CELEBRITIES setting up their own YouTube channels is either a shrewd reaction to changing viewing habits or an act of desperation as their telly work dries up.
Viewers can decide which applies as Paddy McGuinness reveals he is making the leap.
Paddy McGuinness has become the latest star to launch a YouTube show Credit: Getty
Paddy said: ‘I’ve got a new YouTube thing starting — I’m going to be getting Tom on one of them — which is more of a fitnessy kind of thing’ Credit: Getty
The former Take Me Out star — whose catchphrase on the ITV dating show was “No likey, no lighty” — is teaming up with mixed martial arts fighter Tom Aspinall, in an online show which will explore his mid-life health kick.
Paddy said on his pal Tom’s podcast: “I’ve got a new YouTube thing starting — I’m going to be getting Tom on one of them — which is more of a fitnessy kind of thing.”
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In March Paddy displayed his buff chest on the cover of Men’s Health mag after completing the 75 Hard Challenge.
The strict daily rules of the 75-day programme include sticking to a diet, avoiding alcohol, drinking four litres of water, doing two 45-minute workouts and reading ten pages of non-fiction.
ROD MCPHEE
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OFF THE BOOZE
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Paddy, who now hosts BBC One’s Inside The Factory after taking over the role from Gregg Wallace, is also about to front a daytime TV reboot of snooker classic Big Break.
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly successfully launched their digital entertainment platform Belta Box in January.
It now has 745,000 subscribers.
Holly Willoughby, who is said to be exploring a new TV show with Disney, launched her digital lifestyle series Together in July and now has 25,000 subscribers.
Food for thought for Paddy as he follows in their footsteps.
EMMA’S LIFE IN CHECK
Emma Bennet gets handsy with suited and booted Tom Hayward in new episodes of The Other Bennet Sister Credit: PA
In the new three-part special, which will air on the BBC over the festive period, she starts to wonder just who is Mrs Emma Hayward? Credit: BBC
EMMA BENNET gets handsy with suited and booted Tom Hayward in new episodes of The Other Bennet Sister.
The character, played by the brilliant Ella Bruccoleri, thinks life is a picnic at first as she starts a fresh chapter with her new husband, played by Donal Finn.
Last time we saw them together, he had popped the question and everything was hunky-dory.
But in the new three-part special, which will air on the BBC over the festive period, she starts to wonder just who is Mrs Emma Hayward?
Both Emma and Donal will be joined once more by some other A-listers.
They include Gavin and Stacey favourite Ruth Jones reprising her role as Mrs Bennet.
And Tanya Reynolds, who recently joined the new series of Ted Lasso, is back as Caroline Bingley.
But if you are expecting to see Richard E Grant returning, it is bad news.
Luckily, though, you can catch him sooner in another BBC show – The Celebrity Traitors from October 1.
RIDE OR DIE IS KILLED OFF
Ride Or Die, starring Hannah Waddingham, has been axed by Prime Video after just one season Credit: Getty
IN a shock move, action comedy Ride Or Die has been axed by Prime Video after just one season.
The eight-parter starring Hannah Waddingham, Octavia Spencer and Bill Nighy, was believed to be one of the summer’s biggest hits.
Mystery surrounds why the streamer didn’t go for a sequel.
But, according to industry bible Deadline, the show’s creator, Paramount Television Studios, is looking at taking it elsewhere.
The programme sees Ted Lasso star Waddingham play assassin Judith, who is forced to go on the run with her best pal Debbie (Spencer) when the pair are ambushed by a mysterious enemy. Nighy plays Judith’s boss, known as The Director.
Other shows that were released by Prime Video around the same time, such as Legally Blonde prequel Elle, were renewed, despite Ride Or Die getting better ratings.
The streaming world can be a very strange place.
LOUISA DRAWS A BLANC
Louisa Lytton has swapped Albert Square for sunny Malta – filming a guest stint for the new series of The Madame Blanc Mysteries
EASTENDERS star Louisa Lytton has swapped Albert Square for sunny Malta – filming a guest stint for the new series of The Madame Blanc Mysteries.
The fifth season of the Channel 5 murder mystery drama, starring Sally Lindsay as antiques dealer and sleuth Jean White, will air this autumn.
Louisa, who found fame as Ruby Allen in the BBC soap, which she left last year, and also featured in The Bill in the late Noughties, shot her scenes this year.
A source said: “Everyone was excited to have her on set. Her character is very different to Ruby, so it’s going to be a treat for viewers as she gets tangled up in a murder case.”
We previously told how Hi-de-Hi! legend Su Pollard and comic Jason Manford will also be in the cosy crime drama which is set in fictional French village Sainte Victoire.
RICHARD Hammond thanked emergency services and medics who saved his life after his Top Gear car crash 20 years ago.
On the anniversary of the smash yesterday, he said he’d had many lucky moments but “I would have seen none of them if these people hadn’t turned up to work that day”.
SHOW IS GLAD TO HAVE JOE
Joe Marler has slotted right in to his muscle-bound role as new challenger Mauler, co-stars have said Credit: Getty
GLADIATORS, ready! Joe Marler, ready!
The ex-rugby union-turned-Celebrity Traitors star has slotted right in to his muscle-bound role as new challenger Mauler, co-stars have said.
Joe is the BBC One show’s first ever celebrity Gladiator, who will battle civilian contenders alongside the usual faces.
“He did the business,” said Gladiator Apollo, aka Alex Gray.
Diamond, real name Livi Sheldon, added: “He looked good in spandex. He’s a cool addition.”
Joe could be the first of many celebs to take part, with the gang eyeing up a Hollywood name and boxer to join their ranks next.
“Tom Hardy would be great,” said Diamond of the MobLand actor.
“And boxer Anthony Joshus,” reckons Apollo.
CO-HOST’S ADE FOR SAM GRIEF
Samuel West and Adrian Edmondson’s new series sounds emotional Credit: �5 Broadcasting Limited / �Frank Films Press Enquiries: press@channel5.com NOTE: Chan
THE new series of Sam & Ade Go Birding sounds emotional.
Co-host Samuel West revealed: “It’s been an intense year and a half. Both my parents died and I turned 60.”
His mum Prunella Scales – who played Fawlty Towers’ Sybil – passed away in October 2025 aged 93, almost a year after her husband, screen star Timothy West.
So for Sam’s milestone birthday in June, Adrian Edmondson, who co-hosts the bird-watching show, drew a sketch of a dunnock for him.
“It refers to my mum – the dunnock’s Latin name is Prunella modularis,” says Sam.
“In another episode I talk about how John Cleese and Neil Kinnock speak at her memorial.” The Channel 5 series starts on October 1.
GOOD Morning Britain’s Richard Arnold has announced he is engaged to his partner of 23 years.
The presenter shared a photo on Instagram of him with his rarely-seen partner Stuart as he revealed the happy news. He captioned the post: “The splice of life,” followed by a ring emoji.



