Freddie Flintoff's Emotional Return to Television with ITV Documentary Series
An emotional new three-part documentary series commissioned by ITV will feature former international cricketer Freddie Flintoff meeting patients who require life-altering facial reconstructive surgery. The program, currently under the working title Freddie Flintoff's Mission: Nepal, follows Flintoff and maxillofacial surgeon Mr Jahrad Haq as they travel to Nepal to deliver and witness transformative surgical care.
Personal Connection to Facial Reconstruction
Freddie Flintoff's involvement in this project is deeply personal. In 2022, the 48-year-old's life changed forever when a car crash during filming for Top Gear left him with severe facial injuries. He subsequently underwent extensive reconstructive surgery led by Mr Jahrad Haq, giving him firsthand experience of the physical and emotional journey patients face.
Flintoff explained his motivation for participating: 'After my crash I had access to the best people. Not everyone gets that. If there's a way to shine a light on it, to use what profile I've got for that, then that's what I'll do...'
Documentary Focus and Humanitarian Mission
The documentary will see Flintoff traveling throughout Nepal, meeting patients of various ages and backgrounds to understand their stories before they undergo surgery. Meanwhile, Mr Haq will collaborate with the charity Face Facts, which strives to provide free surgical care to those with little or no access to healthcare services.
Clare Cameron, Executive Producer at 72 Films, emphasized the series' themes: 'This series is about humanity, resilience and the power of shared expertise. We're privileged to be working with Face Facts, Mr Haq and Freddie, whose own experiences will bring real empathy and openness to the story.'
ITV's Commitment to the Project
Joe Mace, Commissioning Editor for Entertainment at ITV, expressed excitement about the series: 'We are excited to follow Freddie and the team on this journey, one that will combine intimate personal storytelling with extraordinary medical access.'
Flintoff's Transition from BBC to ITV
This documentary marks a significant career shift for Freddie Flintoff, who has reportedly moved his focus to ITV after concluding his work with the BBC. His final BBC project was Field Of Dreams, which ended last year after three series that followed young men from Preston on a cricket tour of India.
A source revealed: 'This is a huge development as when Freddie signed for Top Gear in 2019, he increasingly started to become a face of the BBC. Although he wasn't exclusive to the corporation, by early 2022, he delivered Field Of Dreams for BBC One, and had motor renovation show, Chasing Cars, in the pipeline. But by 2023, Top Gear had been slapped on ice and the renovation show is now a distant memory. Field Of Dreams won't be returning and Freddie has no more projects lined up with the Beeb.'
The BBC responded: 'We are incredibly proud of Field Of Dreams and, while there are no current plans for it to return, we would like to thank Freddie, the producers and all the contributors for three fantastic series.'
Following his recent appearance on ITV's Bullseye, Flintoff is expected to star in more programs with the channel soon, with this documentary series highlighting his commitment to using his platform for humanitarian causes.
