Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff only recently made a comeback to screens following a near-fatal crash while filming for BBC’s Top Gear in December 2022.
In the second episode of the new series of Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams, which aired on Tuesday, the former cricketer opened up on how travelling to India with the group of boys he’s training sent his anxiety “through the roof”.
Following the horror crash, Flintoff, 46, opted to stay away from the limelight for a while but returned last week for the second series of his sporting show, BBC’s Field of Dreams.
The father-of-two joined BBC favourite Top Gear in 2019 alongside Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris, but following the accident at the show’s Dunsford Park Aerodrome, no new episodes have aired.
Flintoff ended up reaching a settlement reportedly worth £9million with the BBC last year, with the broadcaster apologising for his injuries.
After transforming a cricket club and the lives of teenagers in his hometown of Preston during the first series of Field of Dreams, the second sees Flintoff and the team in India, one of the most revered cricketing nations in the world.
Freddie Flintoff opened up on his anxiety over returning to screens
BBC
Part of this week’s episode focused on newcomer Eli, who took part in his first training session with the group.
Flintoff was impressed as he watched Eli during his first training session with the team, having only met most of them at the airport a few days ago.
Speaking to cameras about his upbringing, he explained: “Growing up was all right, really. People say it’s bad, but I had the seafront, I had Stanley Park down the road.
“I used to play cricket and stuff, but then I’d say I got to high school and met a few lads that weren’t behaving right and I got easily led into misbehaving and ruined my own education because of a crowd I got into in school.”
Freddie Flintoff opened up to Eli during BBC’s Field of Dreams
BBC
The youngster continued: “Quite a while ago now, I got in trouble with the police – it was for a fight and I decided to be an idiot, literally for no reason.
“I won’t do it again. I feel like previously, I’ve let opportunities slip through my fingers and I don’t want that to happen again.”
As he opened up to Flintoff about the incident, he continued: “It’s embarrassing now I look back at it, I hate myself for it. I wish I did just stay in cricket.”
“For acceptance, you do strange things,” Flintoff reassured Eli, adding: “I must admit, my anxiety the first night and actually coming here has been through the roof.”
Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams star Eli spoke candidly to the former cricketer
BBC
“Because I’ve not been away from home, I’ve not been in front of a camera, I’ve not done anything for a while,” he added.
“And I was in my room, not wanting to come out of it on that first morning, so you’re not on your own on that one.
“But I’m loving being around you, you lads are helping me more than you’ll ever know – from what I’ve been through to where I am now. So I thank you for that.”
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