Freddie Flintoff 'off TV until 2024' after Top Gear crash

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

The the 45-year-old former cricketer - 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.

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 told The Sun newspaper's TVBiz column: "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.

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.”