Freddie Flintoff has been lined up to present the return of a huge ITV game show nearly half a century after it first aired. The Field of Dreams star, 46, will front darts-themed quiz show Bullseye for a Christmas TV special. He is taking over from late comedian Jim Bowen, who fronted the programme from 1981 until 1995.

‘I love the darts and Bullseye was one of my favourite shows as a kid,’ the former Top Gear presenter said. ‘I can’t quite believe I’ll get to host this Christmas special.’ Echoing Bowen’s catchphrase, Freddie added: ‘You can’t beat a bit of Bully.

’ Freddie last appeared on TV in a BBC documentary called Freddie Flintoff’s Field Of Dreams On Tour in August, where he first spoke about a crash while filming Top Gear. The crash, which left the former England cricketer with facial and rib injuries, happened at the motoring show’s test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, in December 2022. The BBC later announced it had ‘rested’ Top Gear for the foreseeable future.

In the documentary, Freddie admitted it had been ‘a lot harder than I thought’ to shake off the crash, as he had been struggling with anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a webbrowser that supports HTML5video Since then, has made a steady return to the public eye, rejoining England’s backroom staff for their T20 series against the West Indies earlier this year, and as head coach of the Northern Supe.