Paddy McGuinness chokes back tears as he shares touching message on Stand Up To Cancer series Don’t Look Down… after revealing he lost his father to colon cancer

Paddy McGuinness was reduced to tears as he delivered a moving tribute during the final of Don’t Look Down for Stand Up To Cancer on Friday night.

The TV presenter, 50, joined other celebrities to face his fear of heights with a never-before-attempted tightrope walk across the London Stadium to raise money for cancer research.

The Channel 4 series finale aired on Friday and Paddy was overcome with emotion as he shared a touching message with his co-stars ahead of the high-wire walk.

Paddy choked back tears and looked glassy-eyed as he discussed how every family knows someone affected by cancer.

Paddy recently revealed that he lost his father to bowel cancer and that his brother had leukemia, as he discussed his own personal stories about the disease.

In the final, a visibly emotional Paddy thanked his co-stars Kimberly Wyatt, Victoria Pendleton and Anton Ferdinand for sharing their own personal stories with him.

He said: ‘We all unfortunately know someone who has been affected by cancer and just for myself I would like to personally thank Anton, Kimberly and Victoria for sharing your stories with us.’

Paddy then asked his castmates to turn around as the London Stadium was lit up with the faces of people affected by cancer, including a photo of Anton with his mother, who died of cancer.

Also shown were a photo of Kimberly with her father Jeff, who is battling lung cancer, and a photo of Victoria with her twin brother Alex, who passed away in June.

Revealing the pictures, Paddy said: ‘People who watched the show have been in touch and want to pay their own personal tribute to their loved ones. And they’re here with us tonight when you take a look at the stadium.”

Paddy and his co-stars were all reduced to tears at the highly emotional moment as their families were all 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 anything.’

The team also received sweet messages of support from their family and friends, with Anton’s brother Rio Ferdinand sending him an emotional tribute.

In a video message he said: ‘Yes Ant, it’s big brother, what’s going on? We are absolutely proud of you husband and what you are doing. Of course we all know how close to our hearts Stand Up To Cancer is.

“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 much bigger than any of us. Knowing we’re all in it together makes it even more special.”

The team then faced their biggest and longest tightrope walk yet in the final challenge to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer.

Their final highwire challenge was 30 meters high and a whopping 900 meters long and was three times the height and twice the distance of anything they had attempted during the previous four weeks of training.

Paddy recently revealed he lost his father to bowel cancer while he was his father brother had leukemia.

Speaking to The Mirror, the star revealed he hoped they would find a cure within his lifetime and was committed to raising money to fund further research.

He said: “I hope, please God, that one day we will open the newspaper – or more likely an iPad – and see the headline that they have finally found a cure for cancer.

“It’ll be amazing, it’ll be great. So that’s my hope that we get there and the more people throw away a little bit of money for research along the way, the better.”

Paddy’s ex-wife Christine McGuinness also suffered a secret cancer scare after finding a lump in her breast.

The TV star revealed that the health crisis happened many years ago – before she became mother to her three children with Paddy – and that she was terrified 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, one day I found a lump.

‘Women in my family have had breast cancer. Because of that history, I was seen quite quickly. I’ve had a full check-up and scans.’

The lump turned out not to be cancerous, but Christine continues to check herself every time she showers.

She added: ‘If you see any changes or you’re not sure, you should get it checked out.’

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 undergoing treatment.

Stand Up To Cancer airs on Channel 4 tonight from 7pm and the final of Don’t Look Down for SU2C airs at 9pm. Stream or watch live.