Presenter Freddie Flintoff has spoken about the impact of the crash he had whilst working on Top Gear three years ago. The cricket coach has also revealed that he experienced “crippling anxiety” amid getting back into the sport.
Freddie, now 47, was left with life-changing injuries after being involved in a crash during filming of the BBC show at its test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in 2022. A car that he was travelling in is said to have flipped over.
As a result of the incident, the presenter, who was airlifted to hospital, had facial injuries and he’s said to have also broken ribs. BBC Studios, who makes the show, which has since been “rested,” later said it had apologised to him.
And it was announced back in 2023 that BBC Studios had reached an “agreement” with Freddie following the crash. As previously reported, it was not funded by the TV licence fee, as BBC Studios is a commercial arm of the BBC.
BBC Studios said about the settlement at the time: “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.”
Freddie – who opens up about the experience in the new Disney+ documentary Flintoff – will be seen discussing the aftermath of the incident on the Jonathan Ross Show this weekend. The former England cricket captain is a guest on Saturday’s episode of the ITV show alongside Jason Isaacs, Rebel Wilson, David Oyelowo, Sophie Willan and Wet Leg.
Speaking about having returned to cricket as a coach for the England Lions, Freddie tells host Jonathan Ross: “I think, with everything that’s happened over the past few years, that’s the one place I feel most comfortable.” He adds: “I feel like I’m back home being involved in cricket.”
Freddie continues: “No secret that I had a car accident filming Top Gear. Afterwards, obviously there’s the physical scars that I’ve got. But then the mental side of it. I didn’t leave the house for probably six or eight months. The only times I was leaving the house was for medical appointments and surgeries.”
The guest recalls that one of his pals Rob Key later started inviting him to watch test matches from a “back room” that’s not in the crowd. Freddie, who recalls wearing a “full face mask for months,” says that he started “getting back into it” and finding his feet “a little bit”.
He shares that cricket “embraced” him again at a time when he “probably needed it most”. Freddie says that he still does TV work, adding: “I’ve got bills to pay.” However tells Jonathan that coaching cricket is his “definite future” and that he’s “loving it”. He suggests that it’s the “one place” where he’s able to “forget everything that’s going on and be present”.
Discussing getting back into cricket, Freddie says on the talk show: “I was struggling with crippling anxiety. I had to have about five or six goes at leaving the room. Had to have a chat with myself in the mirror. I think because I’d not done anything for such a long time. I’d not shown myself without a face mask to anyone. It was like starting again.”
The Jonathan Ross Show airs Saturday night at 10.20pm on ITV, ITV, STV and STV Player. Flintoff will be released on streaming platform Disney+ from April 25.
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