Paddy McGuinness replaces Sue Barker as A Question of Sport host with rugby and hockey stars as team captains
PADDY McGuinness is taking over as the host of A Question of Sport as part of an all-new line-up, waving goodbye to Sue Barker.
The former Take Me Out host will star alongside new team captains, former field hockey star Sam Quek and rugby ace Ugo Monye.
Paddy, 47, spoke of his delight to take on the new role after replacing “icon” Sue, 65, who has presented A Question of Sport for the last 24 years.
The Top Gear host added he was “honoured” to have been offered the opportunity and was excited to “leave his mark” on the show.
He told The Mirror: “I love the fiercely competitive nature of sports stars coupled with having a laugh.
“That’s why A Question of Sport has always been one of my favourite shows and having been weaned on it from an early age, this is an honour and opportunity I’m certainly not taking lightly.
“I grew up with both Davids hosting but it’s Sue who made this show her own. She will always be A Question of Sport icon, but I’ll try my best to stamp my own mark on it.”
Paddy is joined by Olympic hockey gold medallist Sam, who won over 120 caps at the highest level and has presented sport on TV across the world.
Sam is set to become the “first female captain in the show’s 50-year history”, and spoke of her joy at being offered the “dream job”.
“I’ve watched A Question of Sport since I was a little girl and my ambition to appear on the show came true five years ago,” she revealed.
“I never thought that I would one day be a captain. And the first female captain in the show’s 50-year history too. I have some huge shoes to fill.”
Other team captain Ugo has become a prolific rugby broadcaster on TV and radio after representing England 14 times.
Since hanging up his boots, he has frequented BT Sport and ITV to cover the Six Nations, and also presents the BBC’s weekly rugby podcast.
Ugo described the team captain appointment as “humbling” and shared his hopes of being added to the list of the show’s “legends”.
Sue Barker, who took over hosting the show from David Coleman, announced she would be leaving after her 24-year stint this year.
Captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell were also let go by the BBC show as part of a major shake-up of the cast.
A Question of Sport was first broadcast on BBC One in 1970 and has been hosted by Sue since 1997.
She recently told of how the show had been such a “huge part” of her life, from “watching it growing up” to later becoming the host.
With Sue having waved goodbye, the new trio are set to begin filming for the new series this summer, with the show returning later this year.
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The BBC’s director of entertainment Kate Philips said of the shake-up: “Paddy will be a great host, bringing his own wit and warmth to a very important role.
“And although he’s a bit of a sports fanatic he’s more than met his match in the form of Sam and Ugo; both incredible athletes who are still incredibly competitive!
“Sue Matt and Phil leave big shoes to fill, and it will be exciting to see what this new talented trio bring to the show.”
Sue has moved on from the show to front the coverage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament across the BBC.