Cricket icon Freddie Flintoff is making a triumphant return to television this weekend as he takes on hosting duties for the revived gameshow Bullseye, marking a significant milestone in his recovery from a life-altering Top Gear accident.
From Cricket Pitch to Gameshow Host
The former England cricket captain will present the complete series of Bullseye on Sunday evening, following a successful Christmas special last year that featured teenage darts sensation Luke Littler. Flintoff admitted he had initial concerns about how audiences would receive the revived format, but was delighted by the positive reception.
Freddie Flintoff revealed that the opportunity to host Bullseye's comeback was what ultimately drew him back to television after his serious accident while filming Top Gear three years ago. The crash left him with lifelong facial injuries and led to an eight-month period of seclusion from public life.
Coaching Career and Family Dynamics
Beyond his television work, Flintoff has been actively involved in cricket coaching, serving as head coach of the Northern Superchargers team throughout the summer. However, this role created an interesting family dynamic when his 16-year-old son Rocky, who is also pursuing a cricket career, was overlooked at the Hundred draft earlier this year despite his father's position with the team.
Last month, Flintoff confirmed he would no longer coach in the Hundred competition, stating he felt undervalued by franchise owners. "I genuinely don't do it for the money, although it's nice, but I'm worth more than just over a quarter of the [salary of] other head coaches," he told the Beard Before Wicket podcast.
Personal Struggles and Family Support
Throughout his recovery and career challenges, Flintoff has been supported by his wife of twenty years, Rachel Wools. The couple share four children - Holly, Corey, Preston and Rocky - with their youngest following in his father's sporting footsteps.
The television personality has been open about the strains his career placed on their marriage, particularly during his battles with mental health and alcohol addiction. In his 2015 memoir, he acknowledged putting his wife "through hell" during difficult periods.
Reflecting on his return to television with Bullseye, Flintoff told The Sun: "I've not done much TV recently, I'd not presented anything and did Bullseye for a few reasons. One, I really like darts. And I used to watch Bullseye back in the '80s."
He added: "It was fun when we did the Christmas special last year and it seemed to be really well received. If you like darts and want to see people try and win something, have a watch."
