TV presenter and radio host Paddy McGuinness says he is “blown away” by the support for his 300-mile charity cycle from Wales to Scotland in aid of BBC Children in Need.
The former Top Gear host, 51, is journeying from Wrexham in Wales to Glasgow in support of Children in Need and is just hours away from the finish line in Glasgow.
This morning at 6.45am Paddy set off for the final 18.5 miles of his incredible cycling challenge from Strathaven to Scotland’s biggest city on his beloved dream childhood bike – the Raleigh Chopper, which he has nicknamed Patch.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast this morning, Paddy said: “It’s drizzling, it’s dark and it’s freezing, but still people come out there.
“I’ve been absolutely blown away by the amount of people, I’ve come all the way from Wrexham, out of Wales into England, up into Scotland, and I couldn’t tell you when there were bits where people weren’t stood on the roads.
“It feels like every single person knows what’s going on, it’s amazing.
“It’s really a privilege to be a part of it, it’s a little moment in my life I’ll hang on to – it’s been lovely.”
Paddy set off on the last leg from Strathaven to Glasgow early this morning, and ahead of setting off he said he would always have fond memories of arriving into the south Lanarkshire town.
He said: “I came into Strathaven last night, it took me back to the 80s when Liverpool used to do an open top bus parade when they won the FA Cup, it’s like that. Honestly, it was unbelievable, it was mind-blowing. I try and go round and high five everyone.”
He also said he had no regrets about taking on the gruelling challenge, but admitted he’d wished he had a comfier seat.
He added: “The only regret is: I should have put better padding on top of that (bike seat), but other than that, absolutely no regrets.
“In a weird way, I think on Monday I’ll miss it. When I’m sort of walking to the shop for my pint of milk and everything else in the morning, I’ll be like, why no one (here), why aren’t the cars going past going ‘hello’.
“I’ll miss that sort of letting on to people all the time and just that feeling of everyone being behind you.
“If it wasn’t for that, I don’t think I could have got through it, because it has been really tough.”
The presenter confessed that he doesn’t know how he will handle his emotions at the finish line, admitting he’s been “crying his eyes out” over the last few days.
To which Zoe replied: “You’ve got to get it out! I’ve read loads of messages from people saying ‘hearing Paddy have a cry, it’s so good. Men struggle sometimes to let it out, you’ve made men and women have a cry, listening to you. You’ve cycled, 265 miles, will you ever be parted!”
The total raised so far for Radio 2’s Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge is £6,577,494 which Zoe confirmed at 6:50am this morning on BBC Radio 2 Breakfast.
Paddy is cycling to Glasgow and hopes to be welcomed by cheering crowds lining the streets.
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He will arrive at the BBC’s Pacific Quay, where Zoe will welcome him during a live broadcast of The Radio 2 Breakfast Show from the foyer.
A small audience, who secured tickets through a ballot, will also be there to celebrate his achievement.
So far on the journey, McGuinness has been joined by Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, greeted by 1970s pop group Black Lace, and broke down after being given some cards and drawings from his children.
Donate to Paddy McGuinness does Radio 2’s Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge for BBC Children in Need here: www.bbc.co.uk/paddy.
Paddy: The Ride Of My Life, airs on Tuesday, November 19 at 8pm on BBC ONE. You can also hear Paddy read the CBeebies Bedtime Story at 6.50pm on Friday, November 15 on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer.
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