Life

TV Quickfire: Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinness on new series of hit dating show and his 20 year career

TV dating show Take Me Out returns for its 11th series this week. We quizzed host Paddy McGuinness about this season's contestants

Paddy McGuinness is back with another series of his hit ITV dating show
Paddy McGuinness is back with another series of his hit ITV dating show Paddy McGuinness is back with another series of his hit ITV dating show

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE BACK WITH MORE TAKE ME OUT?

It feels really good. Take Me Out is as popular as ever in terms of how many girls and boys applied, which is great. When you've got a show that's established, that everyone knows, the girls and boys feel more comfortable applying for it, as they know what it's all about.

I see it with our audience too. We have 500 people in every single night, it's always ram-packed and there's always a good atmosphere. There's such warmth towards the show, which I love.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR FROM THE CONTESTANTS?

My only note is we have to have an eclectic mix of people. It's pointless having four male models and 30 female models behind the podiums, because life's not like that. Everyday life is about different people from different walks of life, all different shapes and sizes and different interests.

ANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS FILMING THIS SERIES?

We break an actual Guinness World Record on one show. We've also got one lad who has struggled to find love because he has his ex-girlfriend's name tattooed on him. That got a bit awkward and it doesn't do him any favours with the girls after he mentions that!

TELL US ABOUT THE 80s SPECIAL'.

It's celebrating the 80s, so I've gone back to my Miami Vice days. I'll be in a white suit with a pastel vest and all the girls will have big hair. The music and everything about the show will be 80s. I'm really looking forward to that, it'll be a lot of fun.

I do love the specials – we're open to all suggestions. I like having them, because it reminds me of watching telly with my mum when I was young.

DO YOU STILL GET NERVOUS WHEN FILMING?

I know how the show works, but I think naturally, when you're performing in front of anyone, you get nervous. It's the unpredictability of it, which I love; not knowing what the girls are going to say. I always say to the lads, 'I know you're nervous, but trust me, you'll be on and off before you know it, just enjoy it'.

DO THE GIRLS SHOCK YOU WITH THE THINGS THEY SAY?

Every series! I'm still, to this day, surprised and shocked by some of the things that come out of their mouths. Not shocked as in, "I can't believe you said that", more shocked by the things they think about.

For example, one girl this series gets a lad over so she can look at his elbows. She said, "I can't have chalky elbows". I thought, "The boys would never think of anything like that".

WHAT'S THE WEIRDEST PLACE SOMEONE HAS USED ONE OF YOUR CATCHPHRASES IN FRONT OF YOU?

I was once at a funeral when someone said to me, 'Let the ashes see the urn', which I thought was a bit odd. I mean, there's a time and a place. That's probably the strangest place.

YOU ALSO JOINED THE TOP GEAR PRESENTING LINE-UP THIS YEAR.

Throughout my career, I've always done different things. I think that's why I've always been lucky enough to work, because I write, I'll tour and do stand-up, then I'll do Take Me Out and Top Gear, and I did a series of Celebrity Juice.

If you pigeonhole yourself, things can get a bit limited. I've always had a broad selection of things I can do and that I am interested in. I'm glad, because it keeps it interesting for me and, hopefully, my fans.

:: Take Me Out returns to ITV on Saturday, October 26.