Freddie Flintoff returns to TV after Top Gear crash | BBC News

Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff has revealed his struggle with anxiety, nightmares and flashbacks following the high-speed car accident which he says "changed my life forever".
The former England international cricketer sustained serious facial injuries in a crash while filming Top Gear in December 2022.
Flintoff, 46, has spoken publicly for the first time about the incident and its aftermath as part of the second series of Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams.
"I don't know what completely better is," said Flintoff in scenes filmed at the beginning of 2024.
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[@mattkinsella9856]

Not just a legendary cricketer but such a great bloke. I hope he knows how much he's loved and however "different" he may feel, it doesn't matter to us.

[@RogerMellie-yk3gw]

Yeah, he seems nice. Preferred Joey from Friends, though. Get him back

[@alexanderjames6328]

@@RogerMellie-yk3gw Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May were the echelon of Top Gear. It fell apart after that.

[@RogerMellie-yk3gw]

@@alexanderjames6328 Absolutely. Comparatively, it's utterly dreadful now. Unwatchable rubbish. About as anodyne as the One Show. It was very contrived with the Clarkson gang, but at least it was entertaining

[@tomharper2709]

And after seeing this, all that happened in my head is he went up to a level I didn’t even know existed of legendary status. A man who will, after everything, show up for the lads he promised something to years ago, despite his own anxieties about what people may think of him. If only he could read the comments on this video ❤️

[@Elite-0Zero]

He's a big, honest lad with a big, honest heart. He's doing this for the right reasons and I respect that. Go on, Fred

[@RogerMellie-yk3gw]

To make money. Nothing wrong with that

[@exploretheobvious]

Well Freddie, you’re not different to me. You’re a legend bro. I’m so glad you’re back💪🤟

[@gijgij4541]

Nice one.

[@edwardliscombe3711]

"BRO" his name is freddie not "BRO" idiots calling everyone "BRO"..moron

[@edwardliscombe3711]

Idiot

[@edwardliscombe3711]

Dope

[@XavierAway]

my guess is he's going to write a book about it and the BBC have agreed not to share any details in advance. In which case, smart move.

[@eelm2079]

and they've made him sign an NDA, in order to pay him off the smallest amount possible

[@GardenGuy1943]

Look up Joe Rogan clip - co host just discussed accident. Essentially a 3wheel car tipped and he smashed his face

[@georgehaines9386]

Didnt really know how serious that incident was to Freddie and facial disfigurement but can see he's had it rough .. but he's bouncing back .. the inner strengths of Freddie are shining through .. so keep" the bat"swinging my friend .. life goes on ..👍👏💯🍻

[@iantaylor2737]

Well done big lad! I’m chuffed to see you back again.

[@adamweston4152]

God bless you Freddie for having the courage and commitment to move forward and carry on with life, you are an inspiration to us all.❤.

[@Jackielong-sighted7890]

Oh boo hoo it was a minor facial injury, now Richard Hammond. There's a man with courage and commitment of inspiration.

[@adamweston4152]

@@Jackielong-sighted7890 I'm not taking the bait, nice try but you just ain't in my league.

[@Jackielong-sighted7890]

@@adamweston4152 What bait? And what league? Little brother you're nothing to me. 😂

[@bongman123]

@@adamweston4152 he's got a point tbf. Hammond has gone through far worse and carried on.

[@pamelan8930]

@@Jackielong-sighted7890 he had is face ripped off, and they both suffer from traumatic brain injury.

[@Carp-bites-runs-uk]

Freddi is a peoples people who makes millions of faces smile,rising to challenges is what freddi does best and we can’t wait to see you back on our screens,stay strong mate we all wish you a speedy recovery

[@justinmas299]

The most dangerous tv show in uk history, nearly killed 2 presenters......

[@lordmfitzgerald3rd754]

Well in the defence of the hosts. Richard was a motoring journalist and was already in Top Gear with protective equipment and it was the car that malfunctioned. Freddie rode a Morgan three wheeler with no helmet….that’s. Stupid move.

[@mmtmmt9481]

Wow I'm so sad for what he's been through but what a brave guy what an inspiration helping others and trying even though he is struggling. Moves me. 😢

[@saradarv1161]

You’re gorgeous Freddie. Gorgeous man, gorgeous heart, gorgeous through and through. God bless you and your family. Wishing you the best in life and your recovery.

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

Very touching. Life happens to all of us. Glad he’s learning to get back into the world.

[@MentionedMe]

Love this guy he is amazing, strong , kind , respectful, a true British hero , he is king of positivity and heroism ❤

[@chrismartin6427]

Wow how am i only just hearing about this my heart goes out to you Freddie you're a top bloke and a genuine one at that

[@OdysseyVR-Corby]

you're more than a face Freddie, people of England and indeed Britain and the world love you because of your personality and spirit and that is still very much there. yes you suffered some horrific facial injuries but it is what is inside that trully counts, as you age and time passes your scares will become less noticeable and you will learn they tell the story of your life. you're an inspiration. well done

[@virumzzgaming]

From a fellow Prestonian, all the best bud

[@_Ben4810]

& the moral of the story....Don't let any tv production team convince yourself to do high-speed for-the-camera japes in an unstable 3-wheeler car with no ROPS frame/bar whilst only wearing an open-face helmet.....a totally avoidable accident...leave it to the professional drivers & journalists, not ex-sportsmen.

[@gijgij4541]

An unnecessary and rather fatuous comment.

[@Jackielong-sighted7890]

Leave it to the professionals you say and yet a hamster, a man with a birds nest on his head and a walking calculator tore up every inch of road by themselves for fifteen odd years.

[@hawsrulebegin7768]

@@Jackielong-sighted7890well, apart from their hospitalisations.

[@lukemclellan2141]

​@@Jackielong-sighted7890 they've admitted on camera that they were not always driving the cars.

[@Jackielong-sighted7890]

@@lukemclellan2141 Well no suprise, that's why they had the stig and one of his nine hundred many cousins driving instead.

[@maxnawas8405]

Good to see him back in public again

[@joe1205]

I'm glad he's accepted it. It's a new chapter.

[@lukedaley17]

Welcome back, Freddie .❤

[@iansinclair7581]

Brill series. Good to see the young men improving themselves and growing up.

[@ChaosCrumpet24]

The bbc is absolutely to blame

[@Big_Island_Boi]

The dude signed up for the show. I'm sure he had to sign contracts with extremely specific and detailed sections that released the BBC from any liability if he crashed a car. But the BBC certainly should have disclosed all of the details of the incident to the public. They are a publicly funded entity... essentially a division of British government. AND they are a NEWS organization... and this incident is OBVIOUSLY newsworthy. The media in Britain should sue the BBC to force them to release the details, any footage of the crash, the original contracts and disclosures and releases--and details of any settlement.

[@calador1918]

It would be 100% up to Freddie Flintoff whether or not any details be released. 'public interest' has absolutely no say in the matter

[@danm3882]

Shut up you idiot

[@27jkay]

You may have changed freddie but you are still an english treasure. Glad to see him back

[@mptushar]

year 2005 and 2006 ashes it seems like that happened just yesterday man you are a legend a true fighter

[@GlenB-qo7wd]

Wellcome back legend ❤️👏👏💪💪🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@DursunX]

never even heard about the accident! why the secrecy? poor guy needs public support, facial trauma is life-changing

[@HassaanNet]

He has public support. We do not need to hear details of the accident.

[@tomr200199]

Because if you do or say something wrong in such a serious situation, then you'll be swarmed on by lawyers like vultures. I'd imagine all parties wanted things kept quiet. It's life changing injuries, it will have taken him this time to get his head around things, get healed, line things up and move on. The last thing on his mind would be that you and I need to know details surrounding the accident.

[@DursunX]

@@HassaanNet and @tomr200199 please let me elaborate as you misunderstood my angle: im in Australia, we have Freddie's shows on the telly here. this is the first time i have even heard about a life-threatening incident involving Flintoff. im just taken aback a little at the effectiveness of keeping this quiet on mainstream channels here.. i must live in a bubble. i don't need gruesome details, but it would be nice to actually get the news in the first place.

[@HassaanNet]

@@DursunX as it's something that happened in the UK, I don't think that's massively surprising.

[@PhilCarter-z3l]

This really had me welling up.. As said he's not just a legend of the game, but what he is doing for them young people from Preston and facing the fears and anxiety's that come from such a life changing event. what a honest and strong heart he has. Not many are cut from that stone

[@AjinkyaBhushan]

Great recovery. Godspeed to Freddie Flintoff. You are one of the best cricketer from the UK.

[@vivienne7271]

Welcome back fred. Don't care what programmes you are working on. I'll watch. You are in inspiration. I've sat in tears of laughter while watching A league of their own. And had my heart ache like hell watching you open up as a man (which is hard) and tell the world of your struggles with your anxiety. To let others know they are not on their own. It can affect anyone. You are a nd always will be our 1 and only Freddie Flintoff the people's champion. Thank you for being you 🏏🏏🏏

[@rickybuhl3176]

'not just India Sean' Priceless.

[@cal401]

Take my hat off to him. Such a inspiration

[@Pingolinou]

This needed subtitles

[@thomasfarrelly778]

Freddie Flintoff is a legend. Glad to see him back and will 100% be watching

[@RogerMellie-yk3gw]

I won't. It's shit. But I don't like Flintoff. Seems like a nice chap

[@dylanqioniwasa]

Legend 😢

[@Dadeets]

I’m so impressed he overcame his vanity and managed to get himself in front of the cameras again. Bet the 9m helped ease the issues. As a wise man told me 9m will get the least aesthetic of males some serious face sat upon action.

[@mclarenrob2]

I'm not a cricket fan, in fact I find it extremely dull, but when Freddie was playing in the 04 Ashes and other games he was genuinely exciting to watch. He was great on TopGear too, very decent of him to carry on with things.

[@robertcarroll9409]

His name is Andrew.

[@danielbrowne9089]

Legendary guy, he was colossal in the 2005 home ashes. I remember when he sang live whilst fielding in the Big Bash, so funny.

[@joanrhodes8273]

GREAT CHAP HUMBLE AND CAREING ❤❤

[@naya69claire69]

my son and his friend has been picked to be on his next series 🙌🏼

[@mancitykitty]

Are they making a third season with a new team? I really hope so!!

[@lukastorr240]

Absolute Legend Freddie !!!!!

[@prabhakarkmv4135]

OMG! 😮 Fantastic all-rounder cricketer.👏 I wish him speedy recovery&good health. I love to see him in action very soon.All possible help should pour in for him. God bless! Here I pray.🙏 👍 🌹 🏏 ❤

[@HRC294]

Holy F! Love from India Freddie! Stay Strong!

[@jokujoe]

WE LOVE YOU FREDDIE ❤❤❤

[@CheerfulModelShip-ok6en]

❤ I can honestly say what a fighter you are in many ways you have shown yourself and them lads that nothing is impossible no matter what life has in store for us 😊it's made my journey bearable and for that I thankyou ❤

[@ApolloWillyMan]

Freddie is a national treasure.

[@euvh8880]

Lucky to survive ,well.done that man.mind I.would.expect.nothing less.from a.preston man.well done Mr Flintoff...the world.needs.its heroes.and it's ambassadors of peace.long live the eternal heroes.🤠🖖

[@kingwokosalfordlad]

Get well soon Freddie 💪🏻🙏🏻

[@pinkyshoequeen6347]

Brilliant programme! He’s fab, so glad he recovered!

[@jmak454]

How he gets better soon. Shame on the bbc allowing a driver with so little experience in a Morgan 3 wheeler without a helmet and not even having him talk to Chris Harris about the car before driving it. Of course he was going to roll it, reporter in video says high speed but that’s not true unless you consider 22mph high speed.

[@user-qn3ip7mp4z]

No business in motors. Bat and ball was his limit

[@michaelgilchrist2831]

Well done mate.

[@stephenwilliamson1491]

Good on him go lad a know ho it feels to feel difrent had a accident it changed my life just got to push on for your own sanity ❤

[@richiedoop2529]

He made 10 million out of the crash? After Hammond nearly died did BBC think another near death injury would save their flailing and failing TV station?

[@yc9129]

The day I saw Freddie come out of number ten pissed was the day I fell in love

[@huey_UK]

High speed crash sounds dramatic, but this was reported at the time as a low speed crash in an unstable 3 wheeled vehicle?

[@MsPinkwolf]

He can't have been going that slow to get his face smashed up like that.

[@user-bh6zt1it2l]

Over 100mph on a skateboard with an engine

[@BranBMP]

Should show us what actually happened dont know why being thingy about it, but I'm gald he's okay hope top gear gets his thingy back for cars

[@louischapman1209]

Because the bbc and top gear failed safety procedures I would have thought

[@nicopillay4059]

5'7 Hammond got replaced by a 6'5 version in Flintoff

[@Joe-ez3gt]

Freddie Faceoff has 9 million reasons to be so happy to be back on the BBC.

[@SimonDover]

We nearly lost him. Thank God we didn't.

[@gijgij4541]

The programme is a brilliant watch, as was the first series.

[@MsPinkwolf]

Agree. I'm no cricket fan but thought what he did for those young men was amazing.

[@gijgij4541]

@@MsPinkwolf Indeed, it's not a cricket story, it is a human story.

[@rabidpepe]

Tell him to come to LA and see Dr. Terry Dubrow. If he doesnt like his scars. Scars are pretty cool tbh.

[@DanWilliamsKILLR0Y]

Not a high speed crash though was it bbc

[@rhone81]

The £9m compo cheque must have cleared...

[@HdHd-hp6qz]

That won’t fix his face unless he wants to look like micheal jackson

[@mingyeewong1590]

Glad he’s back on the mend. 💪

[@stephenbrown4211]

As long as he doesn’t involve that McGuinness pillock I’m sure he’ll do well

[@rhendry5832]

He looks terrible. Like a totally different person. I feel for him.

[@wallabybob3020]

Scars are just natures way of saying you’ve lived a life. Cricket fan or not, the world’s a better place for having Freddie in it. (And the bugger is still better looking than me!!🤨)

[@natel7382]

What did he crash?

[@geoffreybees]

I think the 9.000.000 pay made him feel better

[@Dingle-God1987]

Get Jeremy, Hammond, and May back

[@MsPinkwolf]

Hammond way way more hurt than him....

[@Jackielong-sighted7890]

​@@MsPinkwolfHammond walked into the waiting room of saint Peter said well this looks nothing like a triumph roadster then left.

[@HdHd-hp6qz]

Hammond saved his face though.

[@Jackielong-sighted7890]

@@HdHd-hp6qz But not his brain.

[@dm9817587]

Going back to work for bbc.. crazy

[@josiah1922]

He didn’t deserve this :(

[@pauljakeman]

Poor guy, really didn’t deserve anything like that happening, no one does. People should be safe working for a tv show. The people in charge of top gear should be held accountable for their stupid decisions and that programme should never be made again. Gradually doing more and more stupid stunts over the years had made it go from a programme just about car reviews, to some stupid stunt show that has nearly killed 2 people.

[@Mani26031981]

It's ANDREW!! NOT FREDDIE!! Bad professionalism, BBC!!

[@outsidethepyramid]

wow I can sleep at night now

[@richm8784]

He should have worn a helmet.

[@MsPinkwolf]

He did wear a helmet. He probably wouldn't still be alive if he hadn't

[@richm8784]

@@MsPinkwolf Why did his face get messed up? Wouldn't happen to the Stig.

[@guitartommo2794]

@@richm8784It was an open face helmet.

[@Corfecastle]

Bless him. The poor lad looks a mess. Get well soon Freddie 💙

[@johng7304]

I’m sure the £9m he got paid in compensation will help him with the flashback and anxiety. Great to see where my TV licence money goes.

[@Mrose19911]

what a nasty, bitter comment... from an obvious loser

[@HdHd-hp6qz]

No it won’t listen to him talk he sounds like Steven Hawkins now and that scar will always be there he can straighten his nose but that would be it.

[@johng7304]

@@HdHd-hp6qz I’d take £9m for a dodgy voice and a scar any day.

[@Darren-gr4vt]

Sounds like Stephen tries on the voiceover

[@ferrarihodnett]

Why was there a settlement surely he signed a waiver

[@marilyncrossland5633]

Yer can do this Freddie get yer self back yer fun to watch

[@fireworkboy]

Good lad.

[@Big_Island_Boi]

Was Barney Rubble also injured in the crash???

[@FunkyMonkey-p9c]

Yes, his feet got burned when he used them to do an emergency stop!

[@ShabumkinSpleen]

Great fella, I'm glad he's on the mend and getting on with it.

[@graciousme2258]

Still gorgeous though. ❤

[@HdHd-hp6qz]

Edward scissorhands now

[@NaenaeBoy]

Anywhere in NZ we can watch this show. Its looks really, good.

[@ryanriley2635]

Top guy

[@smallman5509]

To show how unwatched modern TG is.. me, a massive lover of cars, didn't even know this happened.

[@matthewtopping2061]

What is this about Fred Flintstone? 🇺🇸

[@deanfitz1985]

Absolute lrgend, top bloke

[@andrewwilson5722]

Who the hell let him drive the car that day? Every season he crashed into something why let him drive a rocket

[@LindseyAshbrook-g5b]

He didn't look to bad tonigh6

[@comacuma2869]

British leaders wo t leave this place in respect ,,,bbc cameras will turn onn ure media tycoons wprkers ure politicians ,,,all meet their faith infront of public eye

[@user-rg7uh9se4c]

OT!! Benny Hill considered funnier than Monty Python by two TV stations --WOR and WLVI!

[@boris8787]

Don't want any crashes in my movie town. 🎥🎥🎥

[@HdHd-hp6qz]

Looks like he’s been hit with an axe

[@bobhopemaryjane2]

F-ing LEGEND everyday!