Paddy McGuinness: new host of A Question of Sport revealed - plus two new captains

Paddy McGuinness is the new host of A Question Of Sport, the BBC has announced.

The 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.

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At a glance: 5 key points

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

- Quek and Monye will be taking over from the outgoing team captains Phil Tufnell and Matt Dawson

- The BBC has said that the show will retain A Question of Sport’s most popular challenges and rounds, but will also introduce some new elements as well

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

- The first episode of A Question of Sport aired on BBC One in January 1970, and since then there has been over a thousand episodes

What’s been said

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, 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 – 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.”

Background

A Question of Sport is a sport quiz produced and broadcasted by the BBC, and is the world’s longest running TV sporting quiz.

It was originally presented by David Vine and captains Henry Cooper and Cliff Morgan, before being replaced by Sue Barker and team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell.

The last show featuring Barker, Dawson and Tufnell aired on 28 May 2021.

Paddy McGuinness is an English actor, comedian and TV personality, and is known for presenting programmes such as the dating show Take Me Out and, since 2019, BBC motoring show Top Gear.

Sam Quek is an Olympic field hockey player, and has also appeared as a TV personality on a number of programmes, including BBC game show For What It’s Worth, season 16 of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Celebrity Masterchef.

In 2019, Quek also began hosting the BBC flagship football phone-in programme called 606, with regular pundit Robbie Savage.

Ugo Monye is an English sports pundit and former rugby player, having played 14 times for England, 241 times for his club Harlequins, and twice for the British and Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa.

Monye presents the Rugby Union weekly podcast for the BBC, alongside journalist Chris Jones.

Additional reporting by PA

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