Freddie Flintoff has spoken out for the first time in full about his 'life-changing' Top Gear crash, admitting it's been 'so hard to cope'.
The TV presenter made his return to the small screen last night (13 August) with the release of Field of Dreams On Tour, a follow-up to his popular Field of Dreams series, where he put a cricket team together in his hometown of Preston.
This time, they're headed for India, in a series the BBC describes as 'the most unlikely cricket tour that almost didn’t happen', as Flintoff joins the team a year after his horrific crash while filming for Top Gear.
In a trailer for the series, a snippet of Flintoff talking about the crash went viral, with it being the second major crash in the show's history after Richard Hammond's life-threatening crash while at the wheel of a jet-powered car in 2006.
'It’s been so hard to cope'
The former cricketer was driving a Morgan 3 at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey before the car flipped over, resulting in a number of serious injuries.
After being spotted for the first time in September 2023, the 46-year-old was seen with scars and facial injuries, as he later reached a financial settlement with the BBC. Meanwhile, the motoring show was 'paused' for the 'foreseeable future'.
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But during the first episode of the second series of Flintoff's documentary last night, the TV personality dove into the details of the incident for the first time, having opened up about how his injuries had affected him mentally in the time since the crash.
'I have nightmares, I have flashbacks'
In the episode, Flintoff admitted: “I don’t want to sit and feel sorry for myself, I don’t want sympathy, but it’s going from being here for seven months, to going to India.
“I’m struggling with my anxiety, I have nightmares, I have flashbacks, it’s been so hard to cope. But I’m thinking if I don’t do something, I’ll never go. I’ve got to get on with it.”
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He added: “I need help, and I realise I’m not the best at asking for it. I need to stop crying every two minutes. I’ve got to look at the positives, haven’t I?
“I’m still here, I’ve got another chance, I’ve got to go at it. I’m seeing that as how it is, a second go,” Flintoff concluded.
His emotional admission comes after his wife, Rachael Flintoff, was allegedly told to 'expect the worst' when she saw the injured star for the first time.
A source had told The Sun: "The injuries were more severe as the car didn't have a roof. It was a freak accident and somehow the car flipped over and the two men were dragged along.
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"Freddie and the crew member were both wearing helmets, but it was still a severe accident.
"Everyone on the scene was shocked by how serious it was and they were very worried about the two men strapped in."
LADbible has contacted Flintoff’s representative for comment.
Episode two of Freddie Flintoff’s Field Of Dreams On Tour will air on BBC One at 9.00pm on 20 August, while episode one is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
Topics: Freddie Flintoff, BBC, Cricket, Mental Health, Top Gear, Celebrity, TV
Joshua Nair