Former England cricket hero Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, now back on screens hosting ITV's revamped Bullseye, was once at the centre of a notorious on-screen feud that turned seriously heated. The clash involved England rugby star James Haskell and played out in front of a live studio audience.
The Spark That Lit The Fire
Following his illustrious cricket career, where he scored almost 4,000 Test runs and took 226 Test wickets, Flintoff moved into broadcasting. He became a team captain on Sky's A League of Their Own in 2010, a role he held for twelve years. The trouble began during an episode filmed in 2014, when guest James Haskell, who earned 77 caps for England, made a cheeky remark about Flintoff's boxing career.
Flintoff was judging Haskell's juggling skills and bluntly stated he "expected more." Haskell swiftly retorted: "After watching you box, I think it would be fair to say we expected more as well." The cricket legend had fought just one professional boxing match in 2012, beating American Richard Dawson on points despite being knocked down. The barb brought the house down, but Flintoff was not amused.
The Pillow Fight That Fuelled The Feud
In an attempt to resolve the simmering animosity, Haskell was invited back onto the show in 2016 for a comic pillow fight. According to Haskell's memoir, Ruck Me, it was Flintoff who suggested they should "make it look like a scrap." The pair faced off on an inflatable platform in a Gladiators-style clash.
Flintoff emerged victorious, sending Haskell tumbling, but then kept battering him after his defeat was clear. The ex-Wasps player then shoved Flintoff to the floor, sparking a genuine bout of shoving and tussling. Comedian Jack Whitehall rushed in to separate them as the roaring crowd fell silent. Despite the dramatic reaction, many online observers branded the pair "terrible actors."
A Fallout That 'Went Mental'
Haskell revealed that after the show aired, the reaction "went mental." He had messaged Flintoff afterwards to thank him and even asked if he would sign a cricket bat for a sick child who idolised him. Flintoff ignored the message. Haskell decided to let it go, but the feud was reignited when the next series of A League of Their Own began.
Flintoff was shown highlights of their head-to-head and commented, "Yeah, that Haskell was a bit of a d***." Haskell stated he still hears about it from trolls today. The row escalated further when Haskell moved into professional combat sports with Bellator MMA in 2019, taking a subtle swipe by saying his approach was "very different" and that he was taking it "much more seriously" than Flintoff's boxing venture.
Now, having returned to TV presenting after a life-altering Top Gear crash, Flintoff's past rivalries remind fans of his fiery competitive spirit, both on and off the pitch.
