PADDY McGUINNESS is so thrilled with his new Stand Up To Cancer special Don’t Look Down – he’s even taking part, too.
The presenter and a host of celebrities will be facing up to their fear of heights with a never-before-attempted feat of a highwire walk across a yet-to-be-revealed London landmark.
Paddy, who is pictured getting to grips with the balancing act, said: “I’ve done stuff for Stand Up To Cancer in the past, so when Channel 4 suggested getting involved, I thought that’s quite interesting — I’ve never seen that done before.
“I’ve never seen Ant and Dec in the jungle eating a kangaroo’s penis — they’re always like, ‘Go on, get it down you!’”
The programme sees Paddy and celebs including Beverley Callard, David Ginola, Anton Ferdinand, Charley Boorman, Victoria Pendleton plus TikTok names Gk Barry and Fats Timbo, head to the Austrian Alps to train for their highwire act.
Things are once again looking up for Paddy after a run of bad luck with shows.
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I told earlier this year how the BBC had axed two of his shows — Catchpoint and I Can See Your Voice — all while filming for Top Gear is still on hold as Freddie Flintoff recovers from his horror crash.
So Paddy’s delighted to be fronting Channel 4’s annual health campaign show and his new challenge gameshow Tempting Fortune has also proved a hit.
But it doesn’t stop him from worrying.
He said: “I do think being working class, it’s in you. You just have that thing of...that constant fear of, if it stops what do I do next?
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“You constantly have that in your mind. I’ve always been quite driven in that sense.
“I’ve always been looking at the next thing, even when I’m on a show that’s really successful.
“I’m constantly looking at the next thing or trying to create something myself.”
The Stand Up To Cancer programme is also close to Paddy’s heart.
He said: “My dad passed away from colon cancer and my brother had leukaemia.
"My thing with Stand Up To Cancer, especially with the raising money, is I hope — touch wood — that within all our lifetimes, they’ll have cracked the cure.
“I’m all about the research and the more money that can be pumped into that, the better.”
See how Paddy and the plucky celebs get on next Tuesday, October 10, at 9.15pm on Channel 4.
KIRSTY IN SAS ‘FAILURE’
VIEWERS last night saw Hollyoaks’ actress Kirsty Leigh-Porter become the first celebrity to quit this series of SAS: Who Dares Wins.
But she says her decision to leave the Channel 4 show was “absolutely gutting”, revealing she had begun to suffer panic attacks.
Kirsty told me: “It just got to a point where I started to think and process what was actually happening.
“We had already done two weeks of isolation in the middle of Vietnam having not been able to speak to family.
"I think my brain was triggered from the stress response and that triggered a huge panic attack.
"I was just feeling so breathless and weak and seriously thought I was going to have a heart attack.
“But I was absolutely gutted, I just felt like I failed.
“I knew I could have done better but it’s just debilitating suffering panic attacks.”
Kirsty began to struggle after the horrific gas mask challenge, which triggers a stress response as the celebs try to escape a room while breathing in tear gas.
She added: “My experience did make me realise I have to spend a lot more time working on me, taking baby steps and not giant leaps to a jungle!”
Kirsty did better than John Barrowman, who walked out of 2024’s series – which was filmed this summer – after only 30 minutes.
MICHAEL OFF TO AFRICA
SIR MICHAEL PALIN has set the destination for his new travel series, which will be his first since the death of his wife Helen in May.
The explorer will embark on a trip to Nigeria, West Africa, for Channel 5 later this month, as long as his team can get the paperwork sorted in time.
Sir Michael said: “We’re planning a three week trip in October and November but getting all the permissions and security ready is a real challenge.
“I hope I’ll be OK, getting back on the road.
“But I know Helen would have encouraged me to do it.
“I can hear her voice in my head saying: ‘Don’t mope about, get on with it.’”
A REALITY CALL FOR BEV AGAIN
SOAP legend Beverley Callard has revealed that she swore off reality shows for good after her time on I’m A Celebrity – until Don’t Look Down came along.
The former Corrie actor was one of the celebrities who checked into spooky Gwrych Castle in Wales for Ant and Dec's show during Covid in 2020.
Opening up on her own story, the Liz McDonald star said: “I’m a Celebrity was amazing – scary because of the challenges – and we were in Wales, which was freezing.
“I did think that’s the only one, I won’t do more now. But when I was asked to do this, I just thought, I can’t say no.
“I had cancer when I was 32 – I’m fine now, absolutely fine – but a very dear friend of mine died in my arms a few years ago of cancer.
“I even lost a dog to cancer, a very young dog.
"And another very dear friend of mine is suffering from bone cancer.
“I think when you talk to people, it touches everybody in some way – even if it has not touched them personally, it’s touched someone they love.”
KIM ON WALKING FOR DAD
PUSSYCAT Doll Kimberley Wyatt proved she can take on a challenge with grace when she wowed on Dancing On Ice last year.
But for the singer taking part in the highwire walk is about more than just delivering another spectacle.
She said: “It’s important to me because of the gravity of ‘why’ we are there and I hope people are inspired to donate.
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“My dad is currently going through treatment as well as two more members of my family.
“So, on this show we’ve come together for Stand Up To Cancer to raise money and hopefully help to save lives.”
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