Paddy McGuinness opened up about being single at a time when he was starting out on television – and the one thing that stops him enjoying himself as much now.
The 51-year-old comedian, who rose to fame in the early 2000s with Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, reminisced on a podcast with Irish comedians The 2 Johnnies about his carefree younger days.
Paddy, who earned just £4,000 for the first season of Phoenix Nights, shared: “But I was having a good time as well as the money with telly, it was kind of like, I had that mindset of going out, women, free drinks in bars, I was only 20 odd. It’s like, you know, working class lad, that’s what you kind of think…” When one of the hosts chimed in, saying: “That’s all the stuff you want to do when you get on telly.”
Paddy humorously replied: “I still do lad, being honest, just too old now.”
He also mentioned that since his divorce from Christine McGuinness, people often shout “single man, reveal yourself” at him on the street, echoing his famous Take Me Out catchphrase. Paddy and Christine, who have three children, parted ways in 2022 after marrying in 2011.
At the time, both parties shared statements on Instagram, stating: “This was not an easy decision to make but we’re moving forward as the best parents we can be for our three beautiful children. We’ll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together.”
Paddy, known for his humour, couldn’t resist making light of the separation during his chat with The 2 Johnnies. Discussing his new standup tour and pre-show nerves, he quipped: “It is a different style of show but I have just started the second leg and it has been going down an absolute storm.
“I still get that feeling just before I go, going ‘f***, why are we doing this’? And then I remember I am divorced… Oh yeah, that’s why! I have no money. But honestly it has been doing really really well.”