Freddie Flintoff’s family insist a return to TV is ‘not a priority’
Freddie Flintoff’s family insists his life and recovery from the horror Top Gear crash are ‘more important’ than a return to television, according to former presenter Angela Rippon
The family of Top Gear presenter Freddie Flintoff has said his life is “more important” than a return to television following his horror crash while filming the show last year.
The 45-year-old former cricketer – who has co-hosted the BBC car show since 2019 – was airlifted to hospital after being seriously injured in a car accident while filming at the programme’s test track on Dec. Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.
And former Top Gear presenter Angela Rippon, who hosted the program from 1977 to 1979, claims Freddie’s family insists he take as much time off as he needs.
Angela said she messaged Freddie saying, “Next time you want to slow down the course, just give me a call.”
she added The sun: ‘I felt as bad as she did [Freddie and his co-presenters] are not professional drivers and are asked to do things that even professional drivers would often find difficult.
Priorities: Top Gear presenter Freddie Flintoff’s family has said his life is ‘more important’ than a return to television following his horror crash while filming the show last year (pictured in 2019)
Crash: The ex-cricketer, 45, was airlifted to hospital after being injured in a car crash while filming on the programme’s test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in December (pictured last year)
Speaking: Former Top Gear presenter Angela Rippon, who hosted the program from 1977 to 1979, claims Freddie’s family insists he take as much time off as he needs (Angela pictured last month)
“I think Freddie and his family decided this was a question and a task too far and that his life is more important than a television show.”
Freddie will reportedly be off TV until 2024 after his Top Gear crash.
Filming on Top Gear had already been halted, but now it’s said a new unnamed project for BBC2 – which has been compared to The Repair Shop – is also on hold.
That’s what a source said earlier The sunIt was hoped that the restoration show would have been an easy way to return to television for Freddie, who was clearly shaken by the accident.
And the fact that he could have made it this spring meant there was a chance we’d see him back on our screens by the end of the year.
“But it’s not a good sign that filming was called off at such a relatively late stage, and viewers will be upset that such a popular star has been off the air for so long.”
It also remains to be seen when he will begin the second series of his BBC cricket documentary Field of Dreams.
The BBC previously said it would be ‘inappropriate’ to resume filming ‘Top Gear’ after the accident.
Accident: The former cricketer was driving an open three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 car at 130 mph in December last year when the vehicle overturned
On hold: Officials immediately stopped filming after the crash and began investigating the incident (LR: Freddie Flintoff, Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness)
They said in a statement: “Under the circumstances, we feel it is inappropriate to continue making series 34.”
A decision will be made later this year on how best to proceed and the BBC plans to carry out a health and safety review of the show.
The statement continued: “We have offered our sincere apologies to Freddie and will continue to support him in his recovery.
‘We understand this [halting the show] will be disappointing for fans, but it’s the right thing to do, and we’ll make a judgment later this year on how best to proceed. Finally, there will be a health and safety review of the show, in accordance with our procedures.”