'BUSY LIVES'
Paddy McGuinness breaks silence after Freddie Flintoff revealed he hardly sees Top Gear co-stars after horrifying crash
Freddie features in a new documentary about his life-changing Top Gear accident
PADDY McGuinness has spoken out after Freddie Flintoff revealed he has backed away from his Top Gear co-stars following his horrifying crash.
Paddy, 51, said he "loves Fred" but admits they all have "busy lives", which makes it tricky to keep in contact.
9
9
9
9
Former cricket legend Freddie suffered life-changing injuries when he was dragged face down, around 150ft along the tarmac of Dunsfold Aerodrome in 2022.
The 47-year-old has now spoken about the terrifying accident, which happened while he filmed Top Gear, for a new Disney+ documentary.
But in the special film, Freddie has revealed he admits he "feels bad for altering the careers" of both Paddy and fellow Top Gear host, racing driver Chris Harris.
Admitting he hasn't seen Paddy for two years, Freddie says: "I feel bad I haven't been in more contact with Chris and Paddy.
READ MORE ON FREDDIE FLINTOFF
"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 them.”
Paddy has now been quoted in as he reflected on his time working with Freddie and Chris.
Most read in TV
Paddy told the publication: "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.
Freddie Flintoff's Top Gear crash seen for first time in dramatic documentary about England cricket legend
“Me, Fred and Chris every day 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."
Admitting he does still exchange messages with Freddie, Paddy continued: "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."
Freddie had been filming for Top Gear when his three-wheeled roadster flipped over.
His former co-star Chris was also on location in Surrey when it happened.
He spent eight months recovering from the ordeal - and never left the house during that time, apart for medical appointments.
Freddie's new Disney+ documentary has dropped today and it sees the star reveal how he still feels phantom pain and has frequent flashbacks and nightmares of the crash that plays over and over in his mind nightly, like a movie he can’t turn off.
Freddie said: “I still live it every day. I see the car every night when I go to bed. It’s so vivid. I’ve not slept the same since.
“Even the memories of it are real, to the point where now I’m talking about it and I’m getting a bit jittery.
"I can feel the pain on this side of my face, I can feel phantom pains. It’s like a bit of a curse really.
"I’ve got PTSD and I get anxious. For periods of time I just find myself crying for no particular reason."
It comes as
- Freddie Flintoff thought he was dead after his face was almost ripped off in horror Top Gear crash
- Freddie hits out at the BBC saying ‘they treated me like a piece of meat in bid for higher ratings’ as he slams Top Gear stunts
- Freddie admits 'I wished I'd been killed' in devastating confession after Top Gear accident in his new doc
- Heartbroken Freddie reveals his 'frightened' son, 3, 'wouldn't come near him' as horrifying face wounds healed
- Jack Whitehall reveals bulimia battle as he praises 'brave' Freddie Flintoff on documentary
Freddie also recounted the exact moment the crash occurred in chilling detail.
He explains: “We were probably doing about 40 or 45. They were showing me how to get the car going sideways, and a wheel came off at the front.
“It’s a funny thing rolling a car because there’s the point of no return and everything slows down. It’s so weird."
Freddie adds: “I remember everything about it.
Read More on The Sun
"In some ways it would have been easier if I’d gone unconscious, and then been unconscious for a week or two and you wake up and all your stitches are out and everything."
The Sun revealed in 2023 how the motoring show had been axed by the BBC following the accident.
9
9
9
9
9
Topics
