Andrew Flintoff is to relaunch his television hosting career by fronting a one-off Christmas special of the gameshow Bullseye.

It will be the former England cricket captain’s first presenting role since he was airlifted from a serious car accident while filming Top Gear in December 2022. The crash left him with facial injuries and broken ribs.

Flintoff, 46, will host the revival of the darts-themed ITV show in December.

First popular in the 1980s, in the reboot Flintoff – nicknamed Freddie – will replace the late comedian Jim Bowen as host.

Since the accident, the once Lancashire all-rounder has starred in Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams, a documentary series that followed him taking young people from his home town of Preston on a cricketing tour of India – but this is his first foray back into light entertainment.

Flintoff said: “I love the darts and Bullseye was one of my favourite shows as a kid. Can’t quite believe I’ll get to host this Christmas special. You can’t beat a bit of Bully!”

In the game, teams of pairs are chosen, one for their skill at darts and the other for general knowledge. The amateur darts player is the “thrower”, and their team partner, the “knower”.

The teams throw darts at different game boards while answering questions to win eccentric (and difficult to share) prizes.

Katie Rawcliffe, the head of entertainment commissioning at 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.”

Flintoff was driving an open-topped Morgan Super 3 when it flipped and slid along the track at Surrey’s Dunsfold aerodrome in December 2022. He underwent multiple surgeries for his facial injuries and said that in the seven months after the crash he left the house only for medical treatment.

In the wake of the accident, the BBC announced it had “rested” Top Gear for the foreseeable future and paid Flintoff £9m in compensation.

Bullseye prizes

While those awarded Bully’s star prize might have got a holiday, many of the other prizes awarded to the teams of pairs were a little less dazzling – and challenging to split in two.

A Corby trouser press
A mainstay of 1990s mid-range bed and breakfasts, the upright trouser press was a regular on the prize list.

Fitted kitchens
Given that contestants were typically pairs of men who spent most of their time in the pub, the fitted kitchen made an unlikely star prize.

Teasmade
The classic bedside gadget could make you a warm brew before you got up, but sharing the win would require moving into your teammate’s bedroom.

Tantalus
The whisky decanter cabinet, usually with its own lock and key, used to be one of the mid-range prizes that might garner an “ooh” from the audience.

Cutlery
Bully’s star prize was once a set of gold cutlery, before the likes of a colour television or tumble drier.

Speedboat
According to Bowen, the speedboat was only ever won once and the contestants lived in top-floor flats in Coventry, more than 100 miles from the sea.

ITV have been caught up in yet another baffling scheduling move weeks after being called out for consistent repeats.

The channel has seemingly been struggling to fill its schedules in recent weeks and has had to rely heavily on repeats in order to stop the channel from falling off air.

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However, rather than making use of its huge archive bank, the network has seemingly been choosing to air the exact same repeats within just weeks of each other.

This weekend looks set to be no different either.

ITV are currently planning to air the James Bond movie The World Is Not Enough on Saturday between 4pm and 6:30pm.

It comes just ONE WEEK after the exact same movie held the exact same timeslot on the channel.

Just days ago, the movie was screened from 4:35pm on ITV1 for the first time.

The odd move is the latest to follow in a pattern of ITV’s whereby they fill their schedules with the same repeats.

Weeks ago, the same problem appeared to occur with game show Tipping Point – and fans were instantly left fuming.

In August, viewers were left with Deja vu as the broadcaster began airing repeats of episodes that had aired just TWO weeks prior.

Despite having racked up over 1,700 episodes in total, ITV have been opting to re-broadcast the same 20 episodes from series 13 in a strange move.

In another bizarre move, currently only 19 episode from series 13, those currently being aired on a regular re-run, as well as one episode from series 14 are available to stream on ITVX as opposed to the huge back catalogue of those at ITV’s disposal.

The channel has offered no explanation as to why the same episodes are being repeated within weeks of each other as well as to the limited selection being offered up on their streaming service.

Fans were quick to rage at the channel for the odd decision with one viewer telling The Sun: “They were on only a week or so ago, is it a mistake?

“I’ve never noticed this before, it’s really rubbish.”

Others flocked to X – formerly Twitter – to have their say, writing: “@tippingpoint or is it Tripping Point?

“@ITV recycle these shows more frequently than my local refuse chaps.”

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Great British Bake Off contestant, Jeff, who quit the newest season of the show after just two episodes, has opened up on his experience on the baking contest, while also mocking his early exit.

The former university lecturer, who was suffering from illness during episode one’s “cake week”, had decided “I’ve had enough” in the latest episode of the show.

Speaking to presenter Alison Hammond, the 57-year-old had said “I’m done” due to feeling unwell for a second week running. Consoling Jeff, Hammond said: “You tried man. You tried.”

In a new appearance on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice on Thursday (3 October), Jeff, who is originally from Brooklyn, appeared alongside the other baker who has been eliminated so far, 71-year-old Hazel.

Speaking to host Jo Brand, Jeff immediately made a joke about his short stint on the show. As he sat down to be interviewed, he said, “I’m done. Sorry, I’m out of here,” which prompted a huge laugh from the audience.

Brand then asked Jeff about an awkward moment between him and judge Paul Hollywood, who attempted to say “coffee” in a stereotypical New York accent. The comedian asked him if “that was the point you decided you’d had enough?”

Laughing, Jeff said in response: “I was walking. That was it. I’d had enough.”

Jeff did say that he had been feeling under the weather on the show but that he was “feeling better” now and revealed that he is still baking and is “busy planning the wedding cake for my son’s wedding”.

After his dramatic exit, Jeff penned a letter, shared on the show’s X/Twitter account, writing: “The Bake Off has been an amazing and challenging experience of a lifetime.”

He added: “Although I was not able to continue for long, I had the pleasure of meeting all of the incredible bakers from series 15. What a wonderful group of people and they were also excellent bakers.”

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Jeff concluded the note by saying: “The production team are the nicest, most hard-working people you will ever come across. They are so supportive and positive. All the very best, always, Jeff with every good wish!”

Episode two of the latest season of Bake Off was filled with chaos.

open image in gallery

Aside from Jeff quitting, 31-year-old midwife Illiyin, who impressed the judges during episode one, told the crew she “felt a bit dizzy”, before being helped to the floor by medics and put in the recovery position.

The final drama came when Dylan fell off his chair, to which Essex car mechanic, Andy, exclaimed: “They’re dropping like flies!”