EXCLUSIVE: Freddie Flintoff admits it was ‘really nice’ to spend time at home with 10-month-old son Preston during lockdown as cricket career meant he ‘never’ got the chance to do so with his other children
Freddie Flintoff has admitted he found it ‘really nice’ to spend time at home during lockdown, as it meant he could spend more time with his ten-month-old son Preston.
The former England cricket captain, 42, spoke exclusively with MailOnline about being able to be around with his little one, as his sports career meant he ‘never’ got the chance to do so with his daughter Holly, 15, and sons Corey, 14, and Rocky, 12.
Freddie, who secretly welcomed his fourth child with wife Rachael at Christmas, gushed: ‘The thing about lockdown is, obviously, under different circumstances you could probably say you quite enjoyed it.
Family man: While chatting exclusively to MailOnline, Freddie Flintoff admitted it was ‘really nice’ to spend time at home with 10-month-old son Preston during lockdown
‘I got time with him and the family which I’d never get. When I had the other kids I was playing cricket, I was here, there and everywhere, so to get that period of time at home was really nice.’
Freddie, who is set to appear in a new season of Top Gear alongside co-hosts Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris, said of returning to set in June: ‘I think from another point of view when we came back to work we were refreshed as well.
‘You’ve had a great time with your family and you’re looking forward to getting back and seeing everyone.’
‘But, bizarrely, it was quite nice [to be home], you know, and now he’s ten-months-old it’s great for him. I’ve got four kids, jeez!’
Candid: Freddie, who secretly welcomed his fourth child with wife Rachael at Christmas, said his cricket career meant he ‘never’ got the chance to be at home like that with his other kids
In April, Freddie revealed he and his wife secretly welcomed their fourth child over Christmas and also announced his son’s name.
Speaking on talkSPORT at the time, Freddie said: ‘Little Preston was born at Christmas – it is the first time I’ve actually spoken about it.’
The sportsman and wife Rachael paid tribute to his birthplace, Preston, by naming their son after the Lancashire city.
Struggle: Freddie, who also has Holly, 15, Corey, 14, and Rocky, 12, said: ‘When I had the other kids I was playing cricket… so to get that period of time at home was really nice’
Freddie first announced his wife’s pregnancy in October after Rachael revealed her bump at the Attitude Awards.
Freddie and Rachael, who’ve been married for almost fifteen years, were pictured looking glamorous together at a red carpet event where it became evident they had some happy news to share.
A source told MailOnline at the time: ‘They’re over the moon to be expecting again. It’s been exciting news for all the family.’
The ex-England cricketer, real name Andrew, was convinced him and Rachael wouldn’t have anymore children after the arrival of their youngest son Rocky.
In 2016 he said: ‘We thought about it. I originally wanted five but you have three and that felt like enough. I couldn’t go back to the nappy stage now.’
Top Gear returns to BBC One on Sunday October 4, at 8pm.
One to watch: Top Gear returns to BBC One on Sunday October 4, at 8pm