Paddy McGuinness can’t speak through tears in huge personal moment

Radio 2’s Paddy McGuinness burst into tears today on air during his Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge for Children in Need.

The presenter, 51, tasked himself with journeying 300 miles from Wrexham to Glasgow on his customised chopper bike to raise money for the charity, and so far he’s reached the Scottish border just north of Carlisle.

At such a milestone – and with only days to go, as he aims to finish on Friday in time for the breakfast show – Paddy was updated by Zoe Ball live on Radio 2 about his fundraising progress, as the Take Me Out star sat on the tarmac looking defeated.

Zoe had some good news though, as she said: ‘The total for Paddy’s Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge in air of BBC Children in Need is… £1,000,277!’

Understanding his efforts had rocketed the total number over £1million, Paddy simply hung his head, shielded his face with his hand and began to sob.

‘Are you alright there Paddy?’ asked Zoe, adding: ‘He’s gone very quiet.’

All the presenter could do was raise the microphone to his mouth and say: ‘Thank you so much everyone, that’s amazing.’

Continuing through tears he added: ‘I can’t believe we’ve made £1mill, I just can’t.’

In the most recent update at the time of writing, Paddy has raised £1,230,922 for the cause, and the challenge still has a number of days to go.

He set off from Wrexham AFC at 8.15am on Monday morning, armed with a performance from Rhos Male Voice Choir and an inspiring message from Sir Chris Hoy.

The Olympian, who has terminal cancer, said: ‘There is no doubt this will be the toughest thing that you ever do.

‘There’s no two ways about it. The next five days are going to be gruelling.

‘Hill after hill after hill.

‘Paddy you must keep pedalling on your little chopper.

‘This will be five relentless days over brutal terrain but when it gets really tough just remember why you’re doing this.

‘You’re doing this to inspire the nation. You’re doing this for Children in Need.

‘And we’re all behind you.’

While this would have been quite the feat on a normal road bike, Paddy’s ride is nothing more than an adapted children’s bike with only three gears.

Counties Paddy is covering include Flintshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire, Westmorland, Cumberland, Dumfriesshire and Lanarkshire.

Many celebrities have been undertaking sports challenges for charity in recent months, with Spencer Matthews completing 30 marathons in 30 days in the blistering heat of the desert.

Co-radio star Vernon Kaye also completed an Ultra Ultramarathon Challenge last year, for which he ran 115 miles from Leicester to Bolton over five days, raising over £6million for Children in Need.

To follow Paddy’s real-time progress, follow this link, and to donate visit the BBC website here.

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