Paddy McGuinness and Andrew Flintoff will be the new presenters of BBC motoring show Top Gear.

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The duo will replace Friends actor Matt LeBlanc, who is stepping down from the programme at the end of the upcoming 26th series.

The Take Me Out comedian and former England cricket captain will join current host Chris Harris to complete the show’s presenting line-up.

Rory Reid, who hosted alongside LeBlanc and Harris on the last series of the show, will no longer have a main presenting role. However, the BBC say that Reid "will remain part of the Top Gear family", hosting companion show Extra Gear with Sabine Schmitz.

"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,” said Flintoff.

"I've always been passionate about cars and I'm so excited to be joining the Top Gear team."

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The next series of Top Gear will air in early 2019. McGuinness and Flintoff will take over presenting duties for series 27, expected late next year.

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Thomas LingDigital editor, BBC Science Focus

Thomas is Digital editor at BBC Science Focus. Writing about everything from cosmology to anthropology, he specialises in the latest psychology, health and neuroscience discoveries. Thomas has a Masters degree (distinction) in Magazine Journalism from the University of Sheffield and has written for Men’s Health, Vice and Radio Times. He has been shortlisted as the New Digital Talent of the Year at the national magazine Professional Publishers Association (PPA) awards. Also working in academia, Thomas has lectured on the topic of journalism to undergraduate and postgraduate students at The University of Sheffield.

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