Paddy McGuinness has ANOTHER BBC show axed following Top Gear saga as comedy series sparks ‘insensitive’ fears
The BBC has reportedly axed a proposed comedy series about Paddy McGuinness’s life and divorce over concerns it would be “distasteful and insensitive” to his former wife Christine.
The 51-year-old comedian had filmed an unaired pilot episode for the corporation last year, in which he played a version of himself.
The show, titled Paddy, was set to be commissioned before the BBC decided against proceeding with the project.
A source familiar with the production claimed to the Daily Mail: “The BBC has decided not to go ahead with Paddy’s mockumentary.
“Some thought it would be distasteful and insensitive to Christine, and were reluctant to be seen like they were taking sides in the messy break-up.”
The mockumentary-style comedy followed a comedian navigating a break-up, with fellow comic Josh Pugh, 35, featuring alongside McGuinness.
Pugh revealed they filmed at an Airbnb which stood in for McGuinness’s house during production.
“Paddy McGuinness is doing a spoof documentary of his life and in that documentary he is mentoring me as a stand-up. It’s about his divorce. It was a very strange couple of days,” Pugh said at the time.
The pilot episode was intended to launch a full series before the BBC’s decision to halt the project over sensitivity concerns.
Paddy and Christine McGuinness announced their separation in July 2022 after 11 years of marriage.
The couple, who share three children – 10-year-old twins Penelope and Leo, and seven-year-old daughter Felicity – finalised their divorce this summer.
Despite their split, the pair continue to live under the same roof at their £2.5million family home in Cheshire for the sake of their young family.
The arrangement reflects their commitment to co-parenting, with the former couple prioritising their children’s well-being following the end of their marriage.
The news of the show’s cancellation will likely come as a relief to Christine, who reportedly discovered the BBC pilot’s existence when reading about it online earlier this year.
A friend of Christine revealed: “Christine is distraught that their divorce is going to be the butt of the jokes. She’s completely broken over the divorce and we are genuinely worried about her.”
The situation has also impacted McGuinness’s stand-up tour content, with the comedian recently removing divorce-related jokes from his Nearly There show.
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During his latest performance in Middlesbrough, McGuinness omitted any mention of his high-profile breakup, a stark contrast to his previous Blackburn show where he had joked about needing help to “pay for my divorce”.
The axing of the comedy series follows a string of other BBC show cancellations for McGuinness in recent years, including Top Gear, A Question of Sport, Catchpoint and I Can See Your Voice.
The presenter is currently focusing on other projects, including preparing for a 300-mile cycle challenge for Children in Need.
GB News has contacted the BBC for comment.