Paddy McGuinness has been on our TV screens for over 20 years thanks to a string of successful shows and the Top Gear presenter has been through a lot in his personal life too. TV personality and actor Paddy McGuinness has been a familiar face on our screens for over two decades, thanks to a series of hit programmes. Known for hosting the popular dating show Take Me Out and co-presenting Top Gear, the Lancashire lad first gained fame with his roles in That Peter Kay Thing, Phoenix Nights, and Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere. His transition into television presenting saw him front shows like 71 Degrees North, Paddy's TV Guide, I Can See Your Voice, and the refreshed Question of Sport. The latest revelation about McGuinness is that he will feature on Who Do You Think You Are, where he learns of his Irish roots and discovers that his ancestors were once neighbours with relatives of US President Joe Biden. At 51, McGuinness explored Ireland and expressed feeling "a connection" to the land, though he admitted to previously feeling "ignorant" about his heritage during visits. But beyond his TV persona, what else is known about his life?
Born to Irish parents as Patrick Joseph McGuinness on August 14, 1973, in Farnworth, Lancashire, he spent his school years in Farnworth where he struck up a friendship with fellow Bolton comedian Peter Kaya relationship that would later contribute to some of the UK's most memorable television series. Paddy departed from school at the age of 16 to labour on a construction site before hitting the television scene in 1995 by participating in a string of dating shows. He pursued with inconspicuous TV roles until landing his major break as the doorman Paddy in Peter Kay's hit comedy series Phoenix Nights. He would later return to the role for Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere.
After years of dating, Paddy married model Christine Martin on June 4, 2011. Their family blossomed with three children, Penelope, Felicity, and Leo, and in 2020, the clan settled into a new-modern mansion in Cheshire.
The pair startled fans by announcing their split in 2021 through a joint statement. The ex-couple expressed: "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." Staying under the same roof, the couple maintains amicable ties, with Paddy hinting at potential reconciliation in the future.
In a candid conversation, Paddy revealed: "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 host of Take Me Out is believed to be single and prioritising parenthood over dating. As a proud lad who grew up near Bolton, Paddy McGuinness supports his local team, Bolton Wanderers.
The former Top Gear host and stand-up comedian will use his break up as material for his new show, Paddy McGuinness: Work In Progress Warm Up Shows. He's touring the country this year, into 2025, and will kick things off in September at BBC Radio 2 In The Park.
Speaking about his new tour, the 51-year-old told Tony Bellew on his podcast Club Bellew: "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. Paddy will perform 40 dates across 2024 and 2025, with a big 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."
Paddy McGuinness first gained widespread attention as the charming presenter of the hit dating show Take Me Out, where his witty catchphrases like "No Likey, No Lighty" and "Let The Thing See The Thing" became instantly recognisable. He went on to recreate iconic film scenes in The Keith And Paddy Picture Show, paid homage to musical greats in Even Better Than The Real Thing, and judged vocal talents without seeing the singers in I Can See Your Voice. The well-loved Lancashire host then took the wheel as one of the new faces of Top Gear, presenting alongside Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris for several series.
However, in 2023, production of Top Gear came to a shocking stop following Freddie Flintoff's serious accident during filming. McGuinness also had a short run as the host of Question of Sport from 2021 to 2023 and fronted the Channel 4 gameshow Tempting Fortune. His television appearances have been varied, including stints on shows like Don't Look Down and participating in Comic Relief's Red Nose Day events. He has showcased his baking skills on The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Stand Up To Cancer and displayed his football skill in Soccer Aid.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Paddy McGuinness has uncovered a surprising connection to US President Joe Biden in his episode of Who Do You Think You Are?. The comedian and TV presenter admitted he knew very little about his family - even his own parents - and felt "ignorant" each time he was asked where in Ireland his roots lay as he didn't know. So the Bolton star was excited to find out the detailed history of his family, including his connection to Ireland and Biden. "I don't know if you've had anyone on the show who knows as little about their family as me," admitted Paddy McGuinness at the start of Who Do You Think You Are?. "I don't even know that much about my mum and dad...Anything is a treat for me, anything." So it turned out that a huge surprise was in store for the Bolton comedian as he was told of an unexpected connection to US President Joe Biden while finally discovering his Irish roots. Before travelling to Ballina in County Mayo, McGuinness said: "The number of times over the years I've been asked where in Ireland my family are from, and I've felt so ignorant not knowing." He went in search of more information about his great-grandmother Bridget McGuinness after discovering her boarder was the father of her child, the comedian's grandfather. He commented: "So the boarder is my grandad's dad? This is all getting a bit Jeremy Kyle for me now." But further surprises were to come in Ballina as a local historian told him that the Irish ancestors Biden often proudly speaks of lived next to McGuinness' own relatives. The TV star said: "There's been so many lovely little surprises...my ancestors over here in Ballina lived on the same street as Joe Biden's ancestors." Incredibly, McGuinness found out his paternal grandparents' names for the first time during the show, as well as hearing that his grandfather had fought in the Boer War at the same time as Winston Churchill and where Mahatma Gandhi was a stretcher bearer. McGuinness seemed thrilled to have found out so much family detail and while walking along a beach in County Mayo as the episode wrapped up, he said: "I do feel a real spiritual connection. They could have been playing on here as kids, walking up and down." Last week, Line of Duty star Vicky McClure was keen to find out more about her great grandfather Harry Millership, who was taken to Taiwan during World War Two as a Japanese prisoner of war and forced to work in a copper mine under terrible conditions. His story left McClure heartbroken and in tears as she visited the mine and was shown his death certificate, hearing how he had been the first to die there after a fall when he was 35 years old. She admitted: "The whole thing has been the most incredible, disturbing and life-changing experience. There's been a lot of it I've not found easy." McClure identified with her great grandfather as she spoke about how difficult she found the trip to Taiwan, saying: "I'm not the greatest at travelling too far from home, especially alone... It's really overwhelming." "There's a reason I'm an actor and it's because I've got a very vivid imagination," she added after hearing the details of his imprisonment. "Sometimes I battle with that. I think I'm battling with it here. My head's all over the shop and I'm learning information that is just horrific. It's my great grandad, it's my mum's grandad, it's just too close. I feel like I want to go home, or I want my family here with me. I feel really on my own in this because it's so much to take in and take on. And yet I feel terrible for feeling like that because he was alone, he didn't have his family and he didn't make it home. I just weirdly feel connected which is bonkers because I never even met him." Who Do You Think You Are? airs on BBC One at 9pm on Thursday. TV personality and actor Paddy McGuinness has been a familiar face on our screens for over two decades, thanks to a series of successful shows. The host of Take Me Out and presenter of Top Gear is well-known for his roles in the comedy series That Peter Kay Thing, as well as sitcoms Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere. He made the switch to TV presenting with dating show Take Me Out, 71 Degrees North, Paddy's TV Guide, I Can See Your Voice and the reimagined Question of Sport. Paddy McGuinness will feature on Who Do You Think You Are, where he discovers that he has Irish ancestors who were neighbours with the family of US President Joe Biden. The 51 year old visited Ireland and expressed feeling "a connection" to the country, but admitted feeling "ignorant" during his visits due to his limited knowledge about his ancestry. But what else do we know about his life? Here's a look at his career, rise to fame, marriage to Christine McGuinness and their subsequent separation. Born to Irish parents, Patrick Joseph McGuinness was born on August 14, 1973, in Farnworth, Lancashire. It was during his school days in Farnworth that Paddy met fellow Bolton comedian Peter Kay, and their strong friendship would go on to ignite some of British TV's most iconic shows. Paddy left school at 16 and began working on a building site, which was a far cry from the glitz of television. His first brush with the small screen came in 1995 when he appeared as a contestant on a series of dating shows. Although Paddy made a few minor TV appearances thereafter, it wasnt until he secured the role of bouncer Paddy on Peter Kay's hit sitcom Phoenix Nights that he really hit the big time. He loved the character so much that he returned for the spin-off series Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere. After years of dating, Paddy married model Christine Martin on June 4, 2011. They have three children together - Penelope, Felicity, and Leo - and upgraded to a modern mansion in Cheshire in 2020. However, in 2021 the couple surprisingly announced they were going their separate ways, sharing a 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." They added, "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, Paddy and Christine continue to share their home and maintain a cordial relationship. There have been hints from Paddy that reconciliation might be on the cards in the future. In a candid interview, Paddy McGuinness revealed: "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 Take Me Out presenter is thought to be single and is putting parenthood before dating. As a proud Bolton lad, Paddy supports his local team, Bolton Wanderers. The former Top Gear host and stand-up comedian plans to use his break up as material for his new show, Paddy McGuinness: Work In Progress Warm Up Shows. He'll be touring the country this year and into 2025, starting things off in September at BBC Radio 2 In The Park. Discussing his new tour, the 51-year-old told Tony Bellew on his podcast Club Bellew: "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. Paddy is set to perform 40 dates across 2024 and 2025, including a major 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." Paddy McGuinness first shot to fame with his charismatic role as the host of the popular dating show Take Me Out, where he was renowned for his snappy catchphrases like "No Likey, No Lighty" and "Let The Thing See The Thing". Exploring various avenues in television, Paddy tickled the audience's funny bone by paying homage to iconic films in The Keith And Paddy Picture Show, whilst hosting the tribute show Even Better Than The Real Thing and the musical game show I Can See Your Voice. His charm earned him a spot as a presenter on Top Gear, joining forces with Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris, until they had to put a brake on the series in 2023 following Flintoff's horrific accident during filming. McGuinness also had a short run as the host of Question of Sport from 2021 to 2023 and fronted the Channel 4 gameshow Tempting Fortune. He has also made appearances on a slew of celebrity specials including Don't Look Down, Comic Relief's Red Nose Day, The Great Celebrity Bake Off: Stand Up To Cancer, and showcased his sporting spirit in Soccer Aid matches.
