Eddie Kidd: Top Gear's Paddy McGuinness meets childhood hero who attempted world record jump in Radlett

Eddie Kidd was an English stuntman who is the holder of many world records for jumping over cars and buses.

He was also the stunt double in many films, most notably in the James Bond films; for Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights and Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye.

Roger Moore and Michael Caine also had Kidd as a double in Bullseye! while he also featured in Hanover Street and Riding High.

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However, the daredevil was left paralysed following an accident in 1996.

The legendary stunt performer has graced Hertfordshire previously, as he showed off his incredible biking skills to the county.

Aged just 18 at the time, on April 8, 1978, Kidd was aiming to break the world record of jumping 14 double decker buses at Radlett airfield.

The stunt was performed in front of 30,000 fans and he flew an incredible 190 feet.

One of the greatest bikers of his generation, Kidd was one of Top Gear presenter Paddy McGuinness' childhood heroes and the 48-year-old used the hit BBC show's return to pay homage.

In the programme, McGuiness joined Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris in heading to Brighton, where Eddie now lives with his wife and carer, for a touching meeting and tribute.

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Paddy and Eddie took a ride in the countryside in Kidd's stunning Rolls-Royce, while a procession of motorcycles passed them by.

The show also appreciated just how daring Kidd's stunts were with Paddy jumping through a ring of fire in an attempt to recreate the style of stunt that Paddy's idol would've attempted.

It was an adrenaline-fuelled tribute that had viewers in bits over its touching nature.

From Islington in London, Kidd was England's answer to America's Evel Knievel, even beating Robbie Knievel in a jump off in 1993.

The pair made three jumps each, competing on the distance of their jumps; Eddie won against the legendary American stuntman by six feet.

That same year, Kidd performed another headline-grabbing feat, jumping over the Great Wall of China on a motorcycle.

He made over 12,000 jumps in his career until his fateful jump in 1996 that sent him into retirement.

Kidd was performing at the Bulldog Bash at Long Marston Airfield near Stratford-upon-Avon, and was attempting a motorcycle jump of 15m across a drag strip.

However, his chin struck the bike’s petrol tank upon landing and he was knocked unconscious, unable to prevent himself and the bike continuing over a 20ft drop at the end of the relatively short landing area.

Despite his parents being told that he could be in a coma for up to 10 years, Kidd spent 40 days at Warwick Hospital with a coma, brain damage, and a shattered pelvis but ultimately recovered to tell the tale.

Having started jumping off ramps on a bicycle, he got his first motorcycle aged 15 and his first public jump took place in 1974, four years prior to his Herts appearance.

Eddie Kidd will forever remain a legend in the world of bikes and Top Gear's tribute was more than fitting.

Do you remember any of Kidd's stunts, maybe you witnessed this very one in Hertfordshire? Let us know in the comments!

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