Preston-born star, who attended Greenlands Community Primary School and Ribbleton Hall High School, has spoken about the ordeal ahead of a new documentary.
The 44-year-old Top Gear host said he "got so much stick for playing cricket" and likened it to the fictional working class lad Billy Elliot who discovered a passion for ballet.
However, the television and radio presenter said Billy "he had it easier". The former all-rounder, who was England's "Man of the Series" in the 2005 Ashes, said more should be done to encourage children from all walks of life to play the game. READ MORE: 'Grannies' ride from Preston to Blackpool on kids' scooters to raise money for disabled schoolgirlFreddie said: "At both the schools I went to, cricket was just not on the radar.
I got so much stick for playing cricket, bullied even, it was almost like Billy Elliot – except he had it easier being a ballet dancer. "The former I'm a Celebrity contestant took up a TV boxing challenge in 2012 to tackle his frustration at having been bullied but not responding, The Mirror reports.