In December 2022, former professional cricket player and Top Gear presenter Freddie Flintoff sustained severe injuries in a crash during filming at the Dunsfold track. This incident led to the discontinuation of the popular motoring show. Although Flintoff has mostly recovered, he continues to face physical and mental challenges. Recently, his co-presenter Chris Harris has spoken out about the crash.
On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Harris shared his thoughts on the accident, his personal struggles with the aftermath, and how he had tried to warn the BBC about the increasing dangers. 'I had seen this coming,' he said. 'There was a significant inquiry, a lot of introspection, which the BBC excels at. However, what was never discussed was that, three months before the accident, I went to the BBC and warned them that unless they made changes, someone would die on the show.'
Flintoff's crash was not the first incident in the show's later years. In 2020, Paddy McGuinness lost control of a Lamborghini Diablo on public roads, ending up in a field. In 2019, Flintoff crashed a Subaru Brat during a race in Mansfield. Harris also mentioned crashing wooden go-karts in Thailand, which resulted in a broken hand. He felt these stunts were pushing the boundaries too far, but the BBC did not take his concerns seriously.
'I saw this coming. I thought I did the right thing. I went to the BBC. And I found out that no one had taken me very seriously,' Harris told Rogan. Flintoff was driving a Morgan 3 Wheeler when the crash occurred. Harris, who had experience with the car, noted that the film crew started shooting without informing him. As the presenter with the most driving experience, Harris and Flintoff often discussed cars and potential challenges before filming, but this time they didn't have that opportunity.
'Because of the call times that day, that was the first time we never had a chance to talk about how he might approach a difficult vehicle,' Harris explained. 'And that was the one day it went wrong. I find that very difficult to live with.' Technically, the BBC has 'rested' Top Gear for the foreseeable future. If it returns, it will likely be in a very different format with new hosts.
'To actually say to an organization, ‘this is going to go wrong’ and then be there the day it goes wrong is a position I never expected to be in,' Harris said. 'And I never want to be in again.'
