Freddie Flintoff 'set to host special revival of beloved 80s gameshow'

Freddie Flintoff is set to present a special episode of the beloved gameshow Bullseye for Christmas on ITV.

The cricketing legend, 46, will take over the reins hosting the darts-themed show from the late comedian Jim Bowen, who famously presented the series during its initial run from 1981 until 1995.

The British gameshow saw contestants competing in darts games and quizzes to win cash and prizes and featured an animated anthropomorphic bull named Bully as the mascot.

It marks Freddie's first new TV signing following his horrific crash on Top Gear in 2022, which left him with severe facial injuries and taking time away from the spotlight to recover.

The Sun reports that Freddie was thrilled to starring in a revival episode of Bullseye, with ITV bosses hoping the special will lead to it being commissioned as a full series. 

He told the publication: 'I love the darts and Bullseye was one of my favourite shows as a kid. I can’t quite believe I’ll get to host this Christmas special. You can’t beat a bit of 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 thrilled to see him on our screens fronting such a well-loved programme.

'Few would have predicted the move but it’s a genius signing because Freddie has the same dry, Lancashire sense of humour and delivery as Jim.'

Managing director Michael Mannes also told the publication: 'We are delighted to have acquired the rights to Bullseye, one of the most iconic game shows ever.

'And the timing could not be better considering the popularity of darts. Freddie is the perfect host for it and we can’t wait for the show to be back on ITV.'

Freddie is a big fan of darts, having grown up playing the game with his friends and even holds a world record for the longest distance to throw a bullseye. 

He made the record breaking attempt in 2012 as part of a Sports Relief challenge, hitting the bullseye from 5.05 metres for a Guinness World Record, before quipping: 'You can keep your cricket. That’s a real sport right there — darts.'

He also joined Jamie Redknapp, Anthony Joshua and Tom Davis in playing darts in front of 10,000 people at Rotterdam in 2018 for a segment on his show, A League of Their Own.

In 2018, he spoke to Sky Sports about his love of darts, gushing: 'One of the things I love about it, a lot of sports have got really professional and the public can’t identify with the players, but I think darts has kept that charm.

'Where you see the crowds get excited and they look at the players and think, he’s just a normal guy, good at what they do. 

'And it’s got to be said, it’s one of the best atmospheres in sport. You see the crowd coming out, they're dressed up they've got the signs. And the drama of it as well! Watching it live is incredible. I've liked darts for a long time.'

Darts has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years and it had previously been rumoured Bullseye would return with Freddie's former Top Gear co-star Paddy McGuinness at the helm. 

During its peak Bullseye gained a mammoth 20 million viewers and was previously revived briefly in 2006, hosted by Dave Spikey.

It comes after Freddie returned to TV screens following his horror crash on Top Gear, for the second series of his BBC One show, Field of Dreams.

The sports star crashed in a open-topped three-wheel 130mph Morgan Super 3 car, which had no air bags, leaving him with severe facial injuries and several broken ribs. 

Immediately following the accident he was faced with an 'agonising' 45 minute wait for the air ambulance to arrive and rush him to hospital, with the BBC later giving the presenter an apology.

Filming on Top Gear was suspended and the future of the show - which he co-hosted alongside comedian Paddy and Chris Harris- remains in question after it was put on indefinite hiatus last November.

And Freddie himself remained out of the public eye for months as he recovered from the accident, after his devoted wife Rachael, 42, reportedly 'begged' him to stay off work and take time to recover. 

He is believed to have secured a £9million compensation payout from the BBC following the accident. The broadcaster also made an apology to the cricketer.

However, the BBC brought him back for the new series of Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams, which saw him take a group of youngsters on a cricket tour to India.