-hosts Flintoff, Chris Harris and Paddy McGuinness, it continued: ‘The BBC remains committed to Freddie, Chris and Paddy who have been at the heart of the show’s renaissance since 2019, and we’re excited about new projects being developed with each of them.
‘We will have more to say in the near future on this. We know resting the show will be disappointing news for fans, but it is the right thing to do.
‘All other Top Gear activity remains unaffected by this hiatus including ‘international formats, digital, magazines and licensing.’
How much has the BBC paid Freddie Flintoff after the crash?
In October, it was reported that Flintoff had agreed to a payout of £9million in compensation from the BBC after the crash.
According to The Sun, the sum represented two years’ worth of loss in earnings.
Flintoff reportedly decided against sueing and a larger settlement while the deal was being negotiated with BBC Studios (BBCS), the publication stated.
A spokesperson from BBCS told Metro.co.uk: ‘BBC Studios has reached an agreement with Freddie that we believe supports his continued rehabilitation, return to work and future plans.
‘We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery.’
What has Freddie Flintoff recently said about the crash?
In the second series of his BBC programme Field of Dreams, Flintoff opened up about the impact that the Top Gear crash has had on him.
In the footage, which was filmed seven month after the crash, he said: ‘I thought I could just shake it off, I wanted to shake it off, and say, “Here I am, I’m alright,” but it’s not been a case of that, it’s been much harder than I thought.
‘As much as I wanted to go out and do things, I’ve just not been able to.’
Having not left his house much since the accident, he was preparing to travel the world for the show as he continued:
‘I don’t want to sit here and feel sorry for myself, and I don’t want sympathy, but it’s going from being here for seven months and then going to India, the other side of the world.’
‘I struggle with anxiety, I have nightmares, I have flashbacks, it’s so hard to cope.’
Flintoff added to the camera: ‘I genuinely should not be here with what happened.
‘It’s going to be a long road back and I’ve only just started. I’m going to need help. I really am. I’m not the best at asking for it.
‘I’ve got to look at the positives,’ he adds, saying: ‘I’ve got another chance, I’ve got a go at it, I’m seeing that as how it is – a second go.’
What have Top Gear stars said about the crash?
In November, former Top Gear presenter Harris revealed that he went into a ‘slightly dark place’ after his co-star Flintoff’s accident.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he said: ‘It was a serious incident. I’m not going to say any more than that.
‘As I’ve said in the book and in the few interviews I’ve given, I’m so proud of the fact that team Top Gear kept everything quiet and we were dignified.’
Harris, 49, added: ‘I’m sad I’m not doing Top Gear with him at the moment, but that’s life, it’s the best thing for him right now.’
He also shared that he went into a ‘dark place’ when his ‘day job went’, as he missed the programme and the people who he worked with on it.
In March, McGuinness, 50, revealed that he hadn’t spoken to Flintoff in 10 months.
‘We were all there for him when it happened, and he got back to us all immediately after, but it’s gone quiet since then,’ he told The Sun.
He continued, explaining that he had recently sent his former co-star a message, saying: ‘I’m always here. I hope you’re well and please God, I’ll see you soon.’
‘You just can’t begin to put yourself into his shoes. No one can know what’s going on in his head,’ he added.
Up until 2015, Top Gear was hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
In June last year, May, 61, told Metro.co.uk how ‘disgusted’ he was by the deplorable response to Flintoff’s crash.
‘For a while there were people saying, “Top Gear’s ended because Freddie Flintoff bashed himself up and why don’t you three go back and rescue and save it.” I wanted to say to people, “Look, the bloke’s hurt himself,”‘ he said.
‘It’s not an opportunity for you to gloat or say “Oh, I prefer the other team.” You could possibly just say, “Get well Freddie,” or something nice like that, rather than rejoicing in it.
‘It’s a while since it happened and he’s obviously still not completely better. So it’s not like my tunnel crash, a couple of weeks later, I was okay, no lasting damage. That’s obviously something a lot more serious. So good luck to him.’
He also told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that he thinks Top Gear needs ‘a bit of a rethink’ with a ‘new format’.
Clarkson, 64, described Flintoff’s crash as ‘horrific’, adding: ‘Sure, the producers could try to find a replacement. But would you want that gig? Really?’
Hammond, 54, also shared that he would ‘very much like to’ speak to Flintoff, having ‘been down the path of recovery myself’, after being involved in a severe crash on the show almost 20 years ago.
Former Top Gear Stig Perry McCarthy spoke out about the news that the show had been rested, stating: ‘I’m frustrated on several different levels and I just think it’s unacceptable.
‘You’ll never eradicate risk from some TV shows that have action and drama in them, you won’t eradicate it, [but] you can always seek to squeeze it down.’
He continued: ‘I feel that they could do all the things they did, but with better on-site monitoring.
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‘So if somebody was there who really understood these kinds of risks, they really understood what could happen, then they could advise there and then, turn around and say, “I’m sorry, you’re going to have to do this or this precaution’s going to have to be taken or presenter you are going to have to back off a little bit because you’re too wild here, you’re too quick”.’
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