24 March 2023 , 19:08
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Freddie Flintoff admitted before his crash on Top Gear that he didn't tell his family about the show stunts, as he didn't want them to worry.
Filming of the latest series of the motoring show won't resume after Freddie's crash in December in Surrey, with BBC Studios apologising to the presenter, following its investigation into the incident.
It comes as its reported Freddie has told friends he is 'emotionally and physically affected by the crash' and unable to continue his hosting duties at the moment.
The crash left Freddie, who presents the show alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris with serious facial injuries and broken ribs.
Now an interview has resurfaced, where the dad-of-four said he kept his stunts from his family until they aired.
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Freddie Flintoff with Top Gear hosts Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris (PA)He admitted: "I don’t tell my mum, I don’t tell ‘em what I do…"
The former cricketer added: "Sometimes you don’t want to tell the family, you don’t want them going about their day thinking: ‘Oh, is he alright?’"
Paddy added: "In ours, they see it when it’s on the telly. When you’re doing something like the wall of death, I think if you tell someone that, they’ll put something into your head about how dangerous it and then you’re thinking about it…"
In a statement yesterday, BBC Studios said the corporation “will continue to support” Freddie "with his recovery."
Freddie Flintoff and his wife Rachael
Freddie is said to have suffered broken bones from the Top Gear crash (Getty Images)It also said: “Under the circumstances, we feel it would be inappropriate to resume making series 34 of Top Gear at this time.
“We understand this will be disappointing for fans, but it is the right thing to do, and we’ll make a judgment about how best to continue later this year.
“This has also impacted the production team, who we continue to support.
“Finally there will be a health and safety review of the show, in line with our procedures.”
Speaking to The Times, a source close to Flintoff said: "Freddie has been seriously emotionally and physically affected by the crash.
"He is a daredevil, that's what he does, and he doesn't feel like he is able to continue to play that role on the show."
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The BBC will not continue filming the latest series of Top Gear after Freddie's terrifying crash (BBC)Freddie was taken to hospital after being involved in an accident while shooting for the hit motoring show at the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey in December.
The dad-of-four was said to be "lucky to be alive" after the accident.
BBC Studios' apology comes after it was reported that his vehicle “was not fitted with airbags “.
Freddie is said to have been driving an open-topped three-wheel Morgan Super 3 sports car when the terrifying incident happened.
According to the Morgan Motor Company website, the £43,000 British hand-made car does not include airbags, but it does still meet UK safety standards.
The vehicle is registered as a “motorised tricycle“.
A source close to the incident said told The Sun : “This revelation about not having an airbag is bound to spark questions from fans."