Paddy McGuinness hopes he and co-hosts Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris have what it takes to make 'Top Gear' "magic" again.
Freddie Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris
The 'Take Me Out' star has insisted that he didn't join the motoring show to improve its ratings, but he hopes as a fan of the "iconic" programme it will return to its heyday.
He told The Sun newspaper's Bizarre TV column: "People don't want 'Top Gear' to fail - they just want to get the magic back and hopefully we'll get there with it.
"You can never predict anything.
"If viewers love it, I will be not just happy for us but for 'Top Gear 'as a brand. It is a British icon and I want it to be loved again."
On why he took the gig, Paddy explained: "I want it to rate really well because, coming from Saturday night TV, it's all about ratings.
"But I didn't take the job with ratings in the back of my head.
"I took it because I love the show and thought it was a fantastic opportunity."
Paddy and Flintoff stepped in after the exit of former 'Friends' actor Matt LeBlanc, who decided to leave the show so that he can spend more time with his 15-year-old daughter Marina in the US.
Chris and Matt were joined by Rory Reid in the last series, and the latter will now front the online edition of the show 'Extra Gear'.
Meanwhile, Paddy previously admitted that he actually failed his driving test first time around despite being set to host the motoring show.
He said: "I failed my driving test the first time, the instructor was a wrong 'un, pencil tache, 60 years old. Fail.
"Second time, it was blazing hot and I was wearing Kevin Keegan short shorts, I had a female examiner and I passed."
'Top Gear' returns to BBC Two on Sunday (16.06.19).
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