CLASSIC darts game show Bullseye is coming back — hosted by Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff.

The Ashes legend, 46, said he was thrilled to take over the hugely popular programme, which was famously presented in the 1980s and ’90s by comic Jim Bowen.

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It will be the ex-cricketer’s first new TV commission since his horrific crash on Top Gear.

A source said of the ITV reboot: “Few would have predicted the move but it’s a genius signing.”

Freddie will take over the late Jim Bowen’s old role for a Christmas special.

TV bosses hope it will be quickly commissioned as a full series.

Freddie grew up playing the game with pals and even holds a darts world record — for the longest distance to throw a bullseye.

He said last night: “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.

Then, echoing one of Jim’s famous catchphrases, he added: “You can’t beat a bit of Bully!”

Although viewers recently saw Freddie in the second series of cricket documentary Field of Dreams, this is the first new TV commission since his Top Gear crash put his career on hold.

A TV insider said: “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.

“Though it remains to be seen whether he’ll continue Jim’s ‘super, smashing, great!’ catchphrase or if they’ll dole out jackpot prizes of speedboats to contestants who live in landlocked towns and cities.

“But they’re likely to keep the torturous practice of saying ‘Look at what you could’ve won’ before bringing out first prize to rub in the faces of the losing competitors.”

Bullseye first aired on ITV in 1981 and ran for 14 years with old-school comic Jim as host and an array of darts stars making regular guest appearances, including Eric Bristow and Jocky Wilson.

This is the perfect role for Freddie to start a whole new chapter in his career and his fans will be thrilled

TV insider

There was also an animated mascot — a darts-playing bull called Bully — while Jim regularly ribbed the competing teams of two.

Jim also had a string of catchphrases including: “Stay out of the black and in the red, nothing in this game for two in a bed”.

It was revived on Challenge TV in 2006, hosted by comic Dave Spikey, but axed after two series.

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The Sun revealed this year there were plans for a reboot, with Freddie’s fellow Top Gear host Paddy McGuinness mooted for the gig.

It comes as darts soars in popularity thanks to Luke Litter getting to the world final aged 16.

Freddie grew up in Preston, 14 miles from where Jim was raised.

Another insider said: “Freddie is also famed for his dry Lancashire humour, though his gags are likely be a tad more sensitive and 21st century than his predecessor’s.”

Freddie nearly died when his three-wheel roadster flipped at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, in December 2022.

After numerous operations, he finished filming the second series of his BBC One show, Field of Dreams, in which he took a group of novice cricketers to India.

He said in the show: “I genuinely should not be here after what happened. It’s going to be a long road back and I’ve only just started.

“I’ve got to look at the positives, I’ve got another chance, and I’m going to go at it. I’m seeing that as how it is — a second go.”

Signing up for Bullseye is seen as being part of that.

In 2012, as part of a Sports Relief challenge, he hit the bullseye from 5.05 metres for a Guinness World Record.

Gesturing to the board, he joked: “You can keep your cricket. That’s a real sport right there — darts.”

He also played in front of 10,000 people at Rotterdam in 2018 as part of Sky panel show A League of Their Own, alongside Jamie Redknapp, Anthony Joshua and Tom Davis.

I genuinely should not be here after what happened

Freddie Flintoff

Freddie revealed in an interview:: “I used to play in the social club with my mates.

“My first memory of darts, it’s very vague, it’s Jocky Wilson, and the likes of Eric Bristow . . . and in recent times it’s had the revival, hasn’t it?

“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.

“You see the crowds get excited and they look at the players and say, ‘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.”

All-rounder Freddie helped England win the Ashes in 2005 and 2009 before retiring from cricket.

He then appeared on shows including Don’t Rock the Boat, A League of Their Own and the Australian version of I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! before taking over as co-host of Top Gear alongside Paddy and Chris Harris.

However he admitted he never set out to just be a telly star, and is now heavily involved in the England cricket coaching set-up. He said recently: “I fell into, like, a TV trap, you know?

“I was doing TV and moving forward, obviously, I’d love to do more coaching, I don’t know in what entity or work, and do a little bit of TV as well. It’s been a nice shift.”

The Bullseye reboot will be made by 12 Yard productions who have a pedigree for making game shows including Popmaster, which has just been commissioned for two more series on More4.

Managing director Michael Mannes said yesterday: “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.”

Katie Rawcliffe, Director of Entertainment & Daytime Commissioning ITV said: “Bullseye is back and we can’t wait to welcome Freddie Flintoff back to ITV too.

“It’s a real treat to have both as key parts of our Christmas schedule on ITV1 and ITVX this year.”

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Sydney Sweeney has spoken out about the harassment she receives from paparazzi, revealing photographers recently refused to leave her home while demanding she came outside in a bikini.

The 27-year-old actor is best known for her starring roles in Euphoria, The White Lotus and Anyone but You. But as her fame has skyrocketed, so too has the internet’s obsession with her body.

In a new interview with Glamour, Sweeney recounted an incident in which a group of photographers stood outside her Florida home, yelling at her family who were standing outside.

“They said, ‘If you tell her to just come outside in a bikini, I’ll take pictures and then I’ll leave you alone,’” she said.

Sweeney further addressed online rumors that she calls the paparazzi on herself.

“Why would I call the paparazzi to take pictures of me at my own house when my baby cousins and family are there and I’m in my backyard? Why would I ever want that?” she asked incredulously.

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“I have pictures of these guys in kayaks hiding in bushes in the ocean. They got there at 8am and wouldn’t leave until 4pm. I should be able to be in my home and feel comfortable and safe.”

Sweeney explained that the publication of these private images pose a risk to her safety.

“When those photos go out, then my actual safety is at risk,” she said. “Everyone knows where I am. Now there’s boats that go by, and I literally hear them say, ‘This is Sydney Sweeney’s house.’ It becomes a star tour in my front yard.”

Earlier this year, the Immaculate actor clapped back at lewd comments about her physical appearance.

In a carousel of pictures posted to Instagram in May, she could be seen wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the words: “Sorry for having great t**s.”

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Sweeney’s post came shortly after veteran Hollywood producer Carol Baum criticized her looks and her acting ability while at an event in Pleasantville, New York.

“There’s an actress who everybody loves now: Sydney Sweeney. I don’t get Sydney Sweeney. I was watching on the plane Sydney Sweeney’s movie [Anyone but You] because I wanted to watch it,” she told the crowd.

“I said to my class, ‘Explain this girl to me. She’s not pretty, she can’t act. Why is she so hot?’ Nobody had an answer.”

Sweeney later issued a fiery response through her representative, saying: “How sad that a woman in the position to share her expertise and experience chooses instead to attack another woman.

“If that’s what she’s learned in her decades in the industry and feels is appropriate to teach to her students, that’s shameful. To unjustly disparage a fellow female producer speaks volumes about Ms Baum’s character.”

DIY SOS host Nick Knowles has admitted he cannot assemble flat-pack furniture.

The 62-year-old Strictly star works with tradespeople to transform homes for deserving families on the BBC One show.

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But he revealed his family “laugh at him” when he tries DIY.

However, dad-of-four Nick still reckons he could build his own house.

In an interview with The Times T2 supplement yesterday, Nick said: “My family laugh when I try to assemble flat-packs.

“I get frustrated because, like most men, I don’t read the instructions.”

“But I could build my own house — easily. One day I just might.”

 Nick — who has been married twice and is now engaged to lingerie business owner Katie Dadzie, 34 — also revealed he has lost more than two stone since he began training for Strictly four weeks ago.

He said: “This is much tougher than rugby training.

“I can feel myself transforming from a very heavy bloke lumbering around the room to somebody who’s becoming lighter and more elegant on his feet.”

Meanwhile, Nick has been in hot water after he said women in the North East of England were “munters” in a sleazy chat with a young charity worker, it has been claimed.

The TV favourite allegedly made a string of lewd and offensive remarks to the woman and ogled her breasts while filming BBC show DIY SOS: The Big Build.

It left the 33-year-old support worker feeling embarrassed and mortified, she claimed.

The mum of one said she was interviewed by Knowles in 2018 for an episode of the show about a home renovation for a family with a young disabled child.

She claims he turned up late after boozing the night before — and later kipped in a van.

Knowles was said to have been hung over, looked worse for wear and stank of stale booze and cigarettes after partying at North Shields Fish Quay.

When the then 26-year-old dropped her microphone down her blouse, the star allegedly said: “It’s a shame that’s not a camera.”

The woman, who posed for a photo with the star, said he did not touch her or make a pass.

Knowles said he had encountered hundreds of people in the course of his work and cannot be expected to remember what he has said to everyone he has met.

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