Paddy McGuinness breaks silence after Freddie Flintoff documentary revelations
Paddy Mcguinness has spoken out after revelations indicating he hasn't seen Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff since his horror accident, and reports that he was furious the BBC gave his Top Gear co-star a pay out afterwards.
Former cricketer Flintoff is the subject of a new documentary on Disney+ which details the aftermath of his accident while shooting the hit BBC motoring show.
In the documentary, he reveals that he hasn't spoken to his former co-host since the accident, and now Paddy is speaking out about Freddie, saying it was a 'privilege' to have worked with him and that trying to get everyone back in a room together is like 'lightning in a bottle'. Freddie Flintoff in the new Disney+ documentary. Pic: Disney+
Speaking to the Mirror, McGuinness said: '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.
'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.' Paddy McGuinness. Pic:for Paramount Pictures UK
In a report published on the MailOnline, Paddy was supposedly disappointed not to receive compensation of his own as the shut-down of Top Gear essentially made him redundant.
Flintoff is said to have received £9million from the BBC after the crash, with him criticising the British National Broadcaster for treating him 'like a piece of meat' on the show in order to attract more viewers.
The accident saw the presenter driving a Morgan Super 3, three-wheeled sports car, which flipped and dragged him across the tarmac, leading to serious injuries. Freddie Flintoff in the new Disney+ documentary. Pic: Disney+
A source told MailOnline about Paddy's bewilderment: 'Paddy was moaning because he had lost his job, the show went so really it was a case of him being made redundant.
'It was a big income for him and suddenly it was gone after Freddie's accident. He couldn't understand why he didn't get a pay out, I guess you can see his point. Freddie did get one but he was so badly injured.
'His life changed, he didn't leave the house for months and months and while it was sad for Paddy that his job had gone, he did go on to find other work.' Freddie Flintoff, Paddy Mcguinness and Chris Harris in 2018. Pic: Ashley Knotek/REX/Shutterstock
It wasn't the last we'd see of McGuinness on the BBC though, as he and Chris Harris would get their own spin-off show depicting the pair on a series of road trips, simply called Road Tripping.
Speaking of Chris, he and Freddie have met up, with Flintoff saying that they both got a little upset being together again, with the former cricketer admitting he was worried seeing Harris would bring back painful memories. Freddie Flintoff in the new Disney+ documentary. Pic: Disney+
He said: 'I feel bad I haven't been more in contact with him and Paddy. I think there were some comments that I've not spoken with Paddy for a while and 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 because of what's happened to me. Their careers have been halted as well. So I feel bad for them and also it's like what happened gets dragged up enough in my own head without adding to that [by seeing them].'
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