Freddie Flintoff’s family insist a return to TV is ‘not a priority’

Top Gear host Freddie Flintoff’s family have said his life is ‘more important’ important than a return to television after his horror crash while filming the show last year.

The  former cricketer, 45, – who has co-hosted the BBC motoring show since 2019 – was airlifted to hospital after being seriously injured in a car crash during filming at the programme’s test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in December.

And former Top Gear host Angela Rippon, who presented the programme from 1977 to 1979, claims Freddie’s family are insisting he should take as much time out as he needs.

Angela said she sent Freddie a message which read: ‘Next time you want to go around the course a bit slower, just give me a call.’

She added to The Sun: ‘I was just so sorry as they [Freddie and his co-presenters] are not professional drivers and are asked to do things that even professional drivers very often would find difficult.

Crash: The ex cricketer, 45, was airlifted to hospital after being injured in a car crash during filming at the programme’s test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey in December 

Speaking out: Former Top Gear host Angela Rippon, who presented the programme from 1977 to 1979, claims Freddie’s family are insisting he should take as much time out as he needs (Angela pictured last month)

‘I think Freddie and his family decided this was an ask and a task too far and his life is more important than a television programme.’ 

Freddie will reportedly be off TV until 2024 following his Top Gear crash.

Filming was already halted on Top Gear, but now it’s said a new, unnamed project for BBC2 – which has been compared to The Repair Shop – is also on hold.

A source previously told The Sun: ‘It was hoped that the restoration show might have been an easy way back into making television for Freddie, who’s clearly been shaken up by the accident.

‘And the fact that he could have been making it this spring meant there was a chance we could see him back on our screens by the end of the year.

‘But it’s not a good sign that the filming has been called off at such a relatively late stage, and viewers will be gutted that such a popular star has been off air for so long.’

It also remains to be seen when he will be starting work on 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 cricket player  was driving an open-topped three-wheel 130mph Morgan Super 3 car for the motoring show in December last year when the vehicle flipped

On hold: Officials immediately suspended filming after the crash and began investigating the incident (L-R: Freddie Flintoff, Chris Harris, Paddy McGuinness)

They said in a statement: ‘Under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making series 34.’

A decision on how best to continue will be made later this year and the BBC plan to carry out a health and safety review of the show.

The statement continued: ‘We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery.

‘We understand this [halting the show] will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we’ll make a judgement about how best to continue later this year. Finally there will be a health and safety review of the show, in line with our procedures.’