Viewers tuning into the first episode of Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams On Tour have praised the ex England cricketer over his kindness towards a young squad member who has autism.
The episode sees Josh, one of the boys from Freddie’s hometown of Preston, feeling anxious as the group head to Calcutta to experience life in the ‘home of cricket’.
During the novice team’s first meal of meat, vegetable and fish curries – in searing Indian heat, Josh nervously drinks his water and looks at his phone, not eating a thing.
When Flintoff, 46, who admits he ‘feels like a parent’ to the group of young men which includes an Afghan refugee, asks if he’ll eat anything, Josh replies ‘not tonight’ and won’t even try the plain rice that accompanies the spicy food.
Anxiety: Young cricketer Josh, one of the teenagers who fly to Calcutta to learn more about cricket in Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams on Tour series, admits he’s ‘overwhelmed’ by India
A worried Freddie, who also opened up about the horror crash that has left him with facial scarring, is seen in the first episode telling Josh he’s worried about him
The meat, vegetable and fish curries that greet the group of cricketers are all turned down by Josh, who says he has a ‘poor diet’
Later, the cricket star, who sustained serious facial injuries and scarring following a horror crash while filming for Top Gear, endeared himself to viewers when he’s seen taking Josh to one side for a heart-to-heart.
The teenager admitted he hadn’t eaten anything but a tube of Pringles since leaving Manchester Airport, saying: ‘The main thing I’m worried about India is the food. I don’t like curry whatsoever.’
He adds: ‘I do have quite a poor diet and there’s not many foods that I do eat. Maybe it’s my autism. It’s something that I’ve kept hush about.’
After he tells Flintoff he’s ‘overwhelmed’, the star admits he’s worried about him and asks the young cricketer if they can ‘start introducing’ different foods he might not have tried before.
Heart-to-heart: Viewers loved the way the ex England star interacted with Josh, telling him he could try new foods ‘at your own pace’
The pair embraced at the episode’s end, with Freddie vowing to try and keep Josh from going home early
Before embracing him, he says: ‘We can take it at your pace, with where we go, what we do, with the food, the heat. It’s all about everyone moving outside their comfort zone’.
Viewers heaped praise on Flintoff, saying he dealt with the anxious youngster perfectly.
One wrote: ‘I loved you before tonight’s show but I love you so much more now. How you dealt with Josh and his autism was amazing. I’m autistic and Josh was so lovely.
‘Bless him. And you’re incredible Freddie. Honestly you are the nicest person ever. Never change who you are,’
Flintoff pictured in Calcutta during his programme Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams
The cricketer admits he might never feel better again as he opened up to youngsters about the terrifying Top Gear crash that almost killed him
A viewer penned: ‘I didn’t think I could love #freddieflintoff any more than I did until I watched the new series of #fieldofdreams
‘What a man, great strength and courage to come back from what he did and you get the genuine affection he has for those young cricketers. Brilliant to watch.’
Another added: ‘What a bl***y lovely guy. Always thought it, so brave & encouraging those boys whilst going through tough times, all credit to you Fred. Heartwarming to watch.’
The first episode also saw Flintoff opening up about the crash that nearly killed him.
He admitted the after-effects of it could follow him ‘for the rest of my life’ and said he believes he ‘genuinely shouldn’t be here’ after he flipped a three-wheeled car at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome while filming for Top Gear.
During the new series, when one of the young cricketers on the tour to India with him asks him whether he is 100 per cent now, Flintoff replies: ‘Not really. I’m not sure I ever will [ever feel better] again, to be honest.’
Flintoff moved viewers to tears when revealing he has suffered ‘nightmares and flashbacks’ since the accident
He adds: ‘I’m better than I was. I don’t know what completely better is. I am what I am now. I’m different to what I was.
‘It’s something I will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life. So, better? No, different.’
The ex-sportsman – who has got back involved with helping coach England’s current international side – left fans in tears last night by revealing how he suffers from ‘nightmares and flashbacks’ after his horror crash.
Flintoff also shared shocking images of his injuries from just a week-and-a-half after the crash, with viewers praising the ‘inspirational’ former cricket star for his candidness with many left ‘crying their eyes out’ at the programme.
The photos and video of his recovery were shown on the BBC programme last night, 20 months on from the crash in a £43,000 Morgan Super 3 that came close to claiming his life.
Flintoff, who reportedly reached a £9million settlement with the BBC over the crash which was paid for by the broadcaster’s commercial arm, quit Top Gear in the aftermath and it has since been put on hiatus.
The cricketer-turned-broadcaster has been rarely seen in public since the incident, after his devoted wife Rachael, 42, reportedly ‘begged’ him to stay off work and take time to recover.
However, the broadcaster, which apologised to him in March 2023 for his injuries, brought him back for the new series of Field of Dreams, which sees him take a group of youngsters on a cricket tour to India.
Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams On Tour aired on BBC1 at 9pm on Tuesday and is available on iPlayer.