What do Paddy McGuinness, William Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and Joe Biden all have in common? The man himself would not have been able to answer that question - before appearing on BBC's Who Do You Think You Are?
He was shocked therefore to find out that his grandfather took part in the Boer War alongside Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi. His appearance in the show made for some emotional scenes when he found himself holding his grandad William’s medal for his role in the famous 1900 Battle of Tugela Heights in South Africa during the second Boer War, the Mirror reports.
Uncovering Family History
The series follows celebrities' journeys as they trace their family trees to discover lost connections and unfamiliar histories.
Paddy, who appears in tonight's episode (Thursday, August 22), says: “I’m not often lost for words but that has left me speechless. I feel the connection as I’m holding it. The fact it’s been in his hand, on his chest. Knowing what he went through to get it. What an honour to hold this in my hand. My dad passed away but he would have loved to have had this medal. It’s his father’s.”
Bolton-born Paddy, known for fronting shows like Take Me Out, Top Gear and A Question Of Sport, was born in Farnworth in 1973. He was raised by single mum Patricia, but enjoyed a good relationship with his dad Joe.
He says: “I got my quick-wittedness from my mum. I loved my dad Joe but he wasn’t one that took me to football or encouraged me. The male figure I looked up to was my uncle Tony.” Paddy knew nothing about his other relatives, only suspecting that there might be an Irish link, given the McGuinness name.
Finding Family Secrets
The star says: “I don’t know if [they’ve] had anyone on the show who knows as little about the family as me. I know my mum’s mum was Winifred, I couldn’t tell you my dad’s mum and dad’s names full stop. My mum and dad have both passed away and that makes it difficult. I think my family is nailed-on working class. I’d put a hefty bet on there being an Irish connection somewhere... I feel like I should know this.”
On his mum’s side, Paddy discovered his grandad James Leonard helped his country during the Second World War. From 1938, James worked as a handle rectifier at De Havilland’s factory in Lostock, Lancs, making and repairing propellers for aircraft such as Spitfires and Lancaster bombers.
Handed a black and white photo showing James’s retirement party in 1978 after 40 years, Paddy says: “I’m very proud.” James had a tough start to life, as he was taken into care after his dad Jack – Paddy’s great-grandad – was sent to prison for beating his wife Annie. With her husband inside, Annie was forced to go to a workhouse and James to a cottage home – although the couple reunited on Jack’s release.
An Unexpected Twist
Paddy says: “It’s amazing how people back then, they can live with spousal abuse and prison – but divorce? How dare you! It’s crazy.” On his dad’s side, Paddy discovered his grandparents were called William and Agnes and were born in Bolton.
William joined the army and travelled to India in 1894 and on to Malta, Hong Kong and South Africa. It was there, serving as a member of the King’s Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), that he was involved in the Battle of Spion Kop in 1899, which attempted to relieve the besieged British-annexed city of Lady-smith in the second Boer War.
William was alongside Winston Churchill, who was working as a war reporter at the time, and Mahatma Gandhi, who was a stretcher bearer. Handed his grandfather’s medal, which is now owned by a collector, Paddy was awestruck.
The Truth About His Ancestors
But army records showed William was not always a hero – he was jailed for 168 days with hard labour for telling a senior officer exactly what he thought of being given a task he deemed beneath him.
Paddy says: “It doesn’t surprise me. I’m of a very similar mindset. It’s not been lost on the McGuinnesses to challenge authority.”
Although he does differ from his grandfather in one big respect: Paddy is 6ft 1in, but records show William was just 5ft 3in. The star says: “Wow, he was a little fella, wasn’t he?”
The assumed McGuinness Irish connection was harder to trace – but eventually Paddy was proved right. His great-grandmother Bridget McGuinness originally came from Ballina in County Mayo – and her family were neighbours with Joe Biden ’s great-grandfather. Bridget had son William with her lodger William Birtwhistle, Paddy’s great-grandfather, out of wedlock. Nine years passed before they married in 1884 – so the future soldier William had his mum’s maiden name as his surname.
A Surprising Connection
If they had already been married, Paddy McGuinness would likely have been Paddy Birtwhistle instead.
The family had left Ireland to go to Stockport in 1841 for work. Bridget was a clothes seller and a cotton spinner, and at that time the booming textile industry in the North of England was crying out for skilled workers. They eventually settled in Bolton and the rest is history.
Paddy adds: “I do feel a real spiritual connection to Ireland. My dad would have loved to find out more about his Irish ancestors. I’ll have a pint of the black stuff for him.”
Paddy’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? is on BBC1 on August 22 at 9pm
