Question Time viewers divided as Paddy McGuinness clashes with Tory MP

What did you miss?

Paddy McGuiness divided opinion as he locked horns with a Tory MP on Question Time, with some saying he should run for prime minister but others questioning why he was on the show.

The Top Gear and Take Me Out star was a guest on Thursday’s (8 February) instalment of the BBC programme. He got off to a good start and drew giggles from the audience by saying: “Most people know I’m not here for my great political brain but that didn’t stop Boris Johnson.”

But despite his comment, he went on to impress many viewers with the way he took on James Daly, the deputy chair of the Conservatives, over the NHS.

What, how, and why?

He got into a debate with Daly over money for the NHS, telling him: “For me, James, you saying to Wes (Labour MP Wes Streeting) that Sir Keir Starmer is doing anything to get a vote is a bit rich coming from a Tory, let me tell you. We are still waiting on the £350 million a week Boris Johnson promised us (for the NHS)."

Daly replied by saying the money was “here”, but McGuinness would not be put off and snapped back: “Well where is it?”

Daly said that it had been put into the NHS, but the TV star demanded: “Why is the NHS on its knees if it’s here?”

He went on: “Why are they going on strike, nurses and doctors, if it’s here? Where is it?"

Some viewers called for Paddy McGuinness to go into politics

He went down so well that lots of people said he could have a career in politics, with many posting “Paddy 4 PM” on X. “He'd do a better than any of the clowns we've had for the last 14 years,” said one person, as another said the presenter had “nailed it”.

Another agreed: “The most sense that's been spoken in years about British politics and systems, by Paddy McGuinness, in just a few minutes on BBCQT.” “Can we have Paddy McGuinness on Question Time every week?” asked someone else.

Another viewer said: “Whoever is responsible for getting @PaddyMcGuinness on @bbcquestiontime needs a knighthood. Honestly spoken, working class lad at heart.”

Other viewers questioned why the star was on Question Time

However, other viewers questioned why the presenter was on the programme in the first place.

“Why is Paddy McGuiness on Question Time?” one baffled viewer asked on X. Another sniped: “Paddy McGuinness on the panel - how the Question Time barrel has been scraped.”

“McGuinness and Question Time in the same sentence,” remarked someone else. “A new low, even for the BBC.”

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