Freddie's food fight
TV & Satellite Week|September 26, 2020
Freddie Flintoff on the eating disorder he’s struggled with for more than 20 years
HANNAH DAVIES, SEAN MARLAND, IAN MACEWAN
Freddie's food fight

Top Gear presenter Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff was one of the sporting heroes of 2005 as part of the England cricket team that beat Australia to win the Ashes for the first time in 18 years.

But behind the fame and glory, the all-rounder was hiding a secret, as he reveals in the emotional, no-holds-barred BBC documentary Freddie Flintoff: Living with Bulimia.

‘Throughout my career I’ve lived with the eating disorder bulimia,’ reveals the 42-year-old. ‘It’s such a hard thing to define or even admit. What nobody knew during the first Test of that 2005 Ashes series was that I was regularly being sick. You had to plan it, though – I’m in a dressing room full of people, and my biggest fear was getting caught.’

CRITICISMS

Flintoff ’s eating disorder began in 1998 when he made his debut for England against South Africa and was vilified in the press for his 19-stone frame.

This story is from the September 26, 2020 edition of TV & Satellite Week.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the September 26, 2020 edition of TV & Satellite Week.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.