Freddie Flintoff has left viewers in floods of tears in the last episode of Fields of Dreams — in which the ex-England captain prepped his youth team for the final match of their Indian tour.
The episode shown on BBC on Tuesday night followed Flintoff and his group of would-be cricketers as they faced their toughest challenge yet — the match at Kolkata Football & Cricket Club.
Not only that, but as thoughts turned to heading back to the UK, Flintoff sat down for a one-to-one chat with each of the boys — to address their worries or concerns. They took part in the Hindu festival of Holi, watched Kushti wrestling and sat down for a tarot reading.
The second series sees Flintoff take a cricket team of working-class 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.
Viewers have been loving the series, labelling it ‘the best of British TV’ and ‘truly inspirational’. They have even called for Flintoff to receive a BAFTA and a Sports Personality of The Year award.
And tonight was no different as they flocked to social media to praise Flintoff on a ‘brilliant’ final episode.
Freddie Flintoff and his team of would-be cricketers took part in the Hindu festival of Holi on the final episode of Field of Dreams
Freddie Flintoff pictured with the group in the last episode of season two
Flintoff has been labelled as ‘inspirational’ by viewers who have loved the show
Flintoff and his group of would-be cricketers faced their toughest challenge yet — the match at Kolkata Football & Cricket Club, in the final episode
The Hindu festival of Holi which was celebrated in the last episode of Field of Dreams
The group also took part in a tarot reading in tonight’s episode
Taking to ‘X’, formerly known as Twitter, one person said: ‘Why does this programme make me cry? Because it is full of hope – full of lads from different backgrounds, different cultures working together with a brilliant mentor Freddie Flintoff who knows how to lift them up to reach their dreams. So brilliant and so needed.’
Another person said: ‘I honestly think that Freddie Flintoff has found his calling by helping those boys and it has helped him heal himself. Really enjoyed watching this and hope this continues’.
Another added: ‘Sports personality of the year and sports team of the year right there, forget over paid ego maniacs. Genuine bunch of young lads who helped Freddie as much as he helped them.’
Another said: ‘Just finished Field of Dreams [and I] have to say it’s the best thing I’ve watched in a long time. Watched it with a smile the whole time. Truly heartwarming, inspirational. Those young lads were amazing. Outstanding. Please make series 3…
Viewers have been loving the series, labelling it ‘the best of British TV’ and ‘truly inspirational’
Another person said: ‘Adnan wanting to play for England, Ben wanting to teach, Eli wanting to coach with Freddie willing to help, can’t deal. This show has made me cry every week.’
‘Genuinely the best programme I’ve watched…lovely lads and you should be proud,’ another said.
‘If this does not get a BAFTA it would be a crime. Freddie was amazing.’ another added.
The future of Field of Dreams was in doubt following Freddie Flintoff’s crash at the Dunsfold Aerodrome in an open-top sports car.
In a previous episode of Field of Dreams, the father-of-three said it had been ‘so hard to cope’ with crippling anxiety that left him unable to leave the house in the months following the incident in December 2022.
Flintoff had one-to-one conversations with all the teenagers on the latest episode tonight
Flintoff hugs one of the teenagers as he has one-to-one conversations with all of them to discuss their worries and anxieties as they prepared to return to the UK from their trip
The group taking part in their toughest challenge yet – a cricket match against Kolkata Football & Cricket Club
Photos reveal the injuries sustained by Freddie Flintoff in a crash while filming Top Gear in December 2022
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)
Freddie Flintoff moved viewers to tears when revealing he was suffering ‘nightmares and flashbacks’ after his near-fatal Top Gear crash
The cricket legend admitted the after effects of the crash might 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.
In one heartrending scene the 46-year-old tells the group of teenagers he might need to leave to ‘go cry in my room’ if things become too overwhelming after his struggles to leave the house in the aftermath of the incident.
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, 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.
