Freddie Flintoff is addressing the crash that ended his time on Top Gear and left him with serious injuries. In a newly released trailer for Flintoff, a Disney+ documentary airing April 25, the former England cricket captain reflects on the 2022 incident and the months that followed.
“I remember everything about it… it’s so vivid,” he says at the start of the trailer. Flintoff had been filming at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome when the open-topped Morgan Super 3 he was driving flipped during a high-speed stunt. The crash resulted in broken ribs and facial injuries. He was airlifted to hospital and remained out of the public eye during recovery.
The 90-minute film includes access to Flintoff and interviews with his wife Rachael, along with Michael Vaughan, James Corden, and Jack Whitehall. Directed by John Dower, it traces Flintoff’s life from his cricket career through his time on television, focusing on the events surrounding the crash and its effects.
Footage released in the trailer includes the first public image of the aftermath, showing a vehicle off the track and what appear to be paramedics assisting Flintoff on the ground. He speaks about the physical reminders of the crash: “This is what I’m left with… I wouldn’t say I’m embracing them but I’m not trying to hide my scars.”
The incident took place in December 2022. Flintoff was filming a segment for Top Gear when the crash occurred. BBC Studios later reached a settlement with him reported to be worth £9 million. The show was cancelled following the incident.
In past interviews, Flintoff has described the psychological impact of the crash, including flashbacks and sleep disturbances. In the Disney+ trailer, he says, “I’d lived under the radar for seven months. One of the real frustrations was the speculation. That’s why I’m doing this now.”
He adds: “It’s almost like a reset. I’m trying to find out what I am now. I’ve always seemed to be able to flick a switch. I’ve got to find that switch again.”
Since the accident, Flintoff has returned to the England cricket set-up in a coaching capacity and has resumed television work, including hosting Bullseye. He serves as an executive producer on Flintoff, along with Andrew Mackenzie and Naomi Templeton for South Shore. Sean Doyle produces for Disney+.