Freddie Flintoff to return to TV as new host of Bullseye

'You can't beat a bit of Bully'

The Field of Dreams star will front the darts-themed quiz show, that last aired almost three decades ago, for a Christmas special.

The show was originally presented by the late comedian Jim Bowen from 1981 to 1995.

The 46-year-old said: “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.”

Echoing Bowen’s famous catchphrase, Flintoff added: “You can’t beat a bit of Bully.”

Flintoff returned to our TV screens over the summer for Freddie Flintoff’s Field Of Dreams On Tour, it was the first time he’d spoken about the devastating crash he suffered while filming Top Gear.

The crash, which left Flintoff with facial and rib injuries, happened at the motoring show’s test track at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, in December 2022.

Returning to our screens he admitted that it had been ‘a lot harder than I thought’ to get over the crash as he’d been left with anxiety, nightmares and flashbacks.

Flintoff has since joined England’s backroom staff for their T20 series against West Indies earlier this year and was head coach of the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.

It was rumoured that ITV had also approached fellow Top Gear presenter Paddy McGuinness to front the show but Flintoff is the lucky man who has got the gig.

Darts has seen a resurgence in popularity after the country fell in love with teen sensation Luke Littler at the start of the year as he became the youngest player to reach the final of the PDC World Darts Championship.

His success is said to have inspired producers to reboot the popular show that ran for 14 years.

The dartboard quiz game tested contestants’ darts skills as well as their general knowledge.

Three pairs of contestants, consisting of an amateur darts player and quizzer competed for cash and prizes, walking away with cars, caravans and holidays.

Reruns of the original show are still shown on Challenge who tried to do a remake of their own back in 2006 with Dave Spikey at the helm but it failed to gain popularity and was cut after two series.