ITV are bringing Bullseye back permanently, with a series planned later this year and Freddie Flintoff poised to sign up as full-time host.
The rebooted darts gameshow, previously hosted by Jim Bowen in the Eighties and Nineties, was a huge hit for the channel over the festive season.
Freddie is being poised as the host for a full series[/caption]
The Christmas special saw Freddie joined by Luke Littler[/caption]
Littler in action on the show[/caption]
That convinced channel chiefs to push for it to be brought back, though its fate depended on Freddie agreeing to take the reins – and now they’re close to sealing the deal with him.
A TV insider said: “This was a no-brainer for ITV but they knew that a big part of the success of the Christmas special was down to its new host.
“So they’ve spent the past two months trying to convince him to take the plunge and it looks like Freddie is ready to make the commitment.”
The festive special aired on the Sunday just before Christmas, and the ambition is to bring it back on a Sunday teatime just as it used to back in its heyday.
It comes after it was revealed that the reboot of the show was ITV’s most-watched programme during the week that it aired.
It put channel chiefs under pressure to deliver a full series following the response from those watching at home.
Over 3.3m tuned in to see Freddie take over the presenting role held by the late Jim Bowen, and both critics and viewers were unanimous in their praise for the Ashes hero.
One viewer commented on X, formerly Twitter, that: “This already deserves a new series commissioned.
“They haven’t messed with the original format whatsoever and it shows.
“Flintoff absolutely class too. Get it sorted ASAP please ITV.”
Another wrote: “Loved the Bullseye reboot. Freddie Flintoff is a great presenter and as handsome as ever.”
Others branded it “The Luke Littler Show” because of the prominence of the teenage arrows star on the programme and how well he did – getting a score of 180 with his first three darts.
The festive show topped ITV’s ratings on Saturday and Sunday and eclipsed those tuning in for long-standing shows including The Chase and The 1% Club.
Freddie took over from legendary host Jim Bowen[/caption]
