Paddy McGuinness was left speechless after he went on Who Do You Think You Are? knowing very little about his family - not even his grandparents' names. Bolton-born Paddy, known for fronting shows like Take Me Out, Top Gear and A Question Of Sport, was born in Farnworth, Lancs, in 1973. He was raised by single mum Patricia, but enjoyed a good relationship with his dad Joe.
He said: "I got my quick-wittedness from my mum. I loved my dad Joe but he wasn't one that took me to football or encouraged me. The male figure I looked up to was my uncle Tony.
" READ MORE: Gemma Atkinson says 'never' as she reveals she was 'vulnerable' during latest job with exciting brand But Paddy knew nothing about his other relatives, only suspecting that there might be an Irish link, given the McGuinness name, the Mirror reports . "I don't know if [they've] had anyone on the show who knows as little about the family as me," the BBC Radio 2 host admitted. "I know my mum's mum was Winifred, I couldn't tell you my dad's mum and dad's names full stop.
My mum and dad have both passed away and that makes it difficult. I think my family is nailed-on working class. I'd put a hefty bet on there being an Irish connection somewhere.
.. I feel like I should know this.
" So Paddy was later gobsmacked to discover his grandfather took part in the Boer War alongside Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi. And he was moved when he found himself holding grandad William's medal for his role in the famous 1900 Battle of Tug.