BBC boss backs Paddy McGuinness to be new Strictly presenter after claiming he would be a ‘perfect fit’ to replace Claudia Winkleman

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He had hoped to become a major star on television, but that dream was derailed when two of his most important shows were canceled while he was in charge.

Although the BBC has cancelled Top Gear and A Question of Sport, reports suggest a high-ranking Strictly Come Dancing executive is now proposing Paddy McGuinness as Claudia Winkleman‘s replacement, following her decision to leave the show.

According to BBC sources, Suzy Lamb, the head of BBC Studios and a former colleague of Paddy McGuinness from his time hosting the ITV dating show Take Me Out, thinks he’d be an ideal person to interview potential contestants.

Winkleman truly excelled in that hosting role, and Lamb reportedly thinks McGuinness’s playful interview style with dating couples would work just as well when talking to celebrities and their professional dance partners.

On the TV show Take Me Out, a man would attempt to impress a panel of thirty women, hoping to win a date in Tenerife. Throughout the show, the women could switch off their lights if they weren’t interested in the contestant, a process host Paddy McGuinness famously summarized as ‘No likey, no lighty’.

The possibility of Martin McGuinness hosting Strictly has angered many of Claudia Winkleman’s coworkers, who are shocked she’d want the show associated with a rival program known for its suggestive humor and sexist attitudes.

According to a BBC insider, Suzy championed Paddy during a meeting, strongly supporting his candidacy. She believes he’s exceptionally talented.

He doesn’t have much experience for this kind of job. With both Top Gear and Question of Sport cancelled, there aren’t many platforms for him. He also doesn’t seem right for Strictly Come Dancing, and a lot of people have been saying so.

‘As if you would base Strictly on a show like Take Me Out. Strictly is a national treasure.’

A BBC Studios spokesman, however, denied that any conversation had taken place.

Ms. Lamb has consistently been a strong advocate for McGuinness while at the BBC. Soon after she joined in 2018, he was chosen to host Top Gear.

After Sue Barker’s unexpected departure from BBC Studios three years prior, he became the host of A Question of Sport. However, viewership plummeted from eight million to just two million, and the show was cancelled after a remarkable 53-year run.

Aside from his television work, 52-year-old McGuinness separated from his wife, Christine, in 2022 after being married for 11 years. The split was reportedly difficult.

Ms Winkleman, 53, and Tess Daly, 56, will leave Strictly at the end of this series. 

Alan Carr, Bradley Walsh, Holly Willoughby, and Hannah Waddingham are all being considered as potential replacements.

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2025-11-16 03:03