After being seriously wounded in a collision while shooting Top Gear, Freddie Flintoff has negotiated a settlement with the BBC.
According to The Sun, the former cricketer, who was ‘fortunate to be alive’ following the horrific accident in December 2022, has agreed to a £9 million settlement.
The settlement reflects two years’ worth of lost wages as the father-of-four recovers from injuries that his legal team described as ‘life-alteringly important.’
According to the magazine, Flintoff chose against suing and seeking a greater compensation when negotiating the arrangement with the driving show’s producers, BBC Studios (BBCS).
Because BBCS is the commercial arm of the Line of Duty broadcaster, the compensation will not be financed by public licence payments.
A spokesperson from BBCS said: ‘BBC Studios has reached an agreement with Freddie that we believe supports his continued rehabilitation, return to work and future plans.
‘We have sincerely apologised to Freddie and will continue to support him with his recovery.’
The agreement comes only days after Flintoff spoke publicly for the first time since the accident in a video shared on social media by England Cricket.
Referencing the incident, Flintoff said: ‘They’ll [England Cricket team} share the good times with you, the successes. But as I found over the past few months, they’ll be there in the hardest times of your life, they will stand next to you.’
Following an internal review into what transpired, the BBC paused production for the latest season of Top Gear in March, citing that it would be improper to begin filming at that time.
More episodes of the long-running programme are expected to be decided ‘in due course in consultation with BBC Content.’
While Flintoff has not commented on his Top Gear future, it has been rumoured that he is ‘quitting’ the programme following the December 13 accident, which saw him taken to hospital from the test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.
According to recent sources, Flintoff is considering a comeback to television and is ‘already in negotiations’ about prospective projects in 2024.
According to the Sun, Flintoff will do a second season of his BBC documentary Field of Dreams, as well as perhaps revive the TV show Chasing Cars.
Flintoff began presenting Top Gear in 2019, and has previously been on Sky’s A League Of Their Own and won the inaugural season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
Top Gear is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.