Cricketer, commentator, owner of an excellent British accent, and Elvis impersonator. If you’ve fallen in love with Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff during his time on Aussie telly, you’re not the only one.
The cheeky chap from Lancashire in the UK is no stranger to our screens, winning the inaugural season of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
And in scenes Australians would probably prefer to forget, he was also a much-feared fast bowler for the English cricket team, and dearly loved ripping wickets from our men in the Baggy Green.
But it seems that all that has been forgotten, because this year, Freddie has been welcomed as one of our own.
His cheeky banter has been the highlight of the record-breaking Big Bash League cricket, and the 38-year-old father of three has become a cult hero on the panel of Channel 10’s news and current affairs show The Project.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and Freddie and his family are heading back to the dreary motherland following Friday night’s Big Bash semi-final.
So, in honour of his time Down Under, we’ve compiled a selection of the numerous times Freddie Flintoff was a deadset legend.
Click through the gallery and enjoy!.
Freddie adores his wife, Rachael, who accompanied him to Australia. Reflecting on years of partying and admitting his marriage was nearly over, Freddie now concedes, “I couldn’t have done any better. That’s one thing I’ve got right.”
And if the video in the next slide is anything to go by, Rachael definitely rules the Flintoff household!
As a young fella, Freddie copped criticism for his weight and later he bravely admitted to suffering from bulimia as a result. These days, the 38-year-old has given up booze and hit the gym – and is very clearly the picture of health!
But he’s still not averse to the odd meat pie (how very Australian of him!). Here he is demonstrating how to take a crowd catch at the cricket without dropping your lunch.
He believes in equal rights. At this year’s Woman’s Day and Sydney Sixers Girls’ Night Out, Freddie was all to happy to display his support for women in cricket.
Freddie has excellent taste in celeb mates. We love his bromance with Britain’s funniest bloke, James Corden.
But he’s happiest hanging out with Rachael and their three darling kids, Holly, Rocky, and Corey.
While in Australia commentating on The Big Bash League and on the panel of The Project, Freddie made time to bond with the local wildlife, including this cockatoo.
However, his brightest moment was early in the Big Bash season, when he popped up in the Channel 10 commentary box in his undies. “It’s started already, who’s nicked my clothes,” he captioned this photo on his @fredflintoff Instagram account. A close second was in the next slide, when he rapped about Aussie politics dressed as a cowboy. As you do.
Freddie Flintoff raps while dressed as a cowboy on The Project
Throwback to when Freddie, who openly admits he’s terrified of bugs, ate a cockroach before winning I’m a Celeb last year. He donated his $100,000 winnings to his mate Glenn McGrath’s breast-cancer awareness charity, the McGrath Foundation. What a gent.
He also nailed his stint on The Project, and managed to find himself starstruck by Samuel L. Jackson, Quentin Tarantino and Kurt Russell. But Freddie’s all-time idol, as you’ll see in the next and final slide, is the one and only Elvis Presley. If the commentary thing doesn’t work out, we reckon he could start a new career as an Elvis impersonator! Come back next year, Freddie. We miss you already.
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