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Paddy McGuinness was reduced to tears as he made a touching tribute on the final of Don’t Look Down for Stand Up To Cancer on Friday night.

The TV presenter, 50, joined other celebrities in facing his fear of heights with a never-before-attempted high-wire walk across the London Stadium to raise money for cancer research.

The final of the Channel 4 series aired on Friday and Paddy became overcome with emotion as he shared a touching message with his co-stars ahead of the high-wire walk.

Paddy choked back tears and looked glassy-eyed as he discussed how every family knows somebody who has been affected by cancer.

Paddy recently revealed that he lost his dad to colon cancer and his brother had leukaemia as he touched on his own personal stories of the disease.

Emotional: Paddy McGuinness was reduced to tears as he made a touching tribute on the final of Don't Look Down for Stand Up To Cancer on Friday night

Emotional: Paddy McGuinness was reduced to tears as he made a touching tribute on the final of Don’t Look Down for Stand Up To Cancer on Friday night

In the final, a visibly emotional Paddy thanked his co-stars Kimberly Wyatt, Victoria Pendleton, Anton Ferdinand for sharing their own personal stories with him.

He said: ‘All of us sadly know someone who’s been affected by cancer and just for myself, personally I’d like to thank Anton, Kimberly and Victoria for sharing your stories with us.’

Paddy then asked his castmates to turn around as the London Stadium was lit up with the faces of people who have been affected by cancer, including a picture of Anton with his mother, who died of cancer.

A picture of Kimberly with her father Jeff, who is fighting lung cancer, and a photograph of Victoria with her twin bother Alex, who died in June, were also shown.

Revealing the pictures, Paddy said: ‘People watching the show have been in touch and they want to pay their own personal tribute to loved ones. And they’re here with us tonight if you have a look around the stadium.’ 

Paddy and his co-stars were all reduced to tears in the very emotional moment as their families were all remembered through the heartfelt tribute.

Victoria said: ‘I can’t do this without thinking about my brother. My brother’s here, always, and I would do anything to help him or families who have the same prognosis. I would do anything.’

The team also received sweet messages of support from their family and friends, with Anton’s brother Rio Ferdinand sending him an emotional tribute.

Tearful: Paddy choked back tears and looked glassy-eyed as he discussed how every family knows somebody who has been affected by cancer

Tearful: Paddy choked back tears and looked glassy-eyed as he discussed how every family knows somebody who has been affected by cancer

Tribute: A visibly emotional Paddy thanked his co-stars Kimberly Wyatt , Victoria Pendleton, Anton Ferdinand - who lost his mother to cancer - for sharing their own personal stories

Tribute: A visibly emotional Paddy thanked his co-stars Kimberly Wyatt , Victoria Pendleton, Anton Ferdinand – who lost his mother to cancer – for sharing their own personal stories

In a video message, he said: ‘Yes Ant, it’s big bro, what’s going on? We are absolutely proud of you man and what you’re doing, obviously we all know how close to our hearts Stand Up To Cancer is. 

‘I know Mum will be looking down and be proud of what you’re doing. Good luck and we’re all behind you.’

Hearing the messages, Kimberly said: ‘Watching the video really brings home why we’re here, it’s a purpose so much bigger than any one of us and to know that we’re all in it together makes it even more special.’

The team then faced their biggest and longest high-wire walk yet in the final challenge to raise money for Stand Up To Cancer.

Towering 100ft high and a massive 900ft long, their final highwire challenge was three times higher and twice the distance of anything they’d attempted during the previous four weeks of training.

Paddy recently revealed that he lost his father to colon cancer while his brother had leukaemia.

Talking to The Mirror, the star revealed that he hoped within his lifetime they would find a cure and he is dedicated to raising money to help fund further research.

He said: ‘I hope, please God, that one day we open the paper – or more likely an iPad – and see that headline, that they’ve finally found a cure for cancer. 

Tearful: Victoria Pendleton, who lost her twin brother Alex in June, also became tearful during the moment

Tearful: Victoria Pendleton, who lost her twin brother Alex in June, also became tearful during the moment 

Sweet: Paddy then asked his castmates to turn around as the London Stadium was lit up with the faces of people who have been affected by cancer, including some of the celebrities

Sweet: Paddy then asked his castmates to turn around as the London Stadium was lit up with the faces of people who have been affected by cancer, including some of the celebrities 

Brave: Paddy, 50, joined other celebrities facing his fear of heights with a never-before-attempted high-wire walk across the London Stadium to raise money for cancer research

Brave: Paddy, 50, joined other celebrities facing his fear of heights with a never-before-attempted high-wire walk across the London Stadium to raise money for cancer research

‘It’ll be mind blowing, It’ll be amazing. So that’s my hope that we get there with that and the more people that chuck a little bit of money for research along the way, the better.’

Paddy’s ex-wife Christine McGuinness also suffered a secret cancer scare after finding a lump in her breast.

The TV star revealed the health crisis was many years ago – before she became a mother to her three children with Paddy – and it left her terrified because she has a family history of breast cancer.

Speaking to the Daily Star newspaper at the The Pink Ribbon Foundation’s charity gala last month, she explained: ‘Before I had children, I found a lump one day.

‘Women in my family have had breast cancer. Because of that history, I got seen quite quickly. I had a full check-up and I had scans.’

Family: Paddy recently revealed that he lost his dad to colon cancer and his brother had leukaemia as he touched on his own personal stories of the disease

Family: Paddy recently revealed that he lost his dad to colon cancer and his brother had leukaemia as he touched on his own personal stories of the disease

Health: Paddy's ex-wife Christine McGuinness also suffered a secret cancer scare after finding a lump in her breast

Health: Paddy’s ex-wife Christine McGuinness also suffered a secret cancer scare after finding a lump in her breast

The lump turned out not to be cancerous but Christine continues to check herself every time she has a shower.

She added: ‘If you see any changes or you are unsure, you’ve got to go and get it checked out.’

Christine’s mother Joanne was previously diagnosed with breast cancer as well as her three aunts, but TV star confirmed in 2021 that Joanne’s cancer was in remission after undergoing treatment.

Stand Up To Cancer airs on Channel 4 tonight from 7pm with the final of Don’t Look Down for SU2C airing at 9pm. Stream or watch live.

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This post first appeared on Daily mail