TV PADDY ON LIKEYS I’d choose Bolton over Hollywood
TV joker Paddy McGuinness is convinced a dazzling career in Hollywood passed him by – because Americans are flummoxed by his accent.
The Bolton-born Take Me Out host was taken aback when producers of a US spin-off of his hit dating show asked for SUBTITLES.
They had been watching the footage in wide-eyed incomprehension.
But Paddy said he couldn’t care less about being rejected for the job of presenting the American version because he’d rather be in Bolton anyway.
The 44- year- old, renowned for catchphrases such as “no likey, no lighty” and “let the hanky see the panky”, told the Sunday People he is happy to stay true to his roots.
He said: “Fox TV wanted Take Me Out and they asked about me. Our executive producer showed them an episode and, no word of a lie, they couldn’t understand me. So she had to go back, get it subtitled. They went for an American comedian called George Lopez so that was my American dream squashed.
“I think they told him, ‘Watch the show, watch this fella and then do that’. I saw one where he said, ‘Let the sausage see the peppers’ and I thought, what does that mean? But it must mean something in America.
“Breaking America’s great if that’s your mindset but for me it was never anything that kept me awake at night. “I’m really happy doing what I do.” Paddy admits he enjoys a much quieter life than fans might expect.
Party
He loves a night in with wife Christine, 29, his kids – twins Penelope and Leo, four, and Felicity, 10 months – and a takeaway.
Paddy said: “I don’t have a showbizzy life. I’m always in, out and straight back home.
“In my job people think you’re out at every kind of party. I did all that years ago. I’m a lot more mellow now.
“Sometimes my wife will say, ‘Oh you’re quiet today’, and it’s because my job is all talking.
“So sometimes when I’m at home I’ll naturally be quiet just because I’m sick of talking and that’s the job. I just really like being at home, with the kids in bed, telly on, a takeaway – sometimes I’ll go salt-and-pepper ribs, sometimes a curry – with my shorts and T-shirt on. I like getting back to my own bed.”
And Paddy remains as close as ever with old school friend Peter Kay, who he appeared with in That Peter Kay Thing, Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere. He said he reckoned they’ll be pals for life.
While the presenter won’t be following in fellow Brit James Corden’s footsteps to crack America, he is undoubtedly a household name on British soil.
Last night his new show, Even Better Than The Real Thing – which sees top tribute acts compete against one another – aired on BBC1. More thant seven years after the show first And he’s set to film the tenth series of hit aired, PaddyPa remains passionate about it. “I dating show Take Me Out in November. thoroughlythorough enjoy doing it,” he said. “It’s the
Incredibly, Paddy admits he almost didn’t same crewcr that have worked on the show itt“since it “Last “began weekendand it’s two reallyof the tight-knit.crew on the do the show that skyrocketed his career.
He said: “One of the girls who used to look after me took the initial call from the showsho got married as well. As well as commissioning editor at Channel 4. They that,th we’ve had children being born. said they had this dating show come It’sIt amazing that’s happened from through and asked if I’d do it. ouro show.”
“She said I was busy and put the phone And Coronation Stree t fans will down. I might have never done the pilot. bbrr ruled be pleasedout a to return hear as that survival Paddy expert hasn’t They could’ve brought in Stephen Mulhern and that would’ve been that! D Dougie Ryan. Reminiscing about his