A rounded history of Flat-Earthers: How mad theory popularised in the Victorian era has been parroted by celebrities including Freddie Flintoff

When Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff, the great England cricket hero, gave credence to the belief that the Earth is flat, he was in good company. In the 20th century, what became the Flat Earth Society was led by tireless campaigner Samuel Shenton and then California-based Charles Johnson. In 2018, daredevil amateur 'Mad' Mike Hughes launched himself nearly 2,000 feet in the Earth in a homemade steam-powered rocket in a bid to prove the Earth is flat Hughes injured himself in the hard landing that followed and then was killed in another rocket launch in 2020 Rowbotham's experiment in 1838 was followed by the issuing of a £500 public wager by his supporter John Hampden in 1870. In the 20th century, what became the Flat Earth Society was led by tireless campaigner Samuel Shenton After Shenton's death, California couple Charles and Marjory Johnson led the Flat Earth Society And, after his initial experiment, Rowbotham had written a pamphlet titled Earth Not a Globe, which was expanded into a book in 1865. Biblical Creationist Samuel Birley Rowbotham Rowbotham carried out what became known as the Bedford Level experiment in 1838 Rowbotham wrote a pamphlet titled Earth Not a Globe, which was expanded into a book in 1865 Rowbotham's map of the flat Earth.