TV personality and actor Paddy McGuinness has been a household name for over two decades, thanks to his impressive string of hit shows, and he returns to Channel 4 this Sunday for the second series of Tempting Fortune.
As the host of Take Me Out and a presenter on Top Gear, Paddy has become a familiar face on British television. His rise to fame began with memorable roles in comedy series That Peter Kay Thing, as well as popular sitcoms Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere.
He then successfully transitioned to TV presenting, fronting shows like Take Me Out, 71 Degrees North, Paddy’s TV Guide, I Can See Your Voice, and the revamped Question of Sport. In a 2021 episode of Who Do You Think You Are, Paddy delved into his ancestry, discovering Irish roots that surprisingly link him to US President Joe Biden’s family.
During a visit to Ireland, the 51 year old expressed feeling “a connection” to the country, but admitted to previously feeling “ignorant” due to a lack of knowledge about his heritage. Here’s a closer look at Paddy’s life and career from his journey to stardom, to his marriage to Christine McGuinness, and their eventual split.
Early life and the origins of his TV career
Born on August 14, 1973, in Farnworth, Lancashire, Patrick Joseph McGuinness is the son of Irish parents. It was during his school days in Farnworth that Paddy met fellow Bolton comedian Peter Kay, sparking a lifelong friendship that would go on to create some of British TV’s most iconic shows.
With his Irish roots and a dash of northern charm, Paddy’s unique blend of humor and charisma has captivated audiences for years. From his early days as a comedian to his current status as a household name, Paddy McGuinness’ story is one of talent, hard work, and a little bit of luck.
Paddy bid farewell to school at the tender age of 16, swapping textbooks for bricks on a building site before lighting up our screens in 1995 as a hopeful romantic on a string of dating shows. His journey through the TV landscape featured several smaller roles until he landed the part of bouncer Paddy on Peter Kay’s hit sitcom Phoenix Nights, a role he would later revisit in Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere.
Marriage and break up
His personal life took a fairytale turn when he met and fell for model Christine Martin. After years of dating, they tied the knot on June 4, 2011, and went on to have three children: Penelope, Felicity, and Leo. The family upgraded to a swanky Cheshire mansion in 2020.
However, in a twist that shocked fans, Paddy and Christine announced their separation in 2021 with a heartfelt joint statement: “A while ago we took the difficult decision to separate but our main focus as always is to continue loving and supporting our children.
“This was not an easy decision to make but we’re moving forward as the best parents we can be for our three beautiful children. We’ll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together.”
Despite the split, the pair have live under the same roof, keeping things amicable. He opened up in an honest conversation, stating, “There’s no toxicity in the house, says it all really. We have separate bedrooms because we respect that we aren’t together any more but, whether we work it through or we don’t, what we do have is a really, really lovely family unit at home. We both love each other.”
The TV presenter, known for hosting Take Me Out, is now believed to be single. Being a proud Bolton lad, McGuinness supports his local team, Bolton Wanderers.
Stand up comedy
The former Top Gear host and comedian incorporated his break up into new stand-up show, Paddy McGuinness: Work In Progress which began with a performance at BBC Radio 2 In The Park in September.
Talking about his tour on Tony Bellew’s Club Bellew podcast, the 51 year old shared: “This tour will be slightly different from past tours. “I’m planning to talk about things I have never talked about on tour, for instance having children with autism.
“I’m divorced now, so that will come into it,” he continued. The tour consisted of 40 dates in 2024 and 2025, including a show at London’s Palladium.
He added: “It’s been eight years since my last tour and there’s lots of things to laugh about. I’m looking forward to getting back in front of a live audience, along with running the gauntlet of cancel culture, click bait and fake news.”
Presenting roles
Paddy McGuinness first turned heads when he began presenting the hit dating show Take Me Out, where his charming persona shone and his catchy one-liners like “No Likey, No Lighty” and “Let The Thing See The Thing” became synonymous with him.
He’s also known for his comedic chops in The Keith And Paddy Picture Show and tribute show Even Better Than The Real Thing, along with testing celebs’ pipes in I Can See Your Voice. He also joined the team on Top Gear alongside Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris, becoming a staple of the popular car series.
However, 2023 witnessed an end to the Top Gear era as it was axed following a harrowing accident involving co-presenter Freddie Flintoff during filming.
Outside of racing cars, McGuinness tried his hand at hosting Question of Sport between 2021 and 2023 and leads Channel 4’s Tempting Fortune gameshow. His television credits also boast appearances on high-action shows like Don’t Look Down, charity star-studded events such as Comic Relief’s annual Red Nose Day, The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Stand Up To Cancer and the celebrity football match Soccer Aid.
Tempting Fortune series 2 is on Sunday 16 March at 9pm on Channel 4
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