Background and career
Patrick Joseph McGuinness (born 14 August 1973) is an English comedian, actor, writer, and television presenter. 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 went on to present various television 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), Question of Sport (2021–2023) and Tempting Fortune (2023–2025). McGuinness has written and performed four stand-up comedy tours: The Dark Side Tour (2006), Plus You! Tour (2008), The Saturday Night Live Tour (2011), and Daddy McGuinness (2015–2016).
McGuinness was born in Farnworth, Lancashire. His mother Patricia worked as a cleaner and barmaid. He attended Mount St Joseph High School, where he formed a close friendship with fellow comedian Peter Kay. For seven years, he worked at Horwich Leisure Centre as a manager, lifeguard and latterly a fitness instructor.
McGuinness made his television debut in 1995 as a contestant on the show God's Gift. His breakthrough came in 2001 as bouncer Paddy O'Shea in the Channel 4 comedy series Phoenix Nights and spin-off Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere. He had previously featured in That Peter Kay Thing. 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. McGuinness presented Stars in Their Cars, a series for the Travel Channel in 2016. He also appeared in the second series of the Sky 1 show The Match.
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. A second series began on 20 September 2010 on Channel 5.
In 2006, McGuinness guest hosted The Paul O'Grady Show. He presented the entertainment series Hotel GB in 2012. In 2013 McGuinness presented Paddy's TV Guide. In 2014 McGuinness narrated the three-part charity series Stars at Your Service for Channel 4. In 2015, he presented the Channel 4 daytime game show series Benchmark for 30 episodes as well as five celebrity editions. From April 2023, he hosted new reality show Tempting Fortune, which was renewed for a second series in 2024. In August 2023, Channel 4 announced McGuinness as presenter for Don't Look Down in aid of Stand Up to Cancer.
In 2007, McGuinness presented Raiders of the Lost Archive. From 2010 until 2019, McGuinness hosted the ITV dating show Take Me Out. McGuinness hosted over 100 episodes in eleven series and gained over four million viewers. Take Me Out established him as a prime-time host and popularised catchphrases such as "no likey, no lighty!" 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. In 2012, he hosted Paddy's Show and Telly. The show returned for a second special in 2013. 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 co-presented talent show series Your Face Sounds Familiar with Alesha Dixon. In 2014, McGuinness co-hosted the Saturday night game show Amazing Greys alongside Angela Rippon. 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 He starred in the ITV comedy series The Keith & Paddy Picture Show with Keith Lemon in 2017. It returned for a second series in April 2018. In January 2018, McGuinness presented The Greatest TV Moments of All Time, a one-off special for ITV. McGuinness has appeared as a panellist on numerous episodes of Keith Lemon's shows Celebrity Juice and Through the Keyhole. In 2019, he replaced Fearne Cotton as team captain on the former show. He left after one series due to other work commitments.
