THE CLASSIC darts game show Bullseye is back — hosted by Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff.
The Ashes legend, 46, said he was delighted to take over the hugely popular programme, which was famously presented by comedian Jim Bowen in the 1980s and 90s.
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What Freddie Flintoff might look like in the role of host Jim Bowen
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Bullseye will be Freddie’s first new TV commission since his Top Gear debacle, above with Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris Credit: Getty
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Original host Jim sits on the prize speedboat for BullseyeCredits: Rex
It will be the former cricketer’s first new television commission since his horrific accident on Top Gear.
A source said of the ITV reboot: “Few would have predicted this move but this is a genius signing.”
Freddie will take over the late Jim Bowen’s old role for the Christmas special.
TV bosses hope it will soon be commissioned as a whole series.
Freddie grew up playing the game with friends and even holds the world record for darts—for the longest distance a dart is thrown.
Last night he said: “I love darts and Bullseye was one of my favorite shows as a kid.
“I can’t believe I get to host this Christmas special.
Then, repeating 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 accident put his career on hold.
A TV insider said: “This is the perfect role for Freddie to start a brand new chapter in his career and his fans will be delighted to see him on our screens fronting such a much-loved programme.
“Few would have predicted this move but it is a genius signing as Freddie has the same dry, Lancashire sense of humor and delivery as Jim.
Freddie Flintoff breaks silence on horrific accident, saying it ‘changed my life forever’
“Although it remains to be seen whether he will continue Jim’s ‘great, great, great!’ catchphrase or if they will give out jackpot prizes of speedboats to contestants who live in landlocked towns and cities.
“But they will probably continue with the painful practice of saying ‘Look what you could have won’ before bringing out the first prize to rub it in the faces of the defeated competitors.”
Bullseye first aired on ITV in 1981 and ran for 14 years with Jim as the old-school comic host and a host of regular guest darts stars 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 delighted
TV Insider
There was also an animated mascot — a dart-playing bull called Bully — while Jim regularly ribbed competing teams of two.
Jim also had a number of catchphrases including: “Stay away from black and red, nothing in this game for two in bed”.
It was revived on Challenge TV in 2006, hosted by comedian Dave Spikey, but was axed after two series.
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Freddie holds the 2012 darts world record — for longest bullseye throw Credit: X
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Ashes legend Freddie, now 46, grew up playing darts with friends Credit: Collecting
The Sun revealed earlier this year that there were plans for a reboot, with Freddie’s fellow Top Gear presenter Paddy McGuinness tipped to appear.
It comes at a time when darts is growing in popularity thanks to Luke Litter reaching the world finals at the age of 16.
Freddie grew up in Preston, 14 miles from where Jim grew up.
Another insider said: “Freddie is also known for his dry Lancashire humour, although his gags are probably a tad more sensitive and 21st century sensitive than his predecessors.”
Freddie was nearly killed when his three-wheeled roadster overturned at Dunsfold Airport 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 cricketers to India.
He said on the show: “I really shouldn’t be here after what happened. It’s going to be a long way back, and I’ve only just begun.
“I have to look at the positive sides, I have another chance and I will take it. I see that it is so – another time.”
Signing up for Bullseye is considered part of that.
In 2012, as part of a Sports Relief challenge, he hit a shot from 5.05 meters for a Guinness World Record.
Pointing to the board, he joked, “You can keep your cricket. It’s a real sport — darts.”
He also played to 10,000 people in Rotterdam in 2018 as part of the Sky panel show A League of Their Own, alongside Jamie Redknapp, Anthony Joshua and Tom Davis.
I really shouldn’t be here after what happened
Freddie Flintoff
Freddie revealed in an interview: “I was playing in a social club with my friends.
“My first memory of darts, it’s very vague, is Jocky Wilson and Eric Bristow like him… and it’s been revived more recently, hasn’t it?
“One of the things I love about it — a lot of sports have become really professional and the public can’t identify with the players — but I think darts has kept that charm.
You see how excited the crowd is and they look at the players and say, ‘He’s just a normal guy, good at what they do’. And it must be said that this is one of the best atmospheres in sports.”
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 be just a television star, and is now heavily involved in England’s cricket coaching set-up. He recently said, “I fell into, like, a TV trap, you know?
“I’ve been working on TV and moving forward, obviously, I’d like to do more coaching, I don’t know in what entity or business, and do a little bit of TV. It was a nice shift.”
The Bullseye reboot will be made by 12 Yard Productions, which has a pedigree in making game series including Popmaster, which has just been ordered for two more series on More4.
CEO Michael Mannes said yesterday: “We are delighted to have acquired the rights to Bullseye, one of the most iconic game series ever.
“And the timing couldn’t be better considering the popularity of darts.
“Freddie is the perfect presenter for it and we can’t wait for the show to return to ITV.”
Katie Rawcliffe, ITV’s Director of Entertainment and Daily Commissioning said: “Bullseye is back and we can’t wait to welcome Freddie Flintoff 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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Cricketer Freddie helped England win the Ashes in 2005 and 2009. Credit: PA
Freddie perfect for TV classics
Author: Rod McPhee
There was NOTHING worse than watching Bullseye at Sunday tea.
Although it marked the end of the weekend, it was 30 minutes of pure, ridiculous joy.
The greatest pleasure was Jim Bowen, who was incredibly outrageous with his jokes – which, of course, I now in no way condone.
He once asked a contestant: “You went for sponsored weight loss, didn’t you? So how much do you owe?”
He continued: “That’s very unkind of me, but I knew you’d be a good sport… . . ” Turning to her friend, he added, “You should be, wearing a dress like that.”
You didn’t need to know anything about darts. Some of the amateur players are certainly not. Nor did you need exhaustive general knowledge.
The “caster” would rarely hit his target, often aiming for “Books” and getting “Spelling” or attempting “Sports” and getting “Science”.
Even if they threw where they wanted, it was 50/50 whether the “knower” would get the correct answer.
Jim once asked a guy, “What’s the name of the island in San Francisco Bay that used to be a prison?” Even eight-year-old me knew the answer was Alcatraz.
“Is that Devil’s Island?” came the guy’s reply.
If they won, they had to decide whether to gamble for the big prize – and would often say, “We’ve had a brilliant day and we’d like to let others play.”
Then they would march off with a foam Bully and a jug of money that Jim had counted out.
The other duo would then buy a fitted kitchen or a car, and you could see them thinking, “How the hell are we going to split that between us?!”
So why did we watch it? Because it was a simpler time. We had very little choice. It was either Songs of Praise.
As Peter Kay once said, “I used to love Bullseye, me. It was weird because it was s*** And it was good – but you knew what you were in for.”
Its simplicity — in the complicated age of broadcasts scattered across hundreds of channels — means we’ll actively choose it this time. Especially since we have Freddie Flintoff who deservedly takes on the role of Jim.
Ask anyone who works behind the scenes in TV and they’ll tell you he’s a genuinely nice guy. More importantly, he’s smart enough to stay out of Jim’s old joke book.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education