Filming for a second series of Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams has reportedly been suspended as he recovers from his Top Gear horror crash.
The 45-year-old TV presenter had planned to start the cricket show this spring, but the BBC production crew has been told it has been put on hold, according to The sun.
Former international cricketer Freddie, real name Andrew, was airlifted to hospital in December last year after flipping a three-wheel open Morgan Super 3 at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey while filming for Top Gear.
He has since left the auto program and is recovering from serious injuries in the crash.
A source told the publication: “Freddie loved Field Of Dreams and was looking forward to filming a second series, but it’s unlikely to happen any time soon and won’t air this year.
Paused: Filming for a second series of Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams has reportedly been put on hold as he recovers from his Top Gear horror crash (Freddie featured on the show last year)
Accident: Former cricketer Freddie, 45, was airlifted to hospital in December last year after flipping a three-wheel open-top Morgan Super 3 while filming for Top Gear (seen on Top Gear last year)
‘Crew is looking for other work – the whole show revolves around Freddie.
“The incident with Top Gear was very serious, he is recovering.”
MailOnline has contacted a representative for Freddie and the BBC for comment.
The first series of Field of Dreams saw 3.3 million people tune in to see Freddie try to get children from his hometown of Preston interested in cricket.
In an attempt to prove that the sport wasn’t just for the genteel, the former England player formed a team of youngsters to compete against a private school and against veterans.
It comes after the BBC axed its latest series of Top Gear following the horror crash that left Andrew ‘lucky to be alive’.
He reportedly said he was unable to continue his role after being involved in the accident while filming at a test track on December 13 last year.
He was taken to hospital with facial injuries and broken ribs after the car he was traveling in – an open three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 traveling at 130 mph without airbags – flipped over at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.
Road smash: Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff’s horror crash sports car was not equipped with airbags, it recently emerged
Disaster: He was driving a three-wheel open-top Morgan Super 3 car traveling at 130 mph for Top Gear in December last year when the vehicle overturned
Details: The £43,000 classic British handmade vehicle, described as a “motorized three-wheeler,” has no airbags, according to maker Morgan’s website
Filming on the series was suspended while Freddie recovered from his injuries and an investigation was underway, with reports that the former professional cricketer was putting his TV career on hold – and there are now fears that the future of the whole program is in jeopardy could come.
Last month the company said it had suspended the show and it was claimed the former cricketer felt unable to return as he was “seriously affected emotionally and physically by the crash.”
According to reports, the father-of-four had decided to leave the program before the BBC confirmed it was stopping filming the next series, which was scheduled to be released in the autumn.
That’s what an insider told me The times: ‘Freddie has been emotionally and physically affected by the crash. He’s a daredevil, that’s what he does, and he doesn’t feel like he can keep playing that role on the show.”
The BBC confirmed it had apologized to the presenter and added that it will continue to support ‘Flintoff’ in his recovery.
It also said: “Under the circumstances, we feel it is inappropriate to continue making Series 34 of Top Gear at this time.
“We understand this will be disappointing for the fans, but it is the right thing to do and we will make a judgment later this year on how best to proceed.
“This has also affected the production team, which we continue to support.
“Finally, there will be a health and safety review of the show, in accordance with our procedures.”
Still recovering: Former cricketer Andrew was left with broken ribs and serious facial injuries after the accident
On hold: Officials immediately stopped filming after the crash and began investigating the incident (LR: Freddie Flintoff, Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness)
Freddie, who won the Ashes with England as a cricketer before presenting on TV, drove a classic-looking £43,000 British handmade car — which is described as a “motorized three-wheeler” and has no airbags, according to maker Morgan’s website.
The incident is said to have left the cast and crew “reeling from the shock,” with concerns about the future of the show, which has had a history of serious crashes.
After the crash, his family had reportedly begged him to stay away from work while he recovers, with an insider telling The Sun that he would “put his career on hold until he’s in a better place mentally and physically.”
They added: “As a loving husband and father, he understands the anguish his family feels about what happened, knowing that he could have been killed. However, he is determined to resume his TV work at some point.
“So this decision will be a painful one for Freddie, but he knows, at least for now, there are more important things in life.”
After the incident, his 16-year-old son Corey told MailOnline, “He’s fine. I’m not sure what happened, but he’s lucky he’s still alive.
“It was a pretty nasty crash. It’s shocking. We’re all shocked, but hope he’s okay.’
The hit came three years after the ex-cricketer narrowly cheated death after a 200mph crash.
Sportster: The first series of Field of Dreams saw 3.3 million people tune in to see Freddie try to get kids from his hometown of Preston interested in cricket (Freddie pictured for the show last year)
In 2019, Freddie was heard screaming in terror, “I can’t stop,” as he hurtled headfirst down a runway just inches above the ground in a three-wheeled bicycle car.
He was racing against his co-hosts when he realized he was running out of road and about to cross the finish line – when he saw him spin away in a cloud of dust.
Freddie walked away from the “near-death” crash unscathed and insisted he was “absolutely fine.”
He said at the time: ‘I do everything I can to make sure I do well in Top Gear drag racing, but on this occasion I went a few steps too far. It will seem ridiculous rather than dangerous when you see it on TV.’