Paddy McGuinness to stay at BBC for £250,000 after show cancellations
- Paddy McGuinness has secured a new contract worth £250,000 with the BBC despite the cancellation of his shows.
- The BBC aims to retain him to prevent a return to ITV, where he previously hosted 'Take Me Out'.
- The decision reflects the BBC's commitment to developing new projects for McGuinness, even as viewership for his previous shows declined.
In October 2024, Paddy McGuinness, a prominent television presenter in the UK, has been awarded a new contract worth £250,000 by the BBC. This decision comes in the wake of the cancellation of his popular shows, 'Top Gear' and 'A Question of Sport'. The BBC is keen to retain McGuinness, who previously hosted the successful dating show 'Take Me Out' on ITV, to prevent him from returning to the rival network. Despite the end of his major programs, the BBC is reportedly working on new show ideas for McGuinness. His previous hosting roles had garnered significant viewership, particularly for 'Top Gear', which maintained around 5 million viewers during his tenure. However, 'A Question of Sport' saw a dramatic decline in audience numbers after he took over, dropping from 4 million to just 800,000. The BBC's investment in McGuinness reflects their desire to keep him within their talent pool, especially after the unfortunate circumstances surrounding 'Top Gear', which was put on hold following a serious accident involving co-host Freddie Flintoff. The BBC has expressed its commitment to McGuinness and his co-hosts, indicating that they are excited about potential new projects. This strategic move by the BBC highlights the competitive nature of television broadcasting in the UK, where retaining top talent is crucial for maintaining audience engagement and preventing rival networks from gaining an advantage.