Paddy McGuinness says he hasn’t spoken to Freddie Flintoff in 10 months following cricketer’s horrific Top Gear crash
PADDY McGuinness admits he hasn’t spoken to pal Freddie Flintoff in 10 months.
The TV presenter says “no one can begin to know what’s going on in his head” following Freddie’s horrific Top Gear crash.
He and Freddie hosted the BBC show alongside Chris Harris before it was derailed in the wake of co-star Freddie Flintoff’s horror smash in December 2022.
Paddy still loves the show and firmly believes it will one day return to screens despite being “on pause” at present.
Speaking to The Sun about his relationship with Freddie, Paddy said: “We were all there for him when it happened, and he got back to us all immediately after, but it’s gone quiet since then.
“Who knows what he must be going through. I still see his wife and we still chat, and we have the same barber, and it’s all lovely.
“I messaged Fred recently saying, ‘Look, I can’t begin to think what you’re going through but rather than me bombarding you with loads of messages, which can be annoying, if you can’t be a***d with that, I’m always here. I hope you’re well and please God, I’ll see you soon’.
“You just can’t begin to put yourself into his shoes. No one can know what’s going on in his head.”
Contrary to reports that the former England cricketer was a “nervous driver”, Paddy insists he loved the thrill of the show’s more high-octane stunts.
“Clarkson, May and Hammond made that show what it was, it went to the next level with those three,” he explains.
“I did the Clarkson bit of heavy-lifting in the studio, Chris [Harris] is definitely the best driver and Fred was always the one into doing something dangerous.
“Fred wasn’t a nervous driver. If you look at him on A League Of Their Own, he’s always the one doing something a bit tasty.
“Fred and I weren’t pro drivers, but we are better than your average driver, you have to be on that show, but there were things where we’d be, ‘Oh hold on a minute, can we get a bit more training on this?’ if we were nervous.”
After leaving school at 16, and getting a job on a building site, Paddy’s big break came in 2001 alongside Peter Kay in the smash sitcom Phoenix Nights.
With the insatiable work ethic of a billionaire tech CEO, over the past two decades he has become one of the country’s most in-demand entertainers. And most omnipresent.
In 2010 he added another sting to his bow in becoming the host of cult dating show Take Me Out, which ran for ten years.
Since then, high-profile stints on iconic BBC quiz Question Of Sport and driving show Top Gear followed.
Last year Question Of Sport was axed by the Beeb over inflation and funding challenges.
Paddy had taken over from ex-tennis pro Sue Barker at the helm, joined by new team captains former hockey star Sam Quek and ex England rugby union player Ugo Monye.
In a world driven by social media, Paddy found himself unfairly criticised for not being a former sportsman.
Obviously, he says, the criticism hurt. “I’m sensitive, but then again I don’t think anyone wants to see themselves slagged off.”
Following Sue’s very public sacking, amid claims of ageism, the 67-year-old hit out at the corporation in the way it handled her dismissal.
She was, however, exceptionally gallant after discovering Paddy had landed the coveted gig.
“It’s difficult when you get asked to do an iconic show and Sue, Matt [Dawson] and Phil [Tufnell] were so revered, and loved, and they’d done the show for that long.
“I think they knew that the person taking over that show isn’t the one getting rid of them — that’s the powers that be.
“When I got the job, I got Sue’s number off Matt and rang her up out of respect and she was absolutely gorgeous with me.
“She talked me through everything, told me to learn everyone’s names, do this and do that.
“Whatever she felt about the BBC, that’s nothing to do with me. I’m glad she was really receptive and helped me out.
“To use a football analogy, if you’re going in straight after Sir Alex Ferguson you’re going to be up against it. But I was genuinely gutted though, because I loved the show so much.”
Yet for now it’s onwards and upwards. Paddy has just been forced to add new tour dates due to phenomenal demand for his new stand-up tour.
Kicking off in Blackburn in October, his long-awaited return will now see him perform 44 dates across the UK and Ireland this year and next.
“The nature of telly is that you do some stuff, some works, some doesn’t and nothing lasts for ever.
“I love performing in front of a live audience and making people laugh.
“The rush you get, well, I guess it’s a bit like scoring a goal.
“I love it, and I really am excited.”
Tickets are on sale now at tix.to/Paddy