Paddy McGuinness and a host of other stars are set to put their nerves put to the test by taking part in a terrifying high-wire challenge for Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer.
The television star, 50, will join a string of other celebrities in a special series which is set to air from Tuesday 10 October as they face their fear of heights with a never-before-attempted high-wire walk across a London landmark that is still to be revealed.
Comedian Paddy took part in gruelling training sessions which were held at a camp in the Austrian Alps.
In the special series called Don’t Look Down, Paddy and other celebrities whose lives have been touched by cancer will be learning their new skill.
Take Me Out host Paddy took to Instagram on Friday to share some snaps of him practicing in his garden at home.
Nail-biting: Paddy McGuinness and a host of other stars are set to put their nerves put to the test by taking part in a terrifying high-wire challenge for Channel 4 ‘s Stand Up To Cancer
Challenge: The television star, 50, will join a string of other celebrities in a special series which is set to air from Tuesday 10 October as they face their fear of heights
He wrote: ‘You can see from the video how a gust of wind can completely change everything. Whether in an elevator or on a wire, wind is the enemy!
‘Tricky enough when I’m one foot off the ground, not sure how I’ll cope one hundred feet in the air! @su2cuk #dontlookdown #su2c #highwire.’
In the challenging series, Paddy hosts and leads a team of celebrities as they attempt to work together to tackle an incredible high wire walk.
Set in a summer training camp in the Austrian Alps, over six weeks the famous faces will be coached to conquer their fears as they face a series of physically and mentally demanding training exercises.
Tutored by the world’s foremost experts in high wire walking, at the end of training, the group face the challenge of a lifetime, the most nerve-wracking and vertigo-inducing high wire walk imaginable.
While Paddy will lead the host of celebrities, he will be joined by celebrities including actor Beverley Callard, Olympian Victoria Pendelton and former Love Islander Chris Hughes as they raise funds for Stand Up To Cancer.
Talking about his own family links to cancer, Paddy revealed that he lost his dad to colon cancer and his brother had leukaemia.
Talking to the Mirror, the star revealed that he hoped within his lifetime they would find a cure and he is therefore dedicated to raising money to help fund further research.
Challenging: Paddy was learning how to be a tightrope walker as he shared a video on Instagram while training on Friday – ahead of his new show Don’t Look Down
‘I hope, please God, that one day we open the paper – or more likely an iPad – and see that headline, that they’ve finally found a cure for cancer. It’ll be mind blowing, It’ll be amazing. So that’s my hope that we get there with that and the more people that chuck a little bit of money for research along the way, the better.’
Paddy’s ex-wife Christine McGuinness suffered a secret cancer scare after finding a lump in her breast.
The 35-year-old TV star revealed the health crisis was many years ago – before she became a mum to her three children with Paddy – and it left her terrified because she has a family history of breast cancer.
Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper at the The Pink Ribbon Foundation’s charity gala, she explained: ‘Before I had children, I found a lump one day.
Health scare: Paddy’s ex-wife Christine McGuinness previously revealed she suffered a terrifying cancer scare after finding a lump
‘Women in my family have had breast cancer. Because of that history, I got seen quite quickly. I had a full check-up and I had scans.’
The lump turned out not to be cancerous but Christine continues to check herself every time she has a shower.
She added: ‘If you see any changes or you are unsure, you’ve got to go and get it checked out.’
Christine’s mother Joanne was previously diagnosed with breast cancer as well as her three aunts, but TV star confirmed in 2021 that Joanne’s cancer was in remission after undergoing treatment.
