Paddy McGuinness to make debut on A Question of Sport tonight

PADDY McGuinness will make his debut tonight as the new host of A Question of Sport - on the same weekend as he takes part in Socceraid.

The Bolton-born TV presenter takes over from Sue Barker, who had fronted the long-running quiz show for 24 years before her final episode was broadcast in May.

McGuinness will be joined by new team captains Sam Quek â€" the Olympic gold medal-winning hockey player â€" and Ugo Monye, England and Lions rugby star.

The new-look show will retain A Question Of Sport’s most popular challenges and rounds, the BBC said, but will also introduce some new elements to the format.

McGuinness, Quek and Monye will begin filming for the new series during the summer and the show will return later in the year to BBC One.

Speaking ahead of the debut, Top Gear presenter McGuinness said: “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.”

McGuinness, 47, said he grew up watching the programme when it was hosted by David Vine and later by David Coleman, but it was Barker, 65, who “made this show her own”.

He added: “She will always be A Question Of Sport icon, but I’ll try my best to stamp my own mark on it.”

Quek, 32, and Monye, 38, are taking over from outgoing team captains Phil Tufnell, 55, and 48-year-old Matt Dawson.

Quek, who won gold at the 2016 Olympics, said: “This really is my 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 â€" but I never thought that I would one day be a captain. And the first female captain in the show’s 50-year history too.”

Monye added: “It’s an incredible honour to be selected as A Question Of Sport’s team captain. It’s a show I have watched my entire life, so to be named as a captain is truly humbling.

A Question of Sport airs tonight at 7.35pm on BBC1, while you will also see Paddy in action during Socceraid tomorrow evening on ITV - with coverage beginning at 6.30pm ahead of a 7.30pm kick off.

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