Paddy McGuinness has reportedly “not spoken” to his former Top Gear co-host Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff in nearly a year after the latter was involved in a horror crash on the show.
The accident left Flintoff, 46, with life-threatening injuries and scars which he is still recovering from following the 2022 incident, and the BBC has since decided to shelve the long-running show.
The broadcaster announced in November last year it would “rest” Top Gear for the "foreseeable future" almost a year after the serious accident.
McGuinness, who hosted the motoring programme alongside Flintoff from 2019, has apparently not spoken to his former co-star in a long time.
The Sun reported it has been “10 months” since the 50-year-old talked to the former cricketer.
He told the publication: “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.
Top Gear hasn't aired since Flintoff's accident in 2022
BBC
“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.'"
He continued: “You just can’t begin to put yourself into his shoes. No one can know what’s going on in his head.”
The incident occurred in December 2022 while Flintoff was filming a scene for Top Gear. His vehicle spun out of control at 130 miles per hour and the collision left him with facial injuries and broken ribs.
Top Gear, which has been running since 1977 but was given a format shake-up in 2002, has been off air ever since Flintoff’s accident.
McGuinness gave an update on is former co-star
ITV
At the end of last year, the BBC announced: “Given the exceptional circumstances, the BBC has decided to rest the UK show for the foreseeable future.
"The BBC remains committed to Freddie, Chris [Harris] and Paddy [McGuinness] who have been at the heart of the show’s renaissance since 2019, and we’re excited about new projects being developed with each of them.”
Speaking recently, McGuinness gave another update on Flintoff, announcing: "He’s alright! I’ve not spoken to him for a while but you know he’s getting on with it. He’s a very resilient character is Fred so I’ve not doubt he’ll be as right as rain."
Speaking on Good Morning Britain last week, he continued: “I sound like a politician now. I can’t really get into the ins and outs of it because there’s all stuff still going on with Top Gear and what have you.
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Flintoff suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash while filming Top Gear
BBC
Meanwhile, Flintoff is set to make his TV comeback for the first time following the frightening near-miss.
It's been speculated he'll continue with his BBC sporting series, Field of Dreams, which could air before the end of this year.
Last month, The Sun reported Flintoff has been in "planning meetings" with production company for talks of a second series of the programme.
A source told the publication: “Freddie and staff have been quietly working on it since last month. It’s a show he feels passionate about and he’s excited to be returning to the grass roots of the sport."