Freddie Flintoff is all set to host the revived ITV quiz show Bullseye but many are unaware that the former England cricketer has not been using his real name
Freddie Flintoff is back hosting darts quiz show Bullseye(Image: ITV)
Freddie Flintoff won’t be going by his actual name when the former England cricketer takes the helm of ITV quiz show Bullseye. The 47-year-old has been known as Freddie throughout his career but his real name is Andrew.
After a Christmas trial episode last year, the legendary programme returns for a complete series on ITV this Sunday at 8pm. Bullseye originally ran from 1982 to 1995 under the stewardship of the late Jim Bowen.
Flintoff will present the revamped show as it launches into a fresh run, although many remain unaware that Freddie isn’t the real name of the former all-rounder, who sustained serious facial injuries during Top Gear filming in 2022.
The cricket legend has been called Freddie since his schooldays, earning the moniker due to his surname’s resemblance to cartoon character Fred Flintstone.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? Because obviously, my name is Andrew, and then – since I was about 15 – I’ve just been called Fred or Freddie,” he explained in a self-titled Disney+ documentary.
“Because Andrew is probably more a reflection of me. Quite introverted. Just like his own space. But that would never have survived the world of professional sport. I knew that pretty quickly.”
Luke Littler appeared on the Christmas trial run(Image: ITV)
Discussing his role presenting the beloved ITV quiz programme, Flintoff expressed his affection for both the show and its previous host. He also disclosed he’s thrown some darts before, though feels apprehensive about performing before a live studio audience.
“A lot of the cricketers play. We used to play on tour a lot in our hotel rooms,” Flintoff confessed. “We’d go to these far-flung places and never see anything of the country.
“We’d be watching television in our rooms and playing darts. It was the little things as a kid watching it I remember, from Bully moo’ing to Jim Bowen counting the money out before the ad break.
The hit ITV show was hosted by the late Bowen(Image: Getty)
“You would see Eric Bristow taking on the darts challenge to try and win the Bronze Bully and then you’d all sit there wondering what the prize is going to be.
“Whether it’s going to be a caravan or a speedboat or a car or some holiday in some far place that you’d never heard of at that time. So it was a laugh.
“We stop when I mess up on the auto-cue and this and that. But back then, it was like it was all done in one scene, Jim Bowen walking from one place to the next and he’s making mistakes and he’s just going with it.
“There’s something really nice about that. He’s just bouncing from one place to the next, making mistakes and just rolling with it, which is quite endearing.”
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