Freddie Flintoff returning to TV with first role confirmed after horror accident
Freddie Flintoff is officially returning to TV after his horror crash nearly two years ago.
The former cricketer, 46, was involved in an accident at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, while filming for Top Gear in December 2022.
In September 2023, Flintoff was spotted out in public for the first time at a cricket game with visible scars and facial injuries.
The following month, he reached a financial settlement with the BBC, which according to reports, was worth £9 million.
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The payout did not use BBC Licence Fee income to operate.
A BBC Studios spokesperson said 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.”
It has now been announced in the BBC's annual plan that Flintoff is set to return to TV to film the second season of Field of Dreams.
The show follows the ex-England captain's search to find untapped cricketing talent in his hometown of Preston.
"Everyone is thrilled and relieved Freddie is gearing up to get back to work," a source told The Mirror last year.
"We know how much this series meant to him.
"It was a passion project that was also loved by the viewers, so it’s great it will mark his return to the screen after what must have been an extraordinarily difficult time."
The BBC previously announced in October 2022 that the second season had been commissioned, yet Flintoff was involved in the accident two months later.
Meanwhile, Top Gear co-host Chris Harris - who appeared on BBC Breakfast on 9 November - said Flintoff's health is improving.
He said: “I think he’s healing. It was a serious incident. I’m not going 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.
“There is nothing out there about what happened and there won’t be. There’s no mole in the organisation. I’m really, really proud of that.
“As long as he’s healing, it’s great to see him out and about being passionate about cricket.
“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.”
In November last year, Top Gear announced that the show has been cancelled in light of Flintoff's crash.
Topics: Freddie Flintoff, Top Gear, BBC, TV, Cricket
Anish Vij