Paddy McGuinness Reflects on Friendship After Freddie Flintoff’s Top Gear Crash

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Paddy McGuinness has made it clear that his bond with Freddie Flintoff remains strong, even after the cricket icon admitted that seeing his former Top Gear co-host could be difficult for him. The comedian, now 51, continues to reach out to Flintoff and is looking forward to watching his new documentary, which explores the harrowing aftermath of Flintoff’s life-threatening crash in December 2022.

In the Disney+ feature, Flintoff reflects on how losing contact with Paddy for two years and the impact of his accident-which led to Top Gear’s suspension-made him worry about the effect on his friend’s career.

Flintoff opens up in the documentary, saying: “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.” McGuinness, meanwhile, has nothing but praise for Flintoff, stating: “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.”

Even though McGuinness never followed Flintoff’s cricketing achievements, their friendship grew during their time on the BBC car show. “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.”

Reflecting on those days, he added: “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.”

Recently, McGuinness has returned to stand-up comedy, embarking on his Nearly There… tour for the first time in almost a decade, wrapping up this weekend in Glasgow. “The last time I toured was getting on for 10 years ago, I’ve got more life experience to talk about now,” he said. “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.”

Alongside comedy, Paddy has teamed up with Marston’s for a nationwide pub quiz event this May, searching for the UK’s top pub quizzer. “I’m good at a pub quiz,” he added.

“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.”

Winners of Paddy’s pub quiz will claim not only prizes but also the chance to meet McGuinness, earning the sought-after title of Smartest Pub of the Week. The Big Pub Quiz, hosted by Paddy, kicks off on Thursday 1st May at 8pm, with over 200 Marston’s pubs vying each week for the crown of Smartest Pub in the UK.

Weekly winners will see donations made to local causes by Marston’s Charitable Foundation, and the top scorer at each pub will receive a £50 voucher to spend locally. The competition promises a fast-paced, game show-style digital quiz, with Paddy’s voice broadcast into pubs nationwide.

The quizzes are scheduled for the 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd of May, offering trivia fans a shot at a £5,000 prize for the highest overall score. Later this year, Paddy will join Olympian Chris Hoy for a new cycling challenge. “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,” McGuinness confessed. “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,” Paddy said of Hoy. “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.”