Andrew Flintoff has spoken publicly for the first time since being seriously injured in a crash while filming Top Gear.

The former cricket star described going through “the hardest” time of his life as he was filmed awarding an England cap to spin bowler Tom Hartley.

In the clip, released by the England and Wales Cricket Board on social media on Wednesday, Flintoff told Hartley it was a day the player would “remember for the rest of your life”.

In an emotional speech, Flintoff said: “Your journey hasn’t been like a lot of people’s. There were no academies, no systems but to me (that) suggests a steeliness, a determination, a passion – which might not be evident on the outside – but it’s definitely burning inside.

“When you get this cap, this changes your life. It’s one of those things – it’s before and after it.

“This enables you to walk tall and move faster. Play with passion, play with pride, play with belief. And also (be) part of a family of people.

“They’ll share the good times with you, the successes. But as I found over the past few months, they’ll be there in the hardest times of your life, they will stand next to you.

“So like the lion on the cap Tom, be brave, be fearless, be proud and enjoy every minute. It gives me great pleasure to present cap number 272 to Tom Hartley.”

As the watching players and coaches applauded, Flintoff handed Hartley the cap and shook his hand.

The footage was filmed before Hartley’s international debut in a one-day international (ODI) against Ireland at Trent Bridge in Nottingham last month.

Flintoff – widely known by his nickname “Freddie” – suffered a serious crash last December while filming the BBC TV series Top Gear.

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The 45-year-old was left with several broken ribs and severe facial injuries and the BBC cancelled the rest of the Top Gear series after the incident.

Flintoff made a rare public appearance in September, where his facial injuries were still visible nine months after the crash.

In the summer, he began helping coach the England limited-overs squads in an unpaid consultancy role.

Just Stop Oil protesters have halted a West End performance of Les Miserables after invading the stage.

During the song One Day More, where an actor waves the famous red flag, members of the group stormed the stage with banners emblazoned with Just Stop Oil.

A video shows the actors on stage continuing to perform the number before they step back while the area is cleared and the safety curtain comes down.

The crowd boo while one member of the group addresses the auditorium.

They then locked themselves to the set, prompting the Sondheim Theatre to be evacuated.

Just Stop Oil member Hannah Taylor said: “The show starts with Jean Valjean stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving child. How long before we are all forced to steal loaves of bread? How long before there are riots on the streets?

“The show cannot go on. We are facing catastrophe. New oil and gas means crop failure, starvation and death. It is an act of war on the global south and an utter betrayal of young people.

Sky News has contacted Delfont Mackintosh Theatres for more information.

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Political activist Laurence Fox has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit criminal damage to ULEZ cameras.

Separately, GB News said it had concluded internal investigations into the comments made by Fox about female journalist Ava Evans on Dan Wootton Tonight and had subsequently “ended its employment relationship” with the 45-year-old.

The channel said its internal investigation into Wootton continues, while another host, Calvin Robinson, has also been sacked.

Fox, who is the leader of the Reclaim Party, said in a social media video shared earlier on Wednesday that his home was being searched by police officers.

Just before 10.45am, the party posted on X, formerly Twitter, saying: “Live now @LozzaFox is having his house searched by the police.”

The post was accompanied by a video of Fox, sitting on his sofa addressing the camera, seemingly with police officers around him.

In the short clip, he says: “Look how many coppers there are around my house.” In another video of Fox at his house, also shared to X, he criticises moves to what he called a “surveillance state”.

Media watchdog Ofcom confirmed it had received almost 9,000 complaints about the GB News programme as details of Fox’s arrest emerged.

On Tuesday, Fox appeared in a video voicing his support for so-called ULEZ Blade Runners, who have been tearing down cameras.

“I encourage them to tear down every single camera there is,” he said in the clip, which he shared on social media. “I will be joining them to tear down cameras as well because I’m one of those people that puts my money where my mouth is… I will be out there with my angle grinder.

“I would encourage mass removal of the surveillance state… I would be happy to be arrested myself.”

In a statement confirming a suspect has been arrested, a police spokesperson said: “On Wednesday 4 October officers arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of conspiring to commit criminal damage to ULEZ cameras and encouraging or assisting offences to be committed.

“He was arrested in Stockwell and has been taken to a south London police station where he remains in custody.”