Top Gear’s Paddy McGuinness breaks down in tears as show pays tribute to stuntman Eddie Kidd...

PADDY McGuiness burst into tears after celebrating his hero, former stunt rider Eddie Kidd, with a road trip and by leaping through a ring of fire in the new Top Gear series.

Paddy and his co-hosts Chris Harris and Freddie Flintoff - were seen honouring the acclaimed driver in the opening episode of the eagerly anticipated 31st series on Sunday night.

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Eddie worked on multiple James Bond movies before he was left paralysed and with brain damage after an accident in 1996.

He has since been unable to talk or walk unaided and requires full-time care.    

Heading to the south coast of England, Paddy got the chance to meet the man that he had idolised all those many years ago.

Locking eyes with Eddie for the first time, an overjoyed Paddy points a finger at Eddie, exclaiming: “The Guv’nor, the absolute Guv’nor.”

Eddie beams back at Paddy as the presenter tells of his love for the daredevil extraordinaire. 

“Eddie, I cannot believe I’m here with you. My mates will be so jealous,” he said. 

“Honestly, when I was a kid, I had your posters up in my bedroom, before my mum took them for her own bedroom. 

“It’s an absolute thrill, I’m so glad you’ve let me come and see you down here.”

The pair soon took to the road in McGuinness’s stunning white Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Then, in a truly poignant moment, a procession of motorbikes passed by the car to pay homage to the great rider, with Kidd saluting them as they pass. 

Later on, in a touching tribute to Eddie, McGuiness jumped through a ring of fire, as an array of professional drivers performed in front of his eyes.

And it was all too much for the from stunt performer as he burst into tears, with Paddy soon following suit.

Recalling his favourite moments of Eddie’s career, Paddy told The Sun earlier this month: “When I was a kid, Evil Kineval was the one.

"Everyone had the toy, but genuinely it was a brand to me, I never saw him, he was never on British TV. 

“But when Eddie Kidd came on the scene, he felt accessible and he looked so good, as a kid I were like ‘Wow, he’s like James Bond on a motorbike’."

The former Take Me Out presenter also revealed that Eddie’s tribute on Top Gear was “the most emotional thing” that he’s ever experienced on the show.

“There’s a lot of crying on Top Gear, but that’s definitely the most emotional thing,” added the 48-year-old. 

"I remember when we did Ethiopia together and went to the Afar Triangle, the end of that, for me, felt quite emotional because it was our first big trip. 

“For me personally, because I’ve not been well travelled, I was like ‘Wow, I can’t believe I’m here doing this’, but it didn’t come anywhere near the Eddie Kidd film for me, for emotion anyhow."

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