Freddie Flintoff's anxiety 'through the roof' before return to TV
What did you miss?
Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff has opened up on the extreme anxiety he suffered ahead of his return to TV, admitting it was "through the roof" in another emotional Field of Dreams chat.
The former England cricketer was out of the public eye for nearly two years following his Top Gear crash, but is back in front of the camera for Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams On Tour and in this week's episode he shared more about how tough it had been.
Flintoff was also reduced to tears hearing the harrowing tale of one member of his team's escape from the war zone where he grew up.
What, how, and why?
Freddie Flintoff has shared more about the mental effects of his horrifying Top Gear crash in further emotional scenes on Field of Dreams.
Last week, Flintoff spoke about his 2022 crash for the first time as he revealed how it had affected him physically and mentally on Field of Dreams, which sees him take his team of unlikely cricketers from Preston on tour to India.
During a chat with new team member Eli on why the teen had given up cricket for years, where he said that he had been bullied in school for playing the sport, Flintoff offered his own similar experiences.
Flintoff said: "I got bullied at school because I played cricket and I went to school on the estate, it was seen as a posh sport. I got a bit of a hard time."
He added to Eli: "I wouldn't look back and beat yourself up about (your mistakes) or feel like you need to make up for them. Just learn from them."
Eli told him: "After the first day when I got in my room I was scared," and Flintoff admitted: "I must admit my anxiety, first night and coming here, has been through the roof 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.
"I was in my room not wanting to come out on the first morning. You're not on your own with 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."
What else happened on Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams On Tour?
Flintoff was brought to tears by refugee team member Adnan later in the episode as he shared his terrifying ordeal getting out of Afghanistan and having to leave his family behind forever.
Adnan told how he had been brutally beaten by police as he moved across Europe to try to find safety and a tearful Flintoff said: "I'm getting upset here because I've heard your story."
Adnan told him: "One thing my mum said, if somebody helps you at any stage, don't forget, don't ever forget them. I don't know how to thank you guys, you've changed my life."
Looking tearful, Flintoff told the cameras: "It's something no kid should endure. It's heartbreaking...I'm going to cry.
"He's got his mum and his brother and I just want him to be at home with his family and not having to go through all that."
Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams On Tour airs on BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday.
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This article originally appeared on Yahoo TV UK at https://uk.news.yahoo.com/freddie-flintoff-anxiety-tv-return-field-dreams-220413411.html
