Freddie Flintoff will reportedly host a special episode of the beloved game show Bullseye for Christmas on ITV.
The cricket legend, 46, will take the reins as host of the darts-themed show from the late comedian Jim Bowen, who presented the series during its initial run from 1981 to 1995.
On the British game show, contestants competed in dart games and contests to win cash and prizes and featured an animated anthropomorphic bull named Bully as a mascot.
This is Freddie’s first new TV signing following his horrific accident on Top Gear in 2022, which left him with serious facial injuries and took time away from the spotlight to recover.
the sun reports that Freddie was delighted to star in a revival episode of Bullseye, and ITV bosses hope the special will lead to it being commissioned as a full series.
Freddie Flintoff is reported to be presenting a special episode of the beloved game show Bullseye for Christmas on ITV (pictured last month).
The cricket legend, 46, will take the reins as host of the darts-themed show from the late comedian Jim Bowen, who presented the series during its initial run from 1981 to 1995 (pictured in 1989).
The British game show saw contestants compete in dart games and contests to win cash and prizes and featured an animated anthropomorphic bull called Bully as a mascot.
He told the publication: ‘I love darts and Bullseye was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid. I can’t believe I get to host this Christmas special. You can’t beat a little Bully!’
Teasing the reboot, a source added: “This is the perfect role for Freddie to start a whole new chapter in his career and his fans will be delighted to see him on our screens fronting such a much-loved show.”
“Few would have predicted the move but it is a brilliant signing because Freddie has the same dry, Lancashire sense of humor as Jim.”
CEO Michael Mannes also told the publication: “We are thrilled to have acquired the rights to Bullseye, one of the most iconic game shows of all time.
‘And the timing couldn’t be better considering the popularity of darts. “Freddie is the perfect presenter and we can’t wait for the show to return to ITV.”
Freddie is a big fan of darts, he grew up playing with his friends and even holds a world record for longest distance to throw a dartboard.
He made the record attempt in 2012 as part of a Sports Relief challenge, hitting the target from 5.05 meters for a Guinness World Record, before joking: “You can keep your cricket.” That’s a real sport: darts.
He also joined Jamie Redknapp, Anthony Joshua and Tom Davis to play darts in front of 10,000 people in Rotterdam in 2018 for a segment of their show, A League of Their Own.
Freddie is a big fan of darts, he grew up playing with his friends and even holds a world record for the longest distance to throw a dartboard (pictured).
It marks Freddie’s first new TV signing following his horrific accident on Top Gear in 2022, which left him with serious facial injuries and took time away from the spotlight to recover.
In 2018, he spoke to Sky Sports about his love of darts, gushing: “One of the things I love is that a lot of sports have become really professional and the public can’t relate to the players, but I think darts has become They’ve become really professional.” kept that charm.
“Where you see that the public gets excited and looks at the players and thinks that he is a normal guy, good at what he does.”
‘And it has to be said, it is one of the best atmospheres in sport. You see the crowd coming out, they are dressed up and they have signs. And the drama too! Seeing it live is incredible. I have liked darts for a long time.
Darts has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years and Bullseye had previously been rumored to return with Freddie’s former Top Gear co-star Paddy McGuinness at the helm.
During its peak, Bullseye garnered a mammoth 20 million viewers and was previously briefly revived in 2006, hosted by Dave Spikey.
comes later Freddie returned to television screens after his horrific accident on Top Gear, for tThe second series of his BBC One show, Field of Dreams.
The Sun reports that Freddie was delighted to star in a revival episode of Bullseye, and ITV bosses hope the special will lead to it being commissioned as a full series (pictured in August).
It comes after Freddie returned to TV screens following his horror accident on Top Gear, for the second series of his BBC One show, Field of Dreams (pictured).
The sports star crashed in a Morgan Super 3 convertible three-wheeled car at 210km/h, which had no airbags, leaving him with serious facial injuries and several broken ribs (pictured on Top Gear).
The sports star crashed in a Morgan Super 3 convertible three-wheeled car at 210 km/h, which did not have airbags, leaving him with serious facial injuries and several broken ribs.
Immediately after the crash, he faced an “agonizing” 45-minute wait for the air ambulance to arrive and take him to hospital, and the BBC later apologized to the presenter.
Filming on Top Gear has been suspended and the future of the show, which he co-hosted alongside comedian Paddy and Chris Harris, remains in doubt after it was suspended indefinitely last November.
And Freddie himself remained out of public view for months as he recovered from the accident. after his devoted wife Rachael, 42, allegedly “begged” him not to work and take time to recover.
He is believed to have obtained £9 million compensation from the BBC after the accident. The broadcaster also apologized to the cricketer.
However, the BBC brought him back for the new series of Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams, in which he took a group of youngsters on a cricket tour to India.