Revealed: Top Gear’s new hosts narrowly avoided driving bans
Celebrity defence lawyer ‘Mr Loophole’ got speeding charges against ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness thrown out of court
New Top Gear hosts Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness hired celebrity lawyer Nick Freeman to avoid driving bans, it can be revealed.
As the new faces of the world’s most-watched motoring programme, it’s no surprise that Flintoff and McGuinness enjoy fast cars. A little too fast, in fact, as both have faced driving bans for speeding in the past.
McGuinness’s Land Rover was caught travelling at 53mph in a 40mph zone in south Manchester in 2016 and he admitted the offence at first. With six points already on his licence and facing the prospect of a further six, a ban was the likely outcome.
However, McGuinness, 45, who also hosts ITV’s dating show Take Me Out, withdrew his plea after hiring Freeman – known as ‘Mr Loophole’ for his ability to overturn almost any speeding charge on technicalities – who managed to get the case dismissed last year after arguing that McGuinness hadn’t been sent the correct paperwork.
Meanwhile, ex-England cricketer Flintoff has been to court several times for speeding. The 40-year-old, who is also a team captain on Sky One’s A League Of Their Own, drove at 87mph in a temporary 50mph zone in 2008 but hired Freeman, who successfully argued that the notice of prosecution arrived two days too late.
In 2014, Flintoff was caught driving his Bentley at 87mph on a motorway, but avoided losing his licence after arguing that a ban would harm his charity work and damage his television career.
The pair will join motoring journalist Chris Harris for the new series of BBC TV’s Top Gear, which begins filming next year. They take over from actor Matt LeBlanc, whose last series will be broadcast in 2019.
The show’s other presenters, journalist Rory Reid and racing driver Sabine Schmitz, will no longer have any role in the main broadcast. Instead, they’ll be fronting the spin-off show Extra Gear.
Both new presenters spoke of their excitement at hosting the show. McGuinness said: “To be hosting a show I’ve watched and loved from being a small boy is beyond exciting. Top Gear fans worldwide are such a passionate bunch and I consider myself one of them.”
Flintoff added: “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.”
