The BBC has announced comedian Paddy McGuinness and cricketer Freddie Flintoff as the new hosts of Top Gear.
McGuinness and Flintoff will join existing host Chris Harris for season 27 of Top Gear. The restructure of the show comes after Matt LeBlanc announced he will leave Top Gear after the next series.
Series 26 of Top Gear TV – Matt LeBlanc’s last as lead host, will debut in early 2019 on BBC Knowledge (Foxtel – Fetch TV) and will also air later in the year on Channel 9.
Series 27 with Paddy, Freddie and Chris will then follow later in 2019.
Freddie Flintoff is well known to Australian audiences. Apart from his impressive cricket career, he was the inaugural winner of I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, and is the current sideline reporter for Nine’s Australian Ninja Warrior.
“It’s not often you have the chance to do both of your dream jobs, but I’m now lucky enough to say I will have. I’ve always been passionate about cars and I’m so excited to be joining the Top Gear team,” said Flintoff.
Chris Harris added: “I think you can tell just how much fun we’re going to have making Top Gear with Paddy and Freddie. They’re both brilliant, natural entertainers – and their mischief mixed with the most exciting cars on the planet is sure to take the show to the next level.
“My dream job just got even better.”
Current presenter Rory Reid has been demoted from the main presenting line-up, but will remain part of the Top Gear family, along with Sabine Schmitz. He’ll continue to be the face of TG’s companion show Extra Gear, and will form the heart of a larger digital presence for the show.
