Former England cricketer Freddie Flintoff is set to return to television screens with a new three-part documentary series for ITV, titled 'Freddie Flintoff's Mission: Nepal' (working title). The series will follow Flintoff and his maxillofacial surgeon, Mr Jahrad Haq, as they travel to Nepal to deliver life-changing facial surgery to those in need.
Flintoff suffered severe facial injuries and broken ribs in a crash while filming Top Gear in December 2022. He underwent extensive reconstructive surgery led by Mr Haq. The BBC subsequently axed Top Gear, citing 'exceptional circumstances'. Now, Flintoff says he wants to use his profile to highlight the importance of specialist surgical care, especially in countries with limited healthcare access.
In Nepal, Flintoff will meet patients of all ages and backgrounds, learning about their lives before and after surgery. Mr Haq will join the charity Face Facts on their mission to operate on patients who have little or no access to free healthcare. The documentary aims to shine a light on the charity's efforts to create sustainable change within Nepal's healthcare system.
Clare Cameron, Executive Producer at 72 Films, said: 'This series is about humanity, resilience and the power of shared expertise.' Joe Mace, ITV's Commissioning Editor for Entertainment, added: 'We are excited to follow Freddie and the team on this journey, one that will combine intimate personal storytelling with extraordinary medical access.'
Flintoff previously returned to screens with the BBC's 'Field of Dreams', which earned a Bafta nomination and an RTS award. The new ITV series is expected to air later this year.
