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Top Gear duo Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff have defied all odds to win rave reviews for their debut last night, and now the very first incarnation of The Stig, Perry McCarthy, has joined fans in piling on the praise.

Freddie and Paddy were confirmed to be taking Matt LeBlanc’s place in the driver’s seat after a string of slammed series in the wake of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May’s exit over a steak in 2015.

For their first episode, the gang darted off to Ethiopia driving the very first car they ever bought, and their introduction to Top Gear couldn’t have gone down better.

Appearing on today’s BBC Breakfast, Perry told hosts Dan Walker and Louise Minchin: ‘I personally think Paddy and Freddie have just saved Top Gear.

‘I just thought it was great! Loads of fun, brilliant banter and it’s exactly what we’ve been missing for a really long time.’

Louise asked: ‘And do you think the banter was scripted or obviously not scripted?’

Top Gear series 27
Paddy McGuinness and Freddie Flintoff praised for saving Top Gear (Picture: BBC/Lee Brimble)

‘Well, maybe some of it, but even if it was they make you believe it’s coming out naturally,’ explained Perry.

‘I believe a lot of it was ad-lib, but it was just funny! They get on, there was great production values; fantastic as always with Top Gear, the stories were great with the cars, but really funny one-liners. I was laughing quite a lot through the show.’

The motoring pro continued: ‘For me, the most important thing was that chemistry between the presenters and I think both Paddy and Freddie also got the best out of Chris as well.

‘I think this has got a really great start and I honestly believe that it is just going to get better and better.’

Chris – the only returning host – previously told Metro.co.uk he was determined to make previous line-ups look ‘lacklustre’. Turns out he was spot on.

Top Gear continues next Sunday at 8pm on BBC One.

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