Paddy McGuinness reveals the TV hosting job he turned down – and it’s all because of Keith Chegwin’s manhood
THERE are not many jobs that Paddy McGuinness says “no likey” to, but getting naked on TV is one of them.
The former Take Me Out presenter has revealed he turned down the chance to host ITV1 series The Real Full Monty as he didn’t want to strip on camera.
And he reckons watching presenter Keith Chegwin starkers on Naked Jungle in 2000 scarred him for life.
Paddy — who we have mocked up as he might have looked in the buff for The Real Full Monty — recalls: “I got asked to host that.
“They told me all about it and I told them, ‘Yep, I’ll do that’.
“And they were like, ‘Er, you will have to get your c**k out’ and I said, ‘Hang on a minute, no-one wants to see that’.
“So I passed on that one because I’m still of an era where I remember Keith Chegwin doing Naked Jungle and I’m like, ‘You’re at a bit of a low ebb there’.”
Pointless host Alexander Armstrong went on to get the gig in 2017, alongside Diversity dancer Ashley Banjo, and it’s become one of ITV’s most popular shows, spawning nine specials, including the latest one this Christmas.
Paddy says that his working class roots have meant that it’s always hard to turn down telly jobs, especially if they’re rather lucrative.
And he admits jobs started to flood in following the success of Saturday night hit Take Me Out, which launched him into the big league of TV presenters.
‘It’s not real life’
Recalling the dating show, which ran for 11 series and sparked his famous catchphrase “no likey, no lighty”, he revealed a conversation that he had with producers, urging them to include singletons of all shapes and sizes.
And he slammed popular reality show Love Island for not showing the same level of inclusiveness with its contestants.
Paddy told the Restless Natives podcast: “Body image-wise, you’re setting the wrong example with Love Island.
“Take Me Out, we used to have tall lads, small lads, chubby lads — it was the same with the girls.
“That’s one of the things I said to the producer — we can’t have 30 ‘worldies’, it’s just not real life.
“I like that it was a Saturday night thing and you’d be watching it and somebody on there would look like you.”
I say bring it back.
MARTIN’S BROKEN DREAMS
MARTIN KEMP has revealed he used to wish nasty accidents on brother Gary’s bandmates so that he could be in Spandau Ballet.
The musician longed to become a superstar while working as a roadie for the Eighties group.
Appearing with wife Shirlie on on Adrian Chiles’ new series My Life At Christmas, he revealed: “I used to carry their equipment and I would go to bed after gigs and dream something terrible would happen to my brother’s bandmates so I could step in.
“I wanted to be in Spandau Ballet so badly, but the problem was getting it past my brother. He didn’t want his younger brother following him around the world.
“It was my mum who told him, ‘If you’re going, he’s going’.”
- My Life at Christmas with Adrian Chiles: Martin And Shirlie Kemp airs December 17 at 10.30am on BBC One.
Bizbit
HOLLYOAKS star Claire Cooper returns as gobby Jacqui McQueen tonight – following a decade away from the soap.
The special episode, which was exclusively revealed by us last month, is available to stream on Channel 4 tonight, or watch it on Monday at 7pm on E4.
RUSSELL: FALL GAVE DAD A LIFT
RUSSELL HOWARD’S dad would tell you there’s one silver lining to a near-death experience – a free facelift.
The comedian revealed it was no joke when his father Dave tumbled 14ft out a tree and needed his skull rebuilt.
But surgeons carrying out the operation ended up tightening his features in the process.
Russell quipped on his Wonderbox podcast: “They had to pull everything back so he looks great.
“He got through it, he’s fine – it’s just now he looks like he’s been to Turkey.
“People are starting to give him second glances in the street.
“He looks like Benjamin Button.
“My mum is livid and she’s trying to measure up how far she should fall.”
JOHN’S WAR OF WORDS
NETFLIX’S new World War Two documentary has been given a 21st-century twist.
The six-part series, which launched on the streaming service this week, has colourised and enhanced never-before-seen archival footage to bring the events of the conflict to life.
But instead of a historian narrating the footage, Star Wars actor John Boyega delivers a voiceover for the cinematic footage.
The actor, who has previously narrated BBC documentary Serengeti, explains: “This is the story of World War Two and what it was really like.”
World War II: From The Frontlines is available to stream now on Netflix.
Bizbit
WATERLOO Road is returning next month.
The BBC has confirmed that the school drama, starring Adam Thomas, Angela Griffin and Kym Marsh, will air the first episode of its latest eight-part series on January 2.
The new instalments will hit screens weekly on BBC One at 8pm.
KEELEY’S IN NOVEL BBC ROLE
LINE Of Duty’s Keeley Hawes will star as Jane Austen’s sister in a new BBC period drama.
The actress, who portrays Cassandra, will be joined by Game of Thrones’ Rose Leslie in the four-part series adapted from best-selling novel Miss Austen.
Viewers will be transported back to 1830 when, 13 years after the author’s death, her sibling Cassandra is fighting to save her sister’s reputation following the discovery of private letters.
The notes, found at the home of Rose’s character Isabella, threaten to spill the secrets of the family feuds and love affairs of Cassandra and Jane, played by Patsy Ferran.
The drama will also star The Witcher’s Mirren Mack, Downton Abbey’s Phyllis Logan, The Crown’s Kevin McNally and Bridgerton’s Calam Lynch.
Filming began in the UK for the BBC earlier this month.