Paddy McGuinness was moved to tears as he delivered a touching tribute to the finale of Stand Up To Cancer’s Don’t Look Down on Friday evening.
The 50-year-old TV presenter joined other celebrities in confronting his fear of heights by completing a never-before-attempted high-wire walk across London’s stadium to raise money for cancer research.
The finale of the Channel 4 series aired on Friday and Paddy was overcome with emotion as he delivered a touching message to his co-stars before the tightrope walk.
Paddy held back tears and looked glassy-eyed at the fact that every family knows someone who has cancer.
Paddy recently revealed he lost his father to bowel cancer and his brother suffered from leukemia while sharing his personal stories about the disease.
Emotional: Paddy McGuinness was moved to tears as he delivered a touching tribute to the finale of Stand Up To Cancer’s Don’t Look Down on Friday evening
In the finale, a visibly emotional Paddy thanked his co-stars Kimberly Wyatt, Victoria Pendleton and Anton Ferdinand for sharing their very personal stories with him.
He said: “Sadly, we all know someone who has been affected by cancer and just for me personally I would like to thank Anton, Kimberly and Victoria for sharing their stories with us.”
Paddy then asked his comrades to turn around as the London Stadium was lit up with the faces of people who had suffered from cancer, including a picture of Anton with his mother, who had died of cancer.
Also featured was a photo of Kimberly with her father Jeff, who is battling lung cancer, and a photo of Victoria with her twin brother Alex, who died in June.
Revealing the pictures, Paddy said: “The people who watched the show are in touch and want to pay their loved ones their personal tribute. “And they are here with us tonight as you look around the stadium.”
Paddy and his co-stars were all moved to tears at the very emotional moment as their families were remembered through the heartfelt tribute.
Victoria said: “I can’t do this without thinking about my brother. “My brother is always here and I would do anything to help him or families with the same prognosis. I would do everything.’
The team also received lovely messages of support from their family and friends, with Anton’s brother Rio Ferdinand sharing an emotional tribute.
Tearful: Paddy held back tears and looked glassy-eyed as he spoke about how every family knows someone who has had cancer
Tribute: A visibly emotional Paddy thanked his co-stars Kimberly Wyatt, Victoria Pendleton and Anton Ferdinand – who lost his mother to cancer – for sharing their personal stories
In a video message he said: “Yeah Ant, it’s a big brother, what’s going on?” We’re absolutely proud of you man and what you’re doing. Of course, we all know how close “Stand Up To Cancer” is to our hearts.
“I know mom will look down and be proud of what you’re doing. “Good luck and we’re all behind you.”
Upon hearing the messages, Kimberly said, “Watching the video makes it clear why we are here. It’s a goal so much bigger than any of us, and knowing we’re all in this together makes it even more special.”
In the final challenge to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer, the team faced the largest and longest high wire walk to date.
At 100 feet tall and a massive 900 feet long, their final high wire challenge was three times higher and twice as long as anything they had attempted in the previous four weeks of training.
Paddy recently revealed he lost his father to bowel cancer while his brother suffered from leukemia.
Speaking to The Mirror, the star revealed that he hoped they would find a cure in his lifetime and that he is committed to raising money to fund further research.
He said: “I hope, thank God, that one day we’ll open the newspaper – or more likely an iPad – and see the headline that they’ve finally found a cure for cancer.”
Tearful: Victoria Pendleton, who lost her twin brother Alex in June, was also close to tears at this moment
Cute: Paddy then asked his castmates to turn around as the London stadium lit up with the faces of people who had cancer, including some of the celebrities
Brave: 50-year-old Paddy joined other celebrities in battling his fear of heights and undertaking an unprecedented high-wire walk across the London Stadium to raise money for cancer research
“It’s going to be mind-blowing, it’s going to be amazing. “So I hope we get there, and the more people who spend a bit of money on research along the way, the better.”
Paddy’s ex-wife Christine McGuinness also suffered from a secret cancer scare after discovering a lump in her breast.
The TV star revealed that the health crisis happened many years ago – before she became a mother to her three children with Paddy – and that she was very scared about it because breast cancer runs in her family.
Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper at the Pink Ribbon Foundation charity gala last month, she explained: “Before I had children, I discovered a lump one day.”
“Women in my family have had breast cancer.” Because of that story, I was seen pretty quickly. I had a full exam and scans.’
Family: Paddy recently revealed he lost his father to bowel cancer and his brother suffered from leukemia while sharing his personal stories about the disease
Health: Paddy’s ex-wife Christine McGuinness also suffered a secret cancer scare after discovering a lump in her breast
The lump turned out to be non-cancerous, but Christine continues to check herself every time she showers.
She added: “If you notice any changes or are unsure, you need to get it checked.”
Christine’s mother Joanne was previously diagnosed with breast cancer, as were her three aunts, but the TV star confirmed in 2021 that Joanne’s cancer was in remission after treatment.
Stand Up To Cancer airs tonight from 7pm on Channel 4, with the Don’t Look Down finale for SU2C airing at 9pm. Stream or watch live.