Freddie Flintoff to host ITV Bullseye reboot in Christmas special

Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff is set to host a revamped version of the darts-themed quiz show Bullseye on ITV.

The ex-captain of the England cricket team and TV host has agreed to participate in a special Christmas episode.

Flintoff, 46, shared that Bullseye was one of his favorite childhood shows and expressed his amazement at landing the hosting role.

It's still unclear if a complete series has been ordered.

Bullseye first aired on ITV from 1981 to 1995, hosted by the late comedian Jim Bowen.

The show includes three pairs of competitors, each team consisting of a darts player and a trivia expert who collaborate to earn prizes.

The program featured a mascot named Bully, which Flintoff mentioned in his announcement about taking on the hosting role.

"You can't go wrong with a little Bully!" he exclaimed, echoing one of Bowen's well-known sayings.

Bullseye frequently drew in around 20 million viewers at its height. It first aired on Monday nights in 1981, then changed to Sunday afternoons in 1982, and finally moved to Saturday afternoons from 1993 until its conclusion in 1995.

After being off the air for eleven years, the show made its comeback in 2006 on the Challenge channel. You can still catch reruns of the classic episodes every evening on the digital channel.

It's unclear if the format for Bullseye will change, but it's evident that darts is experiencing a revival in 2024.

The rise in popularity can be attributed to prominent figures in the professional darts scene, including the 17-year-old Luke Littler, who triumphed in the World Series of Darts finals earlier this year.

Flintoff has been gradually making his way back to television after bouncing back from an accident that took place while filming Top Gear in 2022.

He sustained injuries to his face and ribs after his vehicle crashed at the test track during the event held at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.

The specifics of the events are not available to the public, but the BBC has announced that they are putting Top Gear on hold for now.

In his latest BBC series, Field of Dreams, Flintoff shared that his journey to recovery has been much more challenging than he expected. He also opened up about experiencing anxiety and flashbacks.

He has come back to cricket by joining the England coaching staff for the T20 series with the West Indies and will also serve as the head coach for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred tournament.