THE GOOGLY: FLINTOFF FOLLOWS BOTHAM BY TREADING THE BOARDS

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Andrew Flintoff succeeded Sir Ian Botham by becoming England’s premier allrounder, and now he is following in his footsteps again.

Flintoff is to make his stage debut in Fat Friends – the Musical, playing the role of Kevin for seven dates of a UK tour.

He has shown himself to be an assured presence on television, in A League of Their Own, I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! and Lord of the Fries, so he should not find it too daunting.

There is a certain irony in the choice of production. The England management were concerned about his weight in 2000 and the story found its way into the press. After a match-winning performance against Zimbabwe, Flintoff declared: "All right for a fat lad."

The news prompts reminiscence about Botham’s stage career. He made his panto debut at Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre in December 1990 alongside George and Zippy, the loveable characters from ITV children’s classic, Rainbow. The Daily Express said: "The expressionless Botham is the only wooden thing on stage apart from the beanstalk – and even that projects itself better." Ouch.

That review did not deter him. Oh no it didn't! He then appeared in Dick Whittington as Silly Midoff in 1992 at the Theatre Royal Bath with Confessions actor Robin Askwith and EastEnders legend June Brown (Dot Cotton).

That delayed his arrival on England’s tour to New Zealand that winter. He finally made it over for the third Test at Christchurch, where he won his 100th Test cap (sadly recalled for David Lawrence’s horrific knee injury).

A cricket journalist called Mike Beale tried to give Botham a cake on the outfield to mark his century. There had been criticism of that great allrounder’s weight too, but luckily he took the prank in good spirits.

Botham also tried to make it in Hollywood, of course, but without joy. His agent, the zany Tim Hudson, dressed him up as Rambo, but he soon returned to television where he has had a successful post-playing career on Question of Sport and Sky.

The Flintoff news came soon after I had a conversation with Peter Hayter, the former cricket correspondent of the Mail on Sunday, who has been combining stage acting with his cricket writing. He has starred as King Bertie the Brave in Jack and the Beanstalk, and King Rat in Dick Whittington; he has also played Nobby the Naughty Panda in Aladdin, Pistol in Henry V, Orsino in Twelfth Night and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, mainly at the Regal Theatre in Tenbury Wells and the Ludlow Assembly Rooms. He is next appearing for the Two Score Theatre Company in two summer charity productions on July 2 and 3 in the Ludlow area – it is a Shakespeare greatest hits show, and he will be Bottom, Falstaff, Brutus, Hamlet – quite a four, to keep the cricketing theme going.

He will then appear as Fagin in Oliver! from July 29–August 5 back at the Regal in a show celebrating the 80th birthday of this art deco jewel on the Herefordshire/Shropshire border.

Peter’s father was the great sports journalist Reg Hayter, who edited The Cricketer in the late 1970s.

Meanwhile Flintoff will take to the stage for the first time on November 7 at Leeds Grand Theatre. He will then tour with the production to Southampton, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, Bradford and Blackpool.

Fat Friends writer Kay Mellor said: “I was introduced to Freddie at one of our TV casting sessions – it was clear to me that he could leave his cricket bat behind, embody a character, and understand the drama. It was a no brainer… he got the part. Then I wondered if Freddie could sing. I was ecstatic when Nick met him and agreed his voice was perfect for the role.”

Break a leg, Freddie. Actually with his injury record, scrub that…