Freddie Flintoff ‘thrilled’ to return to screens as ITV finally announce return of beloved series
ITV has confirmed that iconic quiz show Bullseye will return for a full series with Freddie Flintoff as host.
The former cricketer will front the beloved darts-themed programme following the success of last year’s Christmas special.
The revival comes after the festive episode drew in impressive audiences of over 8.6 million viewers.
ITV has commissioned four hour-long episodes of the revived game show plus a 2025 Christmas special, answering the fevered cries of fans for a new series.
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The decision follows overwhelming audience demand after the 2024 Christmas special topped ITV’s ratings on both Saturday and Sunday.
More than 30,000 fans applied to take part in last year’s special, which outperformed established shows including The Chase and The 1% Club.
The original Bullseye ran from 1981 to 1995 with Jim Bowen as host, before a brief revival in 2006 featuring Dave Spikey.
Freddie said of the news: “I love the darts and Bullseye was one of my favourite shows as a kid. I was really pleased people seemed to like the Christmas special and so now I’m thrilled I get to host the series. You can’t beat a bit of Bully!”
The 46-year-old has long been a darts enthusiast and even holds the Guinness World Record for the longest distance to throw a bullseye at 5.05 metres.
The record was achieved during a Sports Relief challenge in 2012.
The programme will follow the original format with teams made up of an amateur dart player, the ‘thrower’, and their team partner, the ‘knower’.
They will combine their skills, throwing darts at different game boards whilst answering questions correctly for ‘points and prizes’.
Professional darts players will also take to the oche to help contestants.
Master of Ceremonies Richard Ashdown will return for the new series, which is being produced by ITV Studios.
The Christmas special featured teenage darts sensation Luke Littler, who achieved a perfect 180 score with his first three throws.
Fronting the series marks one of Flintoff’s first returns to television since his serious car crash while filming Top Gear in 2022.
The accident left him with multiple broken ribs and serious facial injuries when the £43,000 Morgan Super 3 car he was testing flipped upside down.
Flintoff previously admitted the crash had been “so hard to cope with” and left him with crippling anxiety.
During his BBC series Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams: On Tour, he revealed he “genuinely shouldn’t be here”.