BBC axes Paddy McGuinness comedy as it would be 'insensitive' to his former wife Christine

Paddy McGuinness, 51, played himself in an unaired pilot for the sitcom, named Paddy, which the BBC had set to commission but now it has reportedly changed its mind

Paddy McGuinness's sitcom about his life and divorce has been axed by the BBC - over concerns it would be "distasteful and insensitive" for his former wife Christine.

The show, named Paddy, had set to be commissioned by the BBC after it saw a pilot in which the comedian and writer, aged 51, played himself. The mockumentary spoof followed a comic going through a break-up, and also featured comedian Josh Pugh, 35, who revealed they filmed at an Airbnb standing in for Paddy's house.

But an insider said the BBC has now it is "reluctant" to get involved with the separation. Paddy and Christine, 36, announced their split in July 2022, after an 11-year marriage. They have three kids together; 10-year-old twins, Penelope and Leo and seven-year-old daughter Felicity. Their divorce was finalised this summer yet they remain living under the same roof at their £2.5million family home in Cheshire for the sake of their young family.

When Christine, a model, read about the sitcom online earlier in the year, pals said she was upset. One said: "Christine is distraught that their divorce is going to be the butt of the jokes. She's completely broken over the divorce and we are genuinely worried about her."

But now the mockumentary has been scrapped anyway, it is thought. A source told Mail Online: "The BBC has decided not to go ahead with Paddy's mockumentary. Some thought it would be distasteful and insensitive to Christine, and were reluctant to be seen like they were taking sides in the messy break-up."

Paddy has already binned jokes about his divorce from his stand-up show after "devastating" his ex-wife by making gags about their painful split. The stand-up is currently on tour with his Nearly There show, and on Thursday performed for the first time since sources close to Christine revealed she had been "horrified" that Paddy made jibes on stage. During his latest show in Middlesbrough, Paddy had scrapped any mention of his high-profile breakup from Christine.

A BBC spokesperson told Mail Online: "We do not comment on pilots." Paddy McGuinness's representatives declined to comment to the publication. The Mirror has approached the team independently.