Paddy McGuinness

Patrick Joseph McGuinness (born 14 August 1973) is an English comedian, actor, writer, and television presenter.

McGuinness was born on 14 August 1973 in Farnworth, Lancashire, to Irish parents from County Tipperary, and attended Mount St Joseph High School.

It was from his school days in Farnworth that McGuinness formed his close friendship with fellow Bolton comedian Peter Kay.

McGuinness made his television debut in 1995 as a contestant for the show God's Gift.

He also appeared in the second series of the Sky 1 show The Match.

He rose to fame with the help of fellow comedian Peter Kay, who invited him to appear on the television comedy series That Peter Kay Thing (2000), and the sitcoms Phoenix Nights (2000–2001) and Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere (2004).

McGuinness has written and performed four stand-up comedy tours: The Dark Side Tour (2006), ''Plus You!

On 15 May 2006, McGuinness hosted Inside Wayne Rooney on Sky 1, a programme where he completed different tasks to see the difference between him and the professional footballer.

McGuinness' other television work includes his own Chuck Stryker: The Unknown Stuntman on E4 which he wrote and starred in opposite Jonathan Wrather and a few other familiar faces.

In 2006, McGuinness guest hosted The Paul O'Grady Show.

In 2007, McGuinness presented Raiders of the Lost Archive.

Tour (2008), The Saturday Night Live Tour (2011), and Daddy McGuinness'' (2015–2016).

First airing on 13 August 2008, McGuinness co-starred in a television series with British comedian Rory McGrath, broadcast on Channel 5, Rory and Paddy's Great British Adventure.

This was a four-part series in which McGuinness and McGrath embark on a nationwide road-trip, "on a mission to explore Britain's sporting heritage by probing the hidden life of its towns and villages".

The series focuses on arcane sports, such as cheese rolling.

McGuinness went on to present various televisions shows, including Take Me Out (2010–2019), 71 Degrees North (2011), Paddy's TV Guide (2013), Top Gear (2019–2022), I Can See Your Voice (2021–2022), and Question of Sport (2021–2023).

A second series began on 20 September 2010 on Channel 5.

From 2010 until 2019, McGuinness hosted the ITV dating show Take Me Out.

He was a guest presenter of This Morning in 2010, a role to which he returned in 2011.

He hosted the second series of 71 Degrees North with Charlotte Jackson in 2011.

He presented the entertainment series Hotel GB in 2012.

In 2012, he hosted Paddy's Show and Telly.

McGuinness hosted the comedy panel show Mad Mad World for seven episodes in 2012.

Two episodes were recorded but never aired.

McGuinness was one of the presenters of Christmas telethon Text Santa.

In 2012 and 2013, McGuinness co-hosted one hour of the telethon with Christine Bleakley, although Alesha Dixon was his co-presenter for the 2014 appeal.

In 2013 McGuinness presented Paddy's TV Guide.

The show returned for a second special in 2013.

In 2013, McGuinness co-presented talent show series Your Face Sounds Familiar with Alesha Dixon.

In 2014 McGuinness narrated the three-part charity series Stars at Your Service for Channel 4.

In 2014, McGuinness co-hosted the Saturday night game show Amazing Greys alongside Angela Rippon.

In 2015, he presented the Channel 4 daytime game show series Benchmark for 30 episodes as well as five celebrity editions.

In August 2023, Channel 4 announced McGuinness as presenter for "Don't Look Down" in aid of Stand Up to Cancer.

In 2015, he regularly starred in the ITV2 comedy show The Keith Lemon Sketch Show.

McGuinness played the role of policeman Ian in the ITV comedy The Delivery Man, beginning in April 2015.

In 2015, McGuinness guest starred in six episodes of Coronation Street, playing the role of Dougie Ryan.

The episodes were shown in August.

On Christmas Eve in 2015 he presented one-off ITV special, The ABBA Christmas Party

McGuinness presented Stars in Their Cars, a series for the Travel Channel in 2016.

He starred in the ITV comedy series The Keith & Paddy Picture Show with Keith Lemon in 2017.