Top Gear: McGuinness and Flintoff Announced as New Hosts

Paddy McGuinness and Andrew Flintoff will be the new presenters of Top Gear, confirmed the BBC.

The pair will take over from Matt LeBlanc, who will be stepping down at the end of the next series.

The comedian and former cricket captain of England will join Chris Harris, presenter and former race driver, to complete the new line.

The filming of the 27th series of the BBC Two show will begin in early 2019.

Rory Reid, who joined the Top Gear team after the departure of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, will no longer have a lead role to present.

He started playing Extra Gear Series Extra Gear in 2016, before co-hosting the main program alongside LeBlanc and Harris in the most recent series.

According to the BBC, he "will remain in the Top Gear family", alongside Sabine Schmitz, and will continue to be the face of Extra Gear.

The guys from Lancashire, McGuinness and Flintoff – also known as Freddie Flintoff – were unveiled as the new faces of the auto show on Monday morning.

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McGuinness commented, "Getting the Top Gear concert is a real honor and I'm delighted that the BBC gives me this opportunity.

"Hosting a show I've watched and loved since I was a little boy is more than exciting."

Flintoff, former cricket captain, winner of the ashes, said: "It is not often that you have the chance to do the two jobs of your dreams, but I am now lucky enough to say it.

"I've always been passionate about cars and I'm very excited to join the Top Gear team."

The next Top Gear series – the last as LeBlanc's main host and his 26th overall – will debut in early 2019 on BBC Two, before Paddy, Freddie and Chris take over later in the # 39; year.

Flintoff retired from cricket in 2013 after a recurring knee injury and currently presents the Flintoff, Savage and Ping Pong Guy podcast for BBC Radio 5 Live, alongside Robbie Savage and Matthew Syed.

It is unclear when he will continue to host the award-winning show, which has helped him consolidate his new presenter and broadcaster career.

He was also captain of the Sky League team, a team apart.

Take Me Out's presenter, McGuinness, became famous alongside Peter Kay, another Lancashire actor, in programs such as Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere.

Earlier this year Paddy hosted Sport Relief on the BBC with Claudia Winkleman.

McGuinness and Flintoff have a number of offenses related to driving.

McGuinness had escaped a driving ban last year after hiring the lawyer sometimes dubbed Mr. Loophole, Nick Freeman. Although the star has already pleaded guilty to the driving offense, the case was dismissed for technical reasons.

Flintoff, meanwhile, avoided a ban several times after being caught at full speed. In 2014, it was claimed that a ban would have a negative impact on his large-scale charitable work.

The versatile cricket player was also removed from his post as vice-captain of England after a drunken getaway on a pedalo in the Caribbean during the 2007 Cricket World Cup in St. Lucia.

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