Support truly
independent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
Louise Thomas
Editor
Freddie Flintoff’s full facial injuries have been revealed, as the star shared a raw home video in a new BBC series, following his horrifying and near-fatal Top Gear crash.
The former cricketer was involved in the gruesome incident while filming the motoring show in December 2022, leading the BBC to suspend production for the “foreseeable future”, deeming it inappropriate to continue. He received £9m in compensation as a result of the incident.
In the new BBC series, Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams on Tour, Flintoff opens up about the crash, which left him with facial injuries requiring surgery, revealing for the first time that he still suffers nightmares, flashbacks and anxiety.
“I genuinely should not be here after what happened,” he said, revealing that he was unable to “just shake it off” after the crash.
The star is tearful as he shares an intimate recording showing the full extent of the facial injuries he obtained after the incident.
The 46-year-old can be seen with gashes and lacerations across his face, including his cheeks, mouth, nose, and ears. A small bandage appears to be stitched into the area around his mouth, suggesting a missing piece of flesh.
“I don’t want to sit and feel sorry for myself. I don’t want sympathy. I’m struggling with my anxiety, I have nightmares, I have flashbacks – it’s been so hard to cope,” he said in a trailer for the show.
“But I’m thinking if I don’t do something, I’ll never go. I’ve got to get on with it.”
The father-of-four said: “I am struggling already and I need help. I really am. I’m not the best at asking for it. I need to stop crying every two minutes.”
Viewers praised the show and Flintoff’s frankness as they wrote, “Proper tv, proper people. A further reminder that despite what this platform tells you, the world is mostly full of decent people.”
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Another added, “The world needs more people like Andrew Flintoff. What an incredible bloke.”
“I didn’t think I could love Freddie Flintoff any more than I did until I watched the new series of Field of Dreams.
“What a man, great strength and courage to come back from what he did and you get the genuine affection he has for those young cricketers. Brilliant to watch.”
Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams on Tour sees the retired cricketer head to India with the unlikely Preston youth cricket team he trained in the original 2022 series.
In the new series, he describes his recovery as a “long road back”.
