Freddie Flintoff’s greatest supporter: High Gear host’s mannequin spouse Rachael was ‘charmed’ by her husband 21 years in the past regardless of him ‘not being her sort’ earlier than fancy London marriage ceremony WITHOUT a honeymoon (and she or he’ll solely name him Andrew at residence!)

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff was seen in public final Friday for the primary time since his horror automotive crash whereas filming Top Gear final yr.

The previous England cricket star, 45, was little question supported all through his ordeal by his household, together with his spouse of 18 years, Rachael, 42, who’s a mannequin and enterprise entrepreneur.

Freddie, who has returned to work with the England cricket staff, retains his household life largely personal – however the couple have beforehand shared some particulars about their romance.

The pair wed in 2005 on the glitzy Pavilion Street Lodge in Knightsbridge, London, on March 5, however due to Freddie’s work commitments, they have been unable to get pleasure from a honeymoon shortly after their big day.

They now share 4 kids, Holly, 17, Corey, 16, Rocky, 13, and Preston, two, who was named after the Lancashire metropolis the place Freddie grew up.

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff (pictured together with his spouse in 2018 in London) was seen in public final Friday for the primary time since his horror automotive crash whereas filming High Gear final yr

Rachael, initially from Hayward’s Heath, West Sussex, arrange her enterprise Strawberry Promotions aged 19, with the agency supplying promotional employees for upmarket occasions.

It was by her work in occasions that she met her husband on the Edgbaston Cricket Floor in 2002.

She admitted to The Day by day Mail in 2007: ‘He actually wasn’t my sort bodily, as a result of I at all times go for darkish males, however I assumed he was the funniest man I had ever met.

‘He received maintain of my cell quantity and texted me a few instances, and we met up for a drink, and I used to be just about greatly surprised by his appeal.’

The couple welcomed their first baby Holly in 2004, adopted by Corey shortly after and Rocky in 2008.

Freddie was satisfied that he and Rachael would not have anymore kids after the arrival of their son Rocky.

In 2016 he stated: ‘We thought of it. I initially needed 5 however you might have three and that felt like sufficient. I could not return to the nappy stage now.’

However in April 2020, the pair revealed that they’d secretly welcomed their fourth baby over Christmas 2019 and shared their youngest son’s title. 

The previous England cricket star, 45, was little question supported all through his ordeal by his household, together with his spouse of 18 years, Rachael, 42, who’s a mannequin and enterprise entrepreneur. Pictured, Freddie, Rachael and their kids Holly, Corey and Rocky in 2014

Freddie, who has returned to work with the England cricket staff, retains his household life largely personal – however the couple (pictured) have beforehand shared some particulars about their romance

Talking on talkSPORT, Freddie stated: ‘Little Preston was born at Christmas – it’s the first time I’ve truly spoken about it.’ 

They paid tribute to Freddie’s birthplace, Preston, by naming the teen after the Lancashire metropolis. 

He continued: ‘However yeah, we’ve got received one other child and it has been good spending time with him.’

Rachael – who lives together with her household in a £2.5 million residence in Altrincham, Better Manchester, based on The Sun – at all times refers to her husband as Andrew, by no means Freddie. She tried it as soon as, she beforehand admitted, however he reacted like a scalded cat.

‘Freddie is a piece title, in addition to a little bit of a joky title, and though a great deal of his mates name him Freddie, to me he is Andrew, a husband and a father, relatively than a sportsman and a star.’

In 2015, whereas on the I am A Movie star… Get Me Out Of Right here Australia, Freddie opened up about his battle with melancholy and Rachael’s response to him deciding to bear remedy.

‘I feel in some methods she was fairly relieved,’ he stated. ‘I feel it is as a result of she noticed me susceptible as nicely.

‘I spent a variety of time placing up a barrier taking part in sport and also you are likely to play as much as that character the entire time and ultimately it received exhausting. I could not do it any longer.’Rachael, in the meantime, was beforehand signed to Storm mannequin company, which launched the careers of Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne, and was pictured in numerous magazines.

‘The modelling work I did as a youngster was good enjoyable, however I gave it up after a couple of years to focus on my schoolwork,’ Rachael informed the Day by day Mail.

‘I received good A-levels and, as a result of I would by no means actually supposed to go to school, I used to be toying with the thought of returning to modelling – that was till somebody accused me of being a bimbo! 

The pair wed in 2005 on the glitzy Pavilion Street Lodge in Knightsbridge, London, on March 5, however due to Freddie’s work commitments, they have been unable to get pleasure from a honeymoon shortly after their big day

They now share 4 kids, Holly, 17, Corey, 16, Rocky, 13, and Preston, two, who was named after the Lancashire metropolis the place Freddie grew up. Pictured, Freddie and Rachael on their marriage ceremony day

Rachael (pictured together with her husband in 2013), initially from Hayward’s Heath, West Sussex, arrange her enterprise Strawberry Promotions aged 19, with the agency supplying promotional employees for upmarket occasions 

‘I used to be so incensed that I utilized to do a legislation diploma with French at Sheffield College.’ 

She did not end her legislation course and as a substitute landed a job at Capital Radio earlier than beginning her personal enterprise aged 19.

The mother-of-four additionally mentioned Freddie’s busy life in 2007, explaining how the previous cricket star missed his household.

‘Holly is an entire daddy’s lady, and when Andrew’s round, I by no means get a look-in,’ Rachael revealed on the time. 

‘She misses him when he is away, however she makes up for it by carrying round {a photograph} of him – when she has a tea occasion for her dolls, she places the image on a chair, so Daddy might be there too.

‘Luckily, Andrew is good on the phone and we discuss 4 or 5 instances a day, so he is aware of what’s occurring in our lives.

‘I exploit the time when he is away as productively as I can, so I am not simply rattling round the home. As quickly as he goes away, I take out the calendar and e book in social and household occasions.

‘It is a lot tougher for him. He misses the kids rather a lot, and international excursions aren’t practically as unique as they sound – you’ll be able to’t play cricket 24 hours a day, and there are solely so many DVDs you’ll be able to watch.

‘However neither of us would ever complain, we’re each so fortunate that his profession has been going nicely and we recognize all of the monetary safety it has given us.’

In the meantime, former High Gear host Angela Rippon, who offered the programme from 1977 to 1979, beforehand claimed Freddie’s household have been insisting he ought to take as a lot outing as he wants after his horror crash.

Angela stated she despatched Freddie a message which learn: ‘Subsequent time you need to go across the course a bit slower, simply give me a name.’

Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff helps coach England at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton on September 10, 2023

She added to The Sun: ‘I used to be simply so sorry as they [Freddie and his co-presenters] should not skilled drivers and are requested to do issues that even skilled drivers fairly often would discover tough.

‘I feel Freddie and his household determined this was an ask and a process too far and his life is extra essential than a tv programme.’

Freddie has returned to work with the England cricket staff and was pictured final Friday with cuts on his face whereas becoming a member of the teaching employees at Cardiff‘s Sophia Gardens for the one-day worldwide sequence in opposition to New Zealand as a mentor.

The 45-year-old was airlifted to hospital after breaking a rib and suffering facial injuries nine months ago in a high-speed smash whereas capturing an episode of the BBC TV motoring sequence at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey.

Flintoff – who additionally narrowly cheated loss of life following a 125mph crash in 2019 – give up his High Gear job after the accident and the BBC cancelled the newest sequence of the present – with its future remaining unsure.

It’s unclear whether or not the father-of-four, who is without doubt one of the nice all-rounders of the English sport and the hero of the 2005 Ashes triumph, will ever return to TV screens.