Freddie Flintoff has won viewers’ hearts again with the latest episode of Field of Dreams On Tour – in which the ex-England captain was seen to help two young proteges with autism combat their anxiety in India.
In scenes shown on BBC One on Tuesday night Flintoff, 46, was seen helping the young would-be cricketers to be brave as they found themselves in uncomfortable situations in Kolkata – being upfront about his own issues with anxiety.
The second series sees him take a cricket team of workingclass teens from Preston on a tour of India, coaching them in how to succeed in the sport while also shaping them into robust and compassionate young men.
Freddie convinced youngster Josh, who was apprehensive about travelling to the noisy Indian city, to stick out the tour and face his fears, and comforted mentee Finn after he found a glitzy dinner party with top West Bengal figures overwhelming.
Viewers took to social media to praise Freddie’s approach to comforting each of the young men – as he also shared his own fears about whether he had been ready to return to the show following a crash filming Top Gear in December 2022.
Freddie Flintoff has been praised for how he has worked with two of his young wards with autism on Field of Dreams On Tour
Young stars Finn (left) and Josh (right) both have autism and Freddie was seen responding to the difficulties it can cause with kindness
He embraced Josh after the young man admitted he was finding it difficult to adjust to life in Kolkata
And he was able to comfort Finn, who said he felt out of place at a fancy dinner party hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner to Kolkata
Viewers have been full of praise for how Flintoff was able to speak to the young men as they found situations overwhelming on the trip
‘If “Freddie” Flintoff doesn’t get a BAFTA for this series there’s no justice,’ wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter.
‘What he’s done for these young men is immeasurable. What he’s delivered for the viewers is absolute joy.’
Another said: ‘These boys are learning so much. I hope this amazing opportunity they’ve been given is the making of them. And give Freddie Flintoff a sainthood never mind a knighthood!’
An early scene in Tuesday’s episode saw Freddie taking his young wards through the busy markets of Kolkata – with the cricketer finding the sights, smells and sounds of the market overwhelming as he was swarmed for autographs.
But he wasn’t alone in feeling stunned – 20-year-old Josh, who was diagnosed with autism as a child, admitted he was taken aback by it all and was reconsidering whether he could go the distance on the India tour.
Heartbreaking scenes showed him sitting alone as the others practiced cricket on the rooftop of their accommodation before Freddie checks in on him – noticing that he doesn’t appear to be enjoying the trip.
‘What I don’t want to do is keep someone here who doesn’t want to be here,’ the cricketer tells him.
And as Josh admits that he is afraid of stepping outside his comfort zone, Flintoff replies: ‘If you take an odd risk here, surely I think that’s going to stand you in good stead. It’s just little things but they make a big difference.’
The pair then hug as Josh agrees to stay on the tour. He adds: ‘To waste an opportunity like this would be quite foolish.’
Later, Freddie and his young wards attend a glitzy party hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner to Kolkata – for which they were all dressed in dinner suits.
The event proved uncomfortable for Finn, who stepped outside as he said he felt out of place. He was joined a moment later by Freddie, who told him: ‘It’s all good.’
The cricketer added: ‘You belong anywhere you go to. Not one of these people in there can lace your boots, mate. Every environment you go into, you make better.’
Freddie Flintoff admitted he wondered at times during the second series of Field of Dreams whether he had ‘taken on too much’ after his 2022 Top Gear crash
His friend and former Lancashire bowler Kyle Hogg said the India trip was helping Freddie be himself for the first time in 18 months
The scene ends with the pair returning back inside as Freddie makes room at the table for Finn to sit amongst his friends.
The scenes won praise from viewers for the compassionate way in which Freddie helped the youngsters without pushing them beyond their limits.
‘I have so much respect for Josh for trying and taking on a new challenge on top of his struggle with autism,’ one said on X.
Another, tweeting Freddie directly, said: ‘I really loved the conversations you had with Josh and Finn cos I’m autistic and I sometimes feel the same things they do when it comes to crowded places and formal occasions.
‘It was nice to see you comforting them and inspiring them in their struggles. You’re a legend!’
A third user said: ‘My 7 year old son has autism. I’m scared of what life will look like for him but watching you and your lads fills me with hope just be seeing love, understanding, compassion and friendship. An uplifting light in a dark world.’
Freddie had previously been praised for helping Josh to start trying new foods – after the 20-year-old admitted he had only eaten a tub of Pringles since arriving in India.
Elsewhere in the episode, Flintoff was praised by long-time friend Kyle Hogg for ‘coming out of his shell’ for the first time since his Top Gear crash.
The future of Field of Dreams was in doubt following his crash at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in an open-top sports car – and Flintoff said in the latest episode he feared he had ‘taken on too much’ by returning to the show.
He admitted that issues with his young proteges had led him to question whether he was taking on too much
Flintoff thanked viewers for watching the episode, which aired on BBC One earlier tonight
Tonight’s episode, however, showed Freddie struggling to motivate the boys to get out of bed in the morning for breakfast.
After asking them to join him at 8am sharp for food, he is noticeably gutted when most of them fail to show on time – and finds himself struggling to keep his cool.
He then admits to producers that he is worried that trying to coach a group of unlikely cricketers may be ‘too much’ for him as he continues his recovery.
Freddie said: ‘I am p***ed off – I was ticking at that table then. It was like, no respect – I can’t help but take it personally.
‘After everything I’ve been through in the past 18 months I do wonder, am I taking on too much here? Do I need this in my life? Right now, I don’t know.’
The boys are eventually roused and gathered up three and a half hours later – and realise their error in not turning up.
As it dawns on one lad that they have let their mentor down, he says: ‘He spoke to us about how it’s been a tough year and how nervous he was to come back out onto TV.’
The episode sees Freddie pitch the boys against a team of teenage girls, some of whom have spent most of their life learning to play cricket,
Ahead of the party, Freddie and Kyle are seen visiting a traditional barbers in the city to have a haircut and a shave.
As he is asked whether he wants a shave, Freddie turns down the offer because of the scarring on his face.
‘It’s fine because of the scar. That was the last time I came here,’ he jokes, breaking into laughter.
The second series began two weeks ago with previously unseen footage of Freddie’s injuries after his Top Gear crash
Flintoff had been test driving a three-wheel Morgan Spencer 3 when it flipped over on the Top Gear race track
The former cricket player has opened up about suffering from nightmares and flashbacks to the crash
Flintoff quit Top Gear and reached a £9million settlement with the BBC following the crash. Pictured: Flintoff (left) with his Top Gear co-hosts Paddy McGuinness (centre) and Chris Harris (right)
Since the incident Flintoff has been rarely seen in public, with most of his appearances coming at cricket matches. Pictured: Flintoff at Headingly in Leeds for tonight’s The Hundred men’s match between Northern Superchargers, who he is head coach of, and London Spirit
Kyle then reveals how Freddie had been ‘apprehensive’ about coming to India to film the second series of the show after his Top Gear accident.
But he then cheerfully says he is glad his friend made the decision to proceed with the trip.
Kyle says: ‘It could have been too much for him considering what’s gone on. But he’s starting to come out his shell and that’s a good sign. I haven’t seen him like that for 18 months.’
Freddie had been at the peak of a second career in broadcasting after retiring from cricket when an open-top sports car he had been driving for a Top Gear feature overturned in December 2022.
The Morgan Super Three is reported to have been travelling at just 22mph when it overturned during filming, leaving Flintoff with serious facial injuries and broken ribs.
Filming on Top Gear was suspended and the future of the show – which he co-hosted alongside comedian Paddy McGuinness and car journalist Chris Harris – remains in question after it was put on indefinite hiatus last November.
And Freddie himself remained out of the public eye for months as he recovered from the accident – first being seen in public almost a year ago helping to coach the England cricket team.
He is believed to have secured a £9million compensation payout from the BBC following the accident. The broadcaster also made an apology to the cricketer.
Viewers watching tonight’s episode have praised Flintoff for his openness about the experience of surviving the crash at Dunsfold.
One said on X, formerly Twitter: ‘Freddie Flintoff, what a bloke. Having gone through what he has and then back in the spotlight regardless, helping these lads on the Fields of Dreams Tour.’
Freddie himself simply said in a short tweet after the episode aired: ‘Thanks for watching #fieldofdreams.’
The first series of Field of Dreams saw Freddie Flintoff attempting to assemble a cricket team from a ragtag bunch of teenagers from his hometown in Preston
It was an unexpected smash hit and production of a second series had been underway at the time of Flintoff’s crash in December 2022
Freddie Flintoff – whose first name is Andrew – is one of England’s all-time great all-rounders (seen here during the Ashes in 2005)
Flintoff began appearing in public again almost a year ago after recovering from the crash (pictured last month at Headingley in Leeds)
The second series of the show sees Freddie taking his team of cricketers on a tour of India
The second series of Field of Dreams, subtitled On Tour, began two weeks ago with the first look at Freddie’s injuries in the aftermath of the crash.
It opened with footage he had filmed himself on his mobile phone of his egregious facial injuries as he admitted he thought he was going to die.
He said in the episode: ‘Week-and-a-half after my accident. Genuinely, should not be here with what happened.
‘It’s going to be a long road back and I’ve only just started and I am struggling already and I need help. I really am.’
When one of the young cricketers on the tour with him asks him if he is 100 per cent now, he replies: ‘Not really. I don’t know if I will again to be honest. I am better than I was.’
He tells the show: ‘I thought I could just shake it off. I wanted to shake it off and say ‘I’m alright’ but it’s not been a case of that. It’s been a lot harder than I thought. As much as I wanted to go out and do things, I’ve just not been able to.’
Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams On Tour aired on BBC1 at 9pm tonight and is available on iPlayer.
