Paddy McGuinness breaks silence over Top Gear axe with heartfelt message to fans | The Sun

PADDY McGuinness has issued a heartfelt message to telly fans after Top Gear was "rested" for the foreseeable.

The Sun was first to report in October how the show had been axed by the BBC after a whopping 46 years.

Just yesterday, the BBC announced the hit motoring show will be rested for the “foreseeable future."

Paddy joined Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris in Top Gear's new-look presenter line-up, which first hit screens in 2019.

The show then moved to BBC One a year later in a dramatic move to boost viewings.

Yet when ex England cricketer Freddie was sadly involved in a horrific high-speed crash in December 2022 and suffered facial injuries and broken ribs on the test track, the show paused.

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Now the Phoenix Nights comedian appears to have bid farewell to the show on his comedian.

Posting a snap showing the trio in their white Top Gear outfits, Paddy wrote in his caption: "We were always going to be b******s but we were your b******s.

"Thanks for all the love over the years folks, it was very much appreciated."

Fans were quick to react to the emotional message, with one hailing the panel the "Best trio since Clarkson, may and the hamster."

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Another put: "Wait wait wait! Why does this sound like good bye?! Someone tell me it’s not good bye!!!"

A third then wrote: "They can’t end it FFS that’s a disaster, you three made it great again," as another added: "Love all you guys. Your gonna be missed. At least Flintoff is alive. That's all that matters but still…

"I'd be happy just to watch you three banter about cars with no crazy s**t tbh. Hopefully you'll all be back sooner rather than later."

Last month we told how insiders at Top Gear said production staff have been told to focus on other work.

A show source said: “Top Gear has been an institution on British telly but the feeling is there is no way it can continue after Freddie’s crash.

“The BBC are aware they very nearly lost a presenter’s life while filming a segment, and there’s a feeling it would be in bad taste to continue making such dangerous material.

“It’s a tough decision but they know deep down it’s the right one as hardcore fans of the show won’t want to see a lightweight version.”

We then confirmed the series would be "rested" this week.

In a statement given to the PA news agency, the BBC said they were planning a new project with Freddie.

They said: “Given the exceptional circumstances, the BBC has decided to rest the UK show for the foreseeable future.

“The BBC remains committed to Freddie, Chris [Harris] and Paddy [McGuinness ] who have been at the heart of the show’s renaissance since 2019, and we’re excited about new projects being developed with each of them.

“We will have more to say in the near future on this.

"We know resting the show will be disappointing news for fans, but it is the right thing to do.

“All other Top Gear activity remains unaffected by this hiatus including international formats, digital, magazines and licensing.”

Following Freddie's crash, the BBC announced at the time that continuing filming would be “inappropriate”, adding there would be a health and safety review.

The brave star's facial injuries were visible while he helped out the England cricket team in training this summer.

He reached a settlement with the BBC, said to be worth £9m.

The payout will come from the commercial arm of the BBC and not from the licence fee.

Top Gear first aired in 1977 when Angela Rippon and Tom Coyne as hosts on BBC Midlands, a year before the national network took it on.

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond quickly proved popular with fans before moving to host their show on Amazon Prime.

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