Paddy McGuinness on his Children in Need Chopper challenge and training with Olympics legend Sir Chris Hoy

As I delve into the captivating journey of Paddy McGuinness, I am struck by his resilience and adaptability. From his humble beginnings to hosting the popular ITV show Take Me Out, his life has been a rollercoaster ride of success and challenges.

This article first appeared in TopMob magazine.

When you think of the type of bike needed to cycle 300 miles across Wales, England and Scotland, the chunky Raleigh Chopper is probably not the first one that comes to mind. Yet this childhood icon of the 1970s and ’80s is exactly what Paddy McGuinness will be riding for the Radio 2 Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge to raise money for BBC Children in Need – and it was all his idea. “I thought kids would love the look of it coming down the road. The bike really has become the star of the show,” he says.

Starting on November 11th, McGuinness will embark on a journey from Wrexham Football Club. This journey will take him through the counties of Flintshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Westmorland, Cumbria, Dumfriesshire, and Lanarkshire, concluding in Glasgow on November 15th.

On Radio 2 every Sunday morning, the presenter now rides a newly improved, eye-catching yellow Chopper bike, adorned with Pudsey Bear’s image. This modern version of the classic Chopper by Raleigh features an elevated seat for longer journeys and a relocated gear shifter on the handlebars to avoid McGuinness needing to stretch while shifting gears during rides.

He mentions, “I’ve managed to take out two motorcycles of that model. They seem to struggle with longer distances. I’ve traveled around 40 miles on one so far, but it keeps malfunctioning, particularly the gears and the chain guard has fallen off, causing a lot of noise. During the competition, there will likely be two or three more of those motorcycles in a van, along with a mechanic as backup.

He hasn’t worked with a personal trainer or followed a specific diet, but he does see a physiotherapist and takes ice baths. Additionally, he has been receiving guidance from none other than Sir Chris Hoy, the six-time Olympic gold medalist who recently announced his cancer diagnosis as terminal. Coincidentally, Sir Chris resides in Cheshire, and he’s planning to give me a grueling workout next week. I reached out to him to confirm if our ride was still on, and he responded, “Just because I’ve shared what I’ve shared, it doesn’t mean I won’t put you through the wringer.

As a devoted moviegoer, I’ve been advised to hop on that motorbike daily, as it toughens my posterior, given how excruciatingly uncomfortable it is to maintain one position for extended periods. This fellow has been on a mission, tracking down relief cream for my hindquarters! Yes, you read that right. I’ve gotta lather myself up with the stuff, and it’s under these cycling shorts I wear. It’s an unpleasant sensation, but if I skip the cream, I can’t endure rides lasting more than an hour or two due to the intense friction.

51-year-old McGuinness, born and raised in Farnworth, Bolton, recalls his childhood where his parents, who were a cleaner and a military serviceman before working in the scrap metal industry, couldn’t afford to buy him a Chopper bike. Instead, he had a heavy BMX 2000. “I have fond memories of that bike,” he shares, “but I remember seeing a boy with a purple Chopper and thinking, ‘If only I could trade my right arm for that bike.’ I became friends with him and borrowed it for a while, exchanging it for a Star Wars AT-AT toy. It was common practice then to share or trade second-hand items, much like the pre-loved clothing app Vinted.

During the initial Covid lockdown, McGuinness decided to lift his spirits by purchasing a Chopper on eBay for £400, which was identical in its vibrant purple hue (“Now it’s mine!”), and he has brought this distinctive bike along to our photoshoot.

McGuinness has three children: 11-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, along with eight-year-old Felicity, all of whom have been diagnosed with autism, from his previous marriage with Christine. Since he now has the means to indulge them, does he? Well, considering that if I can buy a toy for my child if they ask for one, I believe I would, given my tender nature. I recall how it affected me growing up, watching kids who had the latest football boots, bicycles, or toys.

Although it didn’t negatively affect me, I lived a good life, but I don’t wish for my kids to experience the same. Fortunately, that’s not their reality. What’s special about my children is they don’t constantly ask for things like other kids might. They are content with what they have. During Christmas, it’s more like me asking them if they want something, and they usually decline. I strive to maintain a fair balance with them.

Besides taking up a cycling challenge, McGuinness is also launching a comedy tour across the UK and Ireland from now until April 2025, marking his return after eight years. “There’s certainly a lot to discuss, and the world has been quite eventful lately,” he admits. “I’d almost forgotten how challenging it can be to recall my written material.” He adds, “Tours are always demanding. You perform, you step off stage, then you exhaust yourself. Yet, you return because there’s something alluring about it. When you’re on stage and everyone is laughing, listening intently, and hanging on every word, you feel like a giant.

McGuinness, who had jobs at a recreation facility and as a construction worker, hadn’t considered comedy as a career path. “I adore my parents dearly, and they feel the same about me, but my father never took me to play football, and my mother rarely attended school parent-teacher meetings. It may sound unpleasant, but it wasn’t that way; it was simply our reality. No one from my neighborhood had gone to university, and it wasn’t something we were aiming for. The conversation wasn’t about university grades or college plans; it was more about securing a job as soon as school ended, just to earn money.

Later on, McGuinness found himself watching his old schoolmate Peter Kay perform at a quaint comedy venue in Manchester. They had both been students at Mount St Joseph High School in Bolton, and it was McGuinness who would later share the screen with Kay in Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere.

“He got £40 that night and I thought, ‘Bloody hell, £40 for just talking sh**e on stage.’ I did my first gig at Lancaster University, and it was called the Newcastle Brown Ale circuit. When I finished, the compere said, ‘That was Paddy McGuinness, and he claims it’s his first time.’ I thought that was quite a nice accolade. It was purely a financial decision. I was doing all right in jobs and various things, but I would have never been the CEO of a business or anything like that. I’d have just stayed at the level I was, so I thought comedy was a great way to better myself and try to make a few quid to help at home.”

Kay encouraged McGuinness to abandon his position at the leisure center and fully pursue comedy instead. He admitted that he wouldn’t have taken this step without Kay’s advice, as he enjoyed the stability of a regular income, whereas in his new role, there’s no pay if there’s no work.

Initially, McGuinness might be recalled for hosting the ITV dating show Take Me Out from 2010 to 2019. He expresses his pride in it, stating, “I’m really proud of it. It’s led to eight weddings and six babies.” He speaks with enthusiasm about the show. In those days, social media wasn’t as prominent; they would wish people well but didn’t typically keep track of them or engage further. After Blind Date faded away, Take Me Out marked a rejuvenation in dating shows. Shows like First Dates and Love Island gained popularity following Take Me Out’s success.

“Love Island is popular, but the participants always seem to be perfect which isn’t reflective of real life. If I were young watching it, I might feel pressured to change myself because I don’t have a six pack or my teeth aren’t as white as some of the contestants. On the other hand, Take Me Out was great because people came in all shapes, sizes, and professions with diverse appearances and backgrounds. That’s more like real life.

McGuinness is set to join the lineup on CBeebies Bedtime Stories. Reading it with my children feels special since it’s something I wanted to do for them, so they can proudly say, “Daddy does that.” They’ve become aware of what I do now, and I read it to them as if I were reading to my own kids. Felicity enjoys me reading books she owns, but Leo and Penelope delight in me spinning tales like my father used to, often incorporating them into the story. Penelope is a bookworm, particularly fond of the Dog Man series. The only books I remember from my childhood were The Beano and The Dandy. I was usually outside playing or involved in a scuffle; reading a book wasn’t something I saw people doing often.

In McGuinness’s installment, he’s perusing through “The Stompysaurus” penned by Rachel Bright. The story portrays a series of mishaps in the life of Stompysaurus, but it ultimately demonstrates how to navigate such situations – offering kids insights on dealing with frustration and irritation.

Such books strike a chord, inspiring children to imitate actions they see in the story. It seems that many errors I’ve made throughout my life stemmed from reacting too hastily to situations. Pausing for a moment and considering things more thoughtfully tends to lead to better outcomes. I’m less prone to impulsive reactions these days.

Apart from his current engagements like the BBC1 series Paddy and Chris: Road Tripping with Chris Harris, McGuinness maintains a busy schedule, but he enjoys it since he’s always driven by a strong work ethic. As he puts it, “I don’t rest on my laurels; I’m constantly looking for the next project.” With that, he hits the road in his van to collect his kids and their colorful Choppers.

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Children in Need returns to BBC One and iPlayer at 7pm on Friday 15th November 2024.

2024-11-05 03:38

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