Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris have left fans ‘disappointed’ with their new Road Tripping series.
The former Top Gear stars have reunited for their first project together since co-presenter Freddie Flintoff was injured in a horror car crash in December 2022.
The BBC took the long running motoring show off the air following the accident, and now the 51-year-old comedian and 46-year-old racing driver have launched a new travel show.
In the new BBC series, the pair travelled to Sweden to see how people across Europe live the best life in their later years.
While some people were glad to see the duo back on screen together, many viewers insisted it was ‘right’ without Freddie by their side.
‘Watching Paddy and Chris Road Tripping and it doesn’t feel right without our Flintoff, totally get why he’s not part of it but doesn’t feel the same without him,’ wrote @AmySian1993 on X.
A second fan, @GrantSRivers, added: ‘Great to see Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris are on our screens again. I’m just disappointed Freddie Flintoff isn’t with them.’
Others took a more critical approach, with one viewer, @RetiredGinge, branding the series ‘trash’ after just half an episode.
They wrote: ‘I’ve just watched half the first episode of Paddy and Chris – if ever the editorial drive of a programme was more “we’ve paid for them so we’ve got to do something”. I’d like to not see it. What trash.’
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Fan @serverhangup jokingly wondered if the series was the pair’s ‘audition’ for The Grand Tour after the departure of former Top Gear trio James May, Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson.
And @brian_damage quipped: ‘There’s yet another Paddy McGuinness vehicle on BBC right now, but luckily there’s a new series of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire on ITV to watch instead.’
Some branded the first episode as ‘dreadful’ while others called it ‘dull and boring’ – although not everyone felt the same way, as one fan described it as ‘Top Gear done right’ with ‘no stupid stunts’.
‘Absolutely loving Paddy and Chris roadtripping,’ tweeted @lindahobbis, while @StuartOsmond added: ‘Really enjoying #RoadTripping Like Paddy and Chris on Top Gear but this is better.😀’
And @NSon1955 wrote: ‘I like both Chris and Paddy, and in places it made me laugh, but a little goes a long way, 30 minutes would be plenty #RoadTripping’
In December 2022, former professional cricket player Flintoff was involved in a devastating accident at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey, which had been the test track used by the show since 2002.
After having to wait 45 minutes for a helicopter to arrive at the scene, Flintoff was airlifted to hospital and suffered multiple facial injuries and broken ribs.
It was said that the now-46-year-old was ‘lucky to be alive’.
Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris: Road Tripping is available now on BBC iPlayer.
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