Freddie Flintoff fights back tears on BBC show in ‘heartbreaking’ moment-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Freddie Flintoff has been left fighting back tears over a heartbreaking story from one of his young cricket players.

The former pro cricketer, 46, has taken his team from Preston to India, to learn about the culture and more about the sport.

During his trip, former Top Gear presenter Freddie – recovering from his own life-changing accident – takes time to get to know members of his team better, including Adnan, a refugee and cricket star who Freddie has supported after a difficult past.

Adnan arrived in Preston alone at the age of 15, seeking asylum from Afghanistan.

Now 18, he’s living with a foster family, but has not seen or heard from his family in three years.

During one emotional moment in Field of Dreams, Freddie seeks to understand more about Adnan’s journey to the UK, but is left fighting back tears at what he hears.

‘I know a bit about his life, but I’ve always been afraid to ask,’ Freddie admits, telling Adnan he ‘worries’ about him.

Freddie Flintoff was left fighting back tears after hearing about one of his young cricket player’s difficult past (Picture: BBC)

Adnan was smuggled from Afghanistan to the UK (Picture: BBC)

‘It is sad and upsetting,’ Adnan begins.

Telling Freddie about leaving his home, he recalls: ‘I still remember, it was a very hard situation.

‘My mum, she came to me, she was crying, and she said, “Your life is in danger so I won’t be able to see you again.”‘

Fighting back tears, Adnan continues: ‘I left, and didn’t see her again, and didn’t speak with her again.

‘I left Afghanistan, I was 15 years old, I was really scared, there was no other option, I was in danger.’

Freddie was heartbroken listening to the upsetting story (Picture: BBC)

Adnan was beaten several times while travelling to the UK across various countries (Picture: BBC)

Adnan travelled from Afghanistan to Iran, Turkey, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy.

‘With lots of other people, other smugglers, we crossed lots of roads, during night so that nobody catches us,’ Adnan goes on.

‘It was hard because of the cold, and I was crying inside.

‘I said, “I can’t walk,” and the smugglers said, “You have two options, go back home or come with us.”‘

Adnan explains to Freddie that the smugglers would tell them where to cross borders, but it was ‘horrendous’.

‘When the police sees you and says “Stop” they beat you a lot,’ he says.

Viewers were sobbing over the emotional moment (Picture: BBC)

Adnan thanked Freddie for changing his life (Picture: BBC)

‘I’ve been beaten in six different places,’ he says, as Freddie comments: ‘You must have been petrified.’

Adnan goes on: ‘In one country, they caught us, they beat me, and he stood on my back for 15 minutes.

‘When I started to cry, he hit on my head and said, “Stop, don’t cry.”‘

Clearly taken aback by Adnan’s story, Freddie replies: ‘I don’t know what to say after that.’

The young cricket player then tells the camera: ‘The first time I got beaten, I was crying a lot.

‘I said, “I’m finished, I’m not human anymore, I’m like nothing, god I can’t do it anymore.”

‘I nearly gave up, it was very hard.’

Field of Dreams has returned for a second series (Picture: BBC/South Shore Productions/Anirudh Agarwal)

Freddie’s TV return comes after a life-changing accident (Picture: BBC)

Adnan then tells Freddie how ‘lucky’ he feels and how grateful he is for all his help.

‘One thing my mum said to me was, “If somebody helps you in any stage, don’t forget them.”

‘And I don’t know how to thank any of you guys, you’ve changed my life.’

‘I’m getting upset here because I heard your story,’ Freddie tells him.

Choking up, he adds to the camera: ‘It’s like something that no kid should endure.

‘It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it? You know what I mean.’

‘You’re crying,’ he adds to someone off-camera.

‘When he talks about being beaten… I don’t know,’ Freddie says, fighting back tears.

Viewers at home were just as heartbroken watching the episode, with @vintagemillco writing: ‘As a mother it just broke my heart listening to Adnan tell his story! I hope he knows how incredibly strong he is! Brighter skies ahead for you Adnan.’

@ArchieOReilly_ said: ‘Freddie Flintoff’s #FieldOfDreams is some of the best television I have seen. Every one of the lads has a compelling story – what Adnan has come through is truly inspiring. It is a beautifully emotive programme. And Freddie is an unbelievable human being. Incredible TV.’

‘This #FreddieFlintoff programme is so moving. A real story of an Afghan refugee and their heartbreaking journey to asylum in the UK. The support from the team is inspiring. There are still good people in the world,’ @saygrays said.

Others urged for Freddie to be awarded a knighthood, especially for helping the young men after his own accident.

Viewers have urged for Freddie to be awarded a knighthood (Picture: S Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

@LeachSie wrote: ‘Considering his accident Flintoff could have easily backed out of trip to India but so far it seems he is helping the lads but the lads are also helping him to heal as well. He deserves a knighthood for this project alone . Fantastic to see famous sportsman giving back.’

@SimoneC added: ‘Give Freddie Flintoff the knighthood he deserves. Adnan for future England captain, too.’

Freddie’s former Top Gear co-star Paddy McGuinness also commented on his TV return, saying on Wednesday’s Good Morning Britain: ‘With Top Gear, we’re that close, you’re together on the time, going around the world and everything else, you have a real bond.

‘Seeing him do stuff like that again, I’m glad he’s getting back into it and back at it.’

This is Freddie’s first TV appearance after his accident in December 2022, where he was airlifted to hospital and said to be ‘lucky to be alive’ after an accident at the Top Gear test track during filming at Dunsfold Aerdrome in Surrey.

He suffered from severe facial injuries and broken ribs, and had been driving an open-topped car at a reportedly high speed of 130mph when it flipped and slid along the track.

Having kept a low profile in the months that followed, Freddie is returning to screens for the first time with a new series of Field of Dreams, where he not only shows the physical injuries he suffered from, including cuts across his nose, chin and forehead, but also the mental scars he continued to deal with months later.

Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams is available to watch on BBC iPlayer, with the final episode airing on Tuesday at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

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