Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff is making his television return after his Top Gear accident with a second series of the BBC One cricket documentary, Field of Dreams. The announcement, made in the BBC's annual plan, confirms Flintoff will be seen taking his young sports team from his hometown of Preston on tour.
The BBC had previously stated they were working with him on new projects. Its Top Gear show will not return for the "foreseeable future" after Flintoff was injured during filming in 2022. The second series of Field of Dreams was originally commissioned in October 2022, but no updates were given following his accident two months later.
The first series was described by Rachel Cooke of the New Statesman as "the most moving thing I've seen on TV in years." It followed Flintoff's efforts to motivate a group of Preston teenagers to engage with cricket. The BBC's original press release for the second series said: "Freddie is setting himself an even bigger challenge as he takes some of his team and a handful of fresh recruits on a new adventure," adding that there would be four episodes.
Flintoff was injured at Top Gear's test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey. He reached a settlement with the BBC last year, reportedly worth £9 million, which will not be funded by the TV licence fee as BBC Studios is a commercial arm. The BBC apologised to Flintoff in March 2023 and announced a health and safety review of the show, expected to be undertaken by an independent third party. The apology was reiterated in October when compensation was announced.
Flintoff was pictured for the first time since the accident in September, leading fielding drills with England players in Cardiff. More recent photos show his injuries have continued to heal. The 45-year-old former England captain retired from cricket in 2009 and joined Top Gear as a host in 2019 alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris.
The BBC also announced that Gladiators will return to the Sheffield Arena for a second series. The recommissioning was revealed in the BBC's annual plan, which noted the financial pressures on the BBC, including a frozen licence fee and reduced co-production funding.
