After news broke that American Matt LeBlanc would not be rejoining BBC’s Top Gear for 2019, we wondered just who would replace him. Well, now we have our answer. Patty McGuinness and Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff will join returning host Chris Harris for season 27, which kicks off filming next year.
Above, from left to right: Flintoff, McGuinness, and Harris leaning on a Porsche 911 GT2 RS.
Just who are these new faces? McGuinness is a British comedian and primetime TV show host. He’s also hosted a show called Stars in Their Cars, which was probably a big contributing factor to him landing this Top Gear gig. Flintoff, another Brit, is a former professional cricket player and current TV show host, who, as Jalopnik points out, once purchased a Lamborghini he couldn’t fit into. The two will replace LeBlanc and Rory Reid and join Harris as the three main presenters for the new season.
“I think you can tell just how much fun we’re going to have making Top Gear with Paddy and Freddie,” Harris said in a press release. 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.”
Though Reid will be stepping down as a main co-host, BBC says it’s keeping him around. He, along with German racing driver Sabine Schmitz, will be the hosts of Top Gear’s web-only spin-off, Extra Gear. YouTube channel Carfection announced on Saturday that Reid will also be joining its team as a contributor.
After the departure of original hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, BBC hired a myriad of new hosts, including TV and radio show host Chris Evans—though he left after just one season. Harris, who was originally picked up as a host for Extra Gear, made his way into the main show for season 24, along with Reid. Will this new trio prove as entertaining as some of the latest Top Gear we’ve seen? We’ll just have to wait to find out.
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