BBC Top Gear's Paddy McGuinness says he 'loves' Freddie Flintoff after co-star's sad admission
Paddy McGuinness has declared his love for his former Top Gear co-star Freddie Flintoff after the cricket legend admitted he hadn't seen him for some time
Paddy McGuinness has openly expressed his affection for Freddie Flintoff, after the former cricketer said he might find it 'triggering' to meet him face-to-face post-accident. The 51-year-old comedian and television host, Paddy, mentioned he still keeps in touch with his ex-'Top Gear' colleague and is keen to watch Freddie's documentary Flintoff, which discusses the former cricketer's life-threatening crash in December 2022.
In the special programme, Freddie confesses feeling remorseful for not having seen Paddy for two years and harboured worries that his accident had negatively impacted his friend's career by causing Top Gear to go off the air. Freddie and Paddy had a close-knit working relationship on the popular series, alongside ex-racing champ Chris Harris.
Freddie reveals in his Disney+ documentary, which became available last Friday, his thoughts: "I feel bad I haven't been in more contact with Chris and Paddy. Part of it is for myself a little bit. I hate the word triggering, but I'm worried about that. It's also something that has stopped, I suppose, in some ways, because of what happened to me. Like their careers have been altered as well. So I feel not guilty, but I feel bad for him."
Paddy showed love for his buddy Freddie Flintoff, telling the press: "I love Fred. He's a good lad. The mad thing about me getting on with him so well is that I know absolutely zero about cricket. I've never watched it, never been into it and never played it. I knew of Freddie and Ian Botham and Michael Vaughan... the famous names."
His lack of cricket expertise didn't hamper their friendship, which blossomed as they filmed for the BBC's car-centric series.
On working with his co-stars, Paddy remarked: "Me, Fred and Chris [Harris] everyday we worked together we just laughed. It was such a lovely experience. It was one of those jobs for me, as someone who wasn't well travelled to visit the places we did in Top Gear and go off the beaten track.
"It was only when I reflect on the things we did that I think what a privilege it is to have done that job. Freddie and I still message. But everyone's got busy lives. It's like with every show I do, you work with people and you keep in touch but no one lives near everyone. It's like lightning in a bottle getting everyone together."
Currently, Paddy has been zigzagging across the country, returning to stand-up comedy after nearly ten years with his tour 'Nearly There...', culminating this weekend in Glasgow.
"The last time I toured was getting on for ten years ago, I've got more life experience to talk about now. It's been a pleasure to get back. I'm proud of this one. I still get the nerves but as soon as I'm out on stage I totally forget about it. When you've got a great atmosphere and people laughing, that's why you do it."
Paddy has also teamed up with pub chain Marston's to host a nationwide pub quiz this May to find the UK's most intelligent pub-goer.
"I'm good at a pub quiz. They used to call me The Jackal because my eyes were so good on the picture round! Geography is not my subject but I've got a lot of other useless trivia stored up!
"We want as many people as possible to head down to their local to join in each week and give the quiz a go. I'm so excited to be working with Marston's to find the smartest pub in the UK, and support some amazing community causes while we're at it. I'm very much looking forward to meeting the winners and community projects to congratulate them in person."
As part of the partnership, the winners of Paddy's pub quiz will get the chance to win huge prizes and to meet Paddy himself... as well as have bragging rights for being part of the Smartest Pub of the week. The Big Pub Quiz, hosted by Paddy McGuinness, kicks off on Thursday, May 1 at 8pm.
Across the UK, over 200 Marston's pubs are set to participate weekly in a lively contest to secure the crown of the Smartest Pub. The winning venue each week will be recognised by the Marston's Charitable Foundation with a donation toward a local deserving cause.
Additionally, in a quiz full of excitement resembling that of a television game show, played on mobile devices and narrated via Paddy's voice across venues, each pub's top scorer will bag a £50 voucher to spend locally.
Whoever leads the scoreboard at the close of the event will walk away with a generous £5k prize.
Later this year, Paddy is joining Olympic icon Chris Hoy once more for a fresh cycling challenge.
Paddy said: "I've got Stockholm syndrome from my time on the bike. It was so hard and strenuous so to suddenly stop, my body always feels like I need to do something," adding to his praise for Chris: "He's the kind of guy that when you are with him you would never ever get a sense of anything but positivity. He's so upbeat.
"He's such a lovely man with a lovely family. When he asked me to get involved with his charity bike ride, well he accompanied me on mine for Children in Need so it was an instant yes from me."