Paddy McGuinness has addressed rumours he’s dating his co-star Cherry Healey after they worked together on a show.
Presenter Paddy replaced Gregg Wallace on BBC’s Inside the Factory, a series filmed alongside 44-year-old Cherry. She has been on the show since it was launched in 2015 and will now work alongside 51-year-old Paddy.
Making his debut in the Christmas special last month, Paddy will lead the ninth series launching today (Tuesday, January 7). The Mirror reports he reminded viewers about the show airing tonight on his Instagram, as he posted photos of himself and Cherry alongside historian Ruth Goodman, who also presents the show.
Alongside the photos, Paddy wrote about his colleagues in the accompanying caption of the post. He told his followers last week: “The whole crew on Inside The Factory have been a joy to work with. A small but perfectly formed team.”
He continued: “Also I’d never met @cherryhealey before but we hit it off straight away. Absolutely love working with her, she’s an absolute diamond!” Paddy concluded: “The new series starts Tuesday 7th on BBC1 & @bbciplayer.”
Paddy McGuinness and Cherry Healey posing for a photo together
(Image: Instagram/ @mcguinness.paddy)
The post created much speculation over whether Paddy and Cherry are dating following their professional union. One person reacted: “Is this a soft launch of the new Mrs?” Another asked: “Ooh I’m liking this. New lady, Paddy? You look cute together.”
Paddy however has since addressed the rumours, which he shut down when responding to a fan who asked: “Is this your new love? If so all the very best (you look very comfortable together).” Paddy replied: “Not at all. She’s just a great person.”
The speculation comes after Paddy and his ex-wife Christine McGuinness ended their 11-year marriage in July 2022. The former couple share three children together.
They said at the time: “We’re moving forward as the best parents we can be for our three beautiful children. We’ll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together.”
Cherry was also formerly married, to Rory Allen who they share two child together, but split in 2016. She later began a relationship with Justin Mountstephens and they are thought to still be together, having celebrated her birthday together last month.
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