Freddie Flintoff: Top Gear and two other BBC shows ‘hang in the balance’ as presenter recovers from car crash

Freddie Flintoff‘s future TV projects are reportedly hanging in the balance as he continues to recover from his horrific car crash.

The former England cricketer, 45, from Preston, was involved in a collision at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, while filming for BBC Top Gear on 13 December. He was airlifted to hospital with broken ribs and facial injuries.

It is now unclear what will happen with his filming commitments, as he was signed on to front a new BBC series about drastic vehicle renovations dubbed as The Repair Shop-meets-Top Gear.

The series reportedly was set to involve Freddie introducing people to experts, who can transform their old or damaged vehicles into better, more functional ones.

A source told The Sun: “The problem is that Freddie now has a backlog of shows which are just waiting for him to start filming. As well as, Top Gear, which has been put on ice until he’s well enough to consider coming back, he has also signed up for a second series of his cricketing doc series, Field of Dreams.”

The producers currently have no clear idea about when Freddie will be able to start hosting this new show, and believe it might end up being more than a year. BBC executives are allegedly quite frustrated by the situation as they had been giving him more projects in a bid to make him ‘a BBC face.’

After the accident, Top Gear bosses made the decision to push back filming any new episodes of the show whilst Freddie recovers.

It has been reported that BBC bosses were hoping to recommence filming this month, as they assumed the presenter would be better. However, it has been delayed further throwing the production into chaos.

The bosses have allegedly sent out a letter to contributors of the show, saying, ”we don’t have a date in mind.” Despite Freddie’s health being of the utmost importance, the broadcasters are now worried that the contributors will not be able to reschedule for the new filming dates.

The former sportsman, who is a father-of-four, was at the test track with fellow Top Gear presenter Chris Harris, at the time of the accident. His injuries are reportedly more severe as the car that he was driving did not have a roof. He was wearing a helmet, which most likely saved his life.

In December, following the accident, a Top Gear spokesman released a statement: "Our primary concern is and has been for the welfare of Freddie – as well as the Top Gear team. All health and safety procedures were followed on site and the incident is now being fully investigated, in line with standard policy and practice."

Freddie has not publicly addressed the accident, and has not posted anything on his social media accounts since. His last post on Instagram was on 1 December 2022, and shows him standing beside a festive window display.