Freddie Flintoff's documentary praised by Jack Whitehall as he shares health battle

Daily Record

25-04-2025

Freddie Flintoff's new Disney+ documentary has touched many, with the ex-cricket star candidly recounting the horror smash which left him with life-changing injuries. The former BBC Top Gear host, 47, was left with extensive facial and rib injuries, in what was described by doctors as being in the "top five" worst injuries they had ever seen. Now, comedy legend Jack Whitehall has been among those voicing support for his pal. It comes as he candidly admitted his own health battle on the Disney+ show, with the 36-year-old detailing his own pressures amid his health issues with bulimia, as Freddie opened up on his own struggles with the eating disorder. The pair became good friends after working together on Sky panel show A League of their Own, but they also had something deeper in common. Talking in the show, Jack said : "I was bulimic when I first started doing television, it's not something that I've ever really spoken about. "But I remember that pressure of being on television. And it's not something that I've seen other men or people in the media talk about, until Fred came out and spoke about it." "I just remember thinking that was incredibly brave of him," he added. Recalling their friendship in its earlier days, Jack noted, "I remember being quite intimidated - I was meeting Freddie Flintoff, who I looked up to alot as a kid, for the first time. "I was also like, he's this big burly northern bloke and I'm this rather effeminate flouncing boarding school boy, I'm probably not going to be his type of chap." He continued, "So many people think of him as so strong and so alpha but he's definitely fragile. To see how open and honest he's been about his struggles - like his bulimia." Freddie made a documentary for the BBC called Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia, back in 2020, where he explained how his struggle with bulimia started in the early part of his international cricket career, when focus was put on his weight. The sports star admitted that he was even making himself sick during helping England to secure their first Ashes victory in 18 years in 2005. He said: "The first Test of that series, I was being sick. Everyone is talking about how well you're doing, and there's part of you that thinks, 'it's working, let's just crack on with it'." Elsewhere, the trailer for his new documentary has unveiled the initial images from the scene of the crash. Captured at the Top Gear track, photographs have shown paramedics tending to Freddie's crumpled form beside the vehicle, which had skidded off the tarmac and onto the grass. Another tragic image depicts medics providing care to the former cricketer by the roadside, with tyre marks illustrating the drastic departure of the three-wheeled, open-topped car from its intended path. During the accident, Freddie was in the car with a crew member and suffered severe facial injuries, leaving permanent scarring, along with multiple broken ribs. Production was halted "for the foreseeable future" due to the crash, resulting in Freddie reaching a £9 million settlement with the BBC. The documentary will also delve into Freddie's struggle with PTSD, which according to insiders has been as challenging as his physical recuperation. For an extended period, he kept out of the public eye to recover privately and spend priceless moments with his family. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.