Freddie Flintoff didn't leave his house for 8 months after horror Top Gear crash

has opened up about the mental toll his near-fatal crash took on him. In a brave admission, he explained that he didn’t leave his house for up to eight months after the incident. The former England captain suffered serious facial injuries and broken ribs in the high-speed accident at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in December 2022.

Now he has filmed an appearance on the talk show where he spoke publicly on television for the first time about the trauma he experienced in the aftermath of his smash up and his slow road to recovery.

Appearing on ITV's The Jonathan Ross Show, Flintoff told show host : "No secret that I had a car accident filming Top Gear. Afterwards, obviously there’s the physical scars that I’ve got. But then the mental side of it. I didn’t leave the house for probably six or eight months. The only times I was leaving the house was for medical appointments and surgeries."

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The sporting legend, who has since returned to cricket in a coaching capacity, admitted he struggled deeply with anxiety and isolation for months after the crash.

He added: "I had to have about five or six goes at leaving the room. Had to have a chat with myself in the mirror. I think because I’d not done anything for such a long time. I’d not shown myself without a face mask to anyone. It was like starting again."

Flintoff shared that it was his long time friend Rob Key, now managing director of England men’s cricket, who helped bring him back into the fold.

He explained: "A mate of mine, Rob Key… started inviting me to come and watch the cricket, test matches, but sit in a back room not in the crowd. I was wearing a full face mask for months. I started getting back into it and started to find my feet a little bit. Ever since I can remember, from being a kid, cricket was a massive part of my life."

Now head coach of the England Lions, Flintoff has found solace in returning to the dressing room, which is a place where he finally feels he can be himself again. The 47-year-old added: "That time when I probably needed it most, cricket embraced me again.

"Cricket is the one place, I’m there in the dressing room, I’m coaching these lads, forget everything that’s going on and be present."

Though he’s dipped back into television work — which he jokes is only because he's got bills to pay — coaching is now clearly his main focus. Flintoff continued: "The TV was good. But I feel like I’m back home being involved in cricket… Cricket now, back in coaching, is my definite future. I’m loving it."

Filming Flintoff, the new documentary about his life and recovery, has also played a key role in his healing process. "At first it was quite strange," he shared. "It’s something you live with. Since the accident, had the flashbacks, the nightmares and things… The hardest part is seeing people talk about you. I’m more accepting of it now — it is what it is and move on."

THE JONATHAN ROSS SHOW, SATURDAY AT 10:20PM ON ITV1, ITVX, STV AND STV PLAYER.