When he’s not filming or touring, comedian and presenter Paddy McGuinness says he’s happiest with a cup of tea, spending time with his children – Getty
51-year-old presenter and comedian Paddy McGuinness was born in Farnworth, in Greater Manchester, and became friends with fellow comedian Peter Kay at senior school. The pair went on to star together in several projects, including That Peter Kay Thing, Phoenix Nights, and Max & Paddy’s Road To Nowhere. McGuinness completed his first stand-up comedy tour shortly afterwards, before achieving acclaim as host of Take Me Out between 2010 and 2019, and becoming a co-host of Top Gear for seven series. He lives in Cheshire and has three children with his former wife, Christine.
Best childhood memory?
I remember being at primary school and there was a kid in my class, it was his birthday, and his mum and dad sent in a cake. But it wasn’t just any ordinary cake, it was one that made me wonder if it was real or not – I was only a wee boy! It was a model of a cowboy ranch with all the details. I remember thinking, “I wish I could have one like that”. But my parents weren’t as wealthy, so I never did. Maybe someone can get it for my 52nd birthday…
Best lesson you’ve learnt?
I’ve always been quite impulsive and it was my Uncle Tony, who was on Who Do You Think You Are? with me last year, who taught me not to rush in. He always says: “Just Think. Take a second to think about what you’re saying or what you’re going to do.” It still doesn’t always ring true with me, but I think as you get older, patience is a vital skill. When you’re younger, you want it yesterday, you’re straight in and don’t think about the consequences. But now, even if it’s just taking 15 or 20 seconds to think before you speak, it really does help. However, being able to think quickly is helpful in stand-up comedy, especially when it comes to dealing with hecklers. It helps you diffuse things quickly, using laughter.
Best part of your job?
I enjoy the flexibility and time it affords me. I’ve always worked hard since leaving school: doing more than one job, grafting. Being in entertainment, the schedule isn’t a typical 9-5 because projects, such as filming, are more concentrated and spaced out. So it means there are often gaps for a few weeks, which lets me be at home for the kids. Today, my eldest wasn’t feeling well, so I was able to stay at home with her and do some writing without stressing that I was letting work down. It seems very basic, but it’s just heaven. Being self-employed, no matter what you do, you learn to take the rough with the smooth.
Co-hosting Top Gear, alongside Chris Harris (above, far left) and Freddie Flintoff (above, far right), forced McGuinness (above, centre) to confront his fear of flying – Lee Brimble/BBC Studios
Best travel experience?
I’ve got so many great memories from travelling the world with Top Gear, including Nepal and Ethiopia at the Afar Triangle. It goes back to another lesson from my Uncle Tony, who taught me that he might not have a lot of material things, but the memories he’s got from travelling with the military are priceless. We’re from a rough area of Bolton, where you’d never have the chance to do all that. That time can never be taken away from me, but I’m still a homebird at heart – there’s nothing as amazing as that first cup of tea when you walk through the door, and getting into your own bed with fresh sheets.
Best skill you’ve learnt in adulthood?
I’m more willing to conquer my fears or try things I didn’t used to like. I’m not the most adventurous eater of spicy foods. I was that person that if my mates and I were going out to an Indian restaurant, I’d always order the chicken korma, or, as my mates would call it, bananas and custard. I’d envy people who could eat spice because it smelt amazing. So, I had some lessons with MasterChef champ Brin Pirapathan and he showed me how to batch cook delicious, flavourful recipes – without that flamethrower-on-my-tonsils heat – by adding two dollops of natural yogurt. Now, instead of eating rubbish from a motorway service station or fast food, I can take my meals with me.
Worst thing about getting older?
Getting annoyed by little things. Once I reached 50, last year, everything felt like Curb Your Enthusiasm. I noticed more things annoying me and moaning about minutiae, especially the classic “why is my train late?” Innocuous things that I used to brush off suddenly seem more disruptive, especially my memory. The stress and anxiety of remembering all these great little one-liners that I’d jotted down adds to my nerves. But, as the tour goes on, the nerves go away.
Worst things on your mind at the moment?
Regrets about things I wish I’d done differently. Sometimes I’ll lie in bed at night and wish I’d handled a situation differently. It’s not like we should be living in The Truman Show, going around high-fiving our neighbours in that forced gleeful way, but it’s important to be civil and respectful – it makes you feel so much better at the end of the day. If I have a cross word or argument with someone it just festers and drives me mad.
Whether he’s helping to host Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day event (pictured), cycling 300 miles for Children in Need or walking a tightrope for Stand Up To Cancer, McGuinness is a relentless fundraiser – Getty Images
Worst habit?
It can get a bit windy in the house if I’ve eaten certain things! There’s nothing nicer than being in the house on your own, knowing you’re not going to upset anyone by breaking wind. The kids delight in shouting, “Daddy’s farting again” – but that laughter soon turns to disgust if it’s sprouts that I’ve had.
Worst travel experience?
I wasn’t very well-travelled before I got the Top Gear job in 2018. When they talked about all the places we’d be going, in my head I was thinking, “Jesus, I never factored all this in!” I had a real fear of flying, and it stopped me doing anything and going abroad. I was really crippled by my fear. I could just about muster a short flight to Spain with the family if I got silently drunk to calm my nerves. It was sad because not experiencing other places makes the world very small and limits you. I eventually got help from a therapist. It didn’t happen overnight – it took almost three months – but it transformed my outlook. Now, I actually look forward to long-haul flights because it’s time to unwind, read in peace, watch films and eat.
Worst challenge you’ve faced?
I’ve had two hard ones for work. When I did Don’t Look Down for Stand Up To Cancer in 2023, I had to learn to high-wire walk, which was really tricky, but it was over and done with quickly. However, doing last year’s endurance challenge for Children in Need, where I cycled 300 miles on a [Rayleigh] Chopper was tough: “No likey, no bikey” just wasn’t an option. I did 40 miles training a day and when there were no cameras and no one around, it wasn’t like you had moral support; it could be demoralising, especially in the wind and rain. I ordered some anti-chaffing cream for my backside that never arrived, so the friction by the end of the day was devastating! The first day I could only manage nine miles, but I got better and it was lovely when people noticed that I was training. I had a nice chap appear by the side of me, trying to give me money; another followed me on his bike for a few miles; cars stopped and people shouted out, “Well done, keep going”. I’m relatively fit for my age – but I’m no Mark Wahlberg, setting my alarm for the middle of the night to start training and weighing out my mung beans first thing.
Now hosting Inside The Factory with Cherry Healey (above, right), McGuinness is learning how some of the UK’s most popular products are made, including Warburtons bread, in his hometown of Bolton – Kieron McCarron/BBC/Voltage TV
Worst regret?
I’m not completely useless in the kitchen, but I was really out of my comfort zone on The Great British Bake Off in 2023. I’m alright at savoury dishes, but I really struggle with baking, whether it’s pastries, cakes, or sponges. My gingerbread was a disaster and it turned into a comical clip, me trying to sort it. Growing up, my mum was a real traditional home-cooking person and I wish I’d spent more time in the kitchen, watching and learning from her. I was a proper mummy’s boy, with her making my breakfast and packed lunches before I went off to the building site. I never once thought to ask how she made that chicken soup or got her Yorkshire puddings so perfect. Now that knowledge is gone and I’ll never know.
Worst fear for the future?
Some days I just can’t have the news on because it’s just too horrific and, without sounding too saccharine, you just want everyone to be at peace. As a parent of three kids with autism who need extra help, I worry about not being there for them and them having a bad time. I’ve seen The Lion King, and I get the circle of life, but I dread when that time comes for me because I literally would walk over hot coals for them.
Paddy McGuinness hosts Inside The Factory, aired on Tuesdays at 8pm on BBC One, or BBC iPlayer
