Paddy McGuinness criticises Simon Cowell for never changing a nappy

Paddy McGuinness has criticised Simon Cowell for his famous admission that he never even thought about changing his son’s nappies.

The 47-year-old Top Gear presenter told The Sun on Sunday that he considered nappy-changing to be a part of “earning your parenting stripes”.

Read more: McGuiness shares adorable clip of three-year-old daughter singing

Cowell’s son Eric was born in 2014 and, a year later, Cowell confessed he hadn’t yet changed a nappy and wasn’t likely to do so in the future.

McGuinness said: “I remember seeing something when Simon Cowell had his son, talking about how he doesn’t even think about doing nappies, he’s never done a nappy ever, and I kind of think, you’ve got to earn your parenting stripes, you’ve got to do that.”

McGuinness has three children — twins Penelope and Leo and younger daughter Felicity — with wife Christine.

All three of the children are on the autistic spectrum, with Christine posting on Instagram after Felicity’s diagnosis that she is proud of her “strong, unique family”.

Read more: Christine McGuinness discusses struggles in lockdown

Paddy went on to delve into the more grotesque details of being at the parenting coalface, which aren’t likely to change Cowell’s mind.

“You’ve got to get poo under your fingernails, covered in p**s and everything else and spew and what have you,” he added.

“If you’ve not done that you’ve never fully embraced the whole thing.

“I feel as though as a person it makes you stronger as well, because of all that stuff you have been through.”

McGuinness will rejoin presenting pals Chris Harris and Freddie Flintoff this year to host the 30th series of Top Gear.

Much like the 29th series, which aired late last year, the latest run is expected to focus on UK-based filming as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The most recent series also saw a drive-in studio used in order to ensure audience members could abide by social distancing guidelines.

Read more: Top Gear airs footage of McGuinness crashing Lamborghini

McGuinness is also due to present a new game show format on the BBC this year, following the axe of his popular dating show Take Me Out after a decade on TV screens.

His new show will be music-based guessing game I Can See Your Voice, in which contestants have to decide whether strangers can sing before hearing them.

Watch: McGuinness crashes Lamborghini on Top Gear