Paddy McGuinness declares love for Freddie Flintoff after co-star's sad admission

Paddy McGuinness has declared his love for Freddie Flintoff as the former star said he might find it in person. Comedian and TV presenter , said he still messages his former co-host and is looking forward to watching Freddie’s documentary ‘Flintoff’, which includes detail of the former cricketer's near-fatal crash in December 2022.

Speaking in the special, Freddie admitted he ‘felt bad’ for and wrongly feared he’d derailed his pal's career when his accident took Top Gear off air. Freddie and Paddy worked closely together on the hit show alongside former racing driver Chris Harris.

Speaking in his , Freddie says: “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.”

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Showing his support for pal Freddie, Paddy 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 . 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.” Despite his lack of knowledge on Freddie’s stellar England career, the pair struck up a close bond while filming the motor show.

Paddy says: “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.”

For the past year, Paddy has been on the road performing stand-up for the first time in nearly a decade with his Nearly There… tour which wraps 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 , kicks off on Thursday 1st May at 8pm.

Every week over 200 Marston's pubs across the UK will go head-to-head, battling for the title of the Smartest Pub in the UK. The Smartest Pub of the week will receive a donation from Marston’s Charitable Foundation to support a local worthy cause. Plus, the top scorer in each pub each week will win a £50 gift voucher to spend at their local. It’s a fast-paced, game show-style digital quiz, using mobiles to play, with Paddy’s voice beamed into pubs around the UK. Quizzes will take place 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd of May for general knowledge boffins to show what they are made of. The person with the highest score at the end of the quiz will take home a whopping £5k.