IF YOU are squeamish, Flintoff (Disney+, Thursday) is not for you; but, if you are interested in stories of hope and resilience, you will find plenty of both in this biopic of the cricketing legend.
In 2022, Andrew Flintoff, still known familiarly as Freddie, was involved in a horrific open-top car accident while filming an episode of Top Gear. Included for the first time here is dashcam footage of the crash, in which, Flintoff says, he made the direct choice to avoid hitting the ground with his head or neck, which probably would have been fatal. Instead, in that split-second moment, he chose to land on his face, with devastating, life-changing consequences.
After the accident, Flintoff stepped completely away from the limelight, eschewing press intrusion and attempting to recover, both physically and mentally, from the aftermath of the crash. In his own words, and in the recollections of family and friends, it was a desperately hard time. His story is bolstered by commentary from former England cricket teammates, plus gracious contributions from the Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting, who was ignominiously bowled out for a duck by Flintoff during the 2005 Ashes test.
I am an admirer of blunt, straight-talking northern folk, and Flintoff is one of my sporting heroes (as his friend Jack Whitehall famously said, Flintoff is “so northern, if you cut him open, he bleeds gravy”); so it’s fascinating to get beneath that gruff exterior to the vulnerable human inside. Flintoff is the story of how a certain type of man copes with scars — those that are very visible, and those that remain hidden from view.
Pilgrimage, the series that follows seven celebrities on a walk of faith and discovery, returns, this time taking on the Austrian Camino. The seven celebrities are: the actress and comic Helen Lederer; the presenter Jeff Brazier; the Paralympian Stef Reid; the stand-up comedian Daliso Chaponda; the journalist Nelufar Hedayat; the singer Jay McGuiness; and the winner of series two of The Traitors, Harry Clark.
There’s a range of beliefs among the group: Mr Clark is a devout Roman Catholic; Ms Hedayat is a Muslim born in Afghanistan, who wrestles deeply with the harms perpetuated in the name of religion. What is common to all is a humble curiosity to learn more, and a respectful, refreshing openness.
The participants are immensely likeable and, as usual, watching the journey, I wanted to put on my walking boots and join in. At least, I would if I owned any, but, alas, like Ms Lederer, I am also afflicted by “towny anxiety”. As Mr Chaponda wisely notes, however, the principle of any spiritual journey is “one step at a time . . . and you’ll get there.” Hopeful and inspiring, Pilgrimage: The road through the Alps began on Easter Day, on BBC2, and all three episodes are now on BBC iPlayer.
