- Paddy McGuinness steps down as host of Channel 4’s Tempting Fortune after two seasons
- The show, which challenges contestants to resist temptations while hiking, faced viewer backlash for its perceived ‘selfishness’
- The third season is set to film in Malaysia, with a new host to be announced soon
Paddy McGuinness has announced he’s quit a game show that viewers brutally labelled ‘rubbish’.
First airing on Channel 4 in 2023, Tempting Fortune followed a group of 12 everyday people who were challenged with trying to win a cash prize of up to £300,000.
As they undertake a gruelling trek with only basic survival gear, they are presented with temptations including good food, luxury accommodation and home comforts in a test of their willpower. But if they take any – significant amounts of cash are withdrawn from the prize fund.
It was followed by a second season last year, during which contestants were slammed as ‘selfish’ after undertaking actions including spending £2000 on a taxi and £800 on some cheesy chips and a Fanta.
Although it has since been renewed for a third season, its host has now revealed he won’t be taking part.
The presenter – who has previously fronted programmes including Take Me Out, Top Gear and Question of Sport – said he was stepping back due to ‘other commitments’.
‘I am happy to be passing the baton on, and the new host is in for a real treat because it’s a great show,’ he said in a statement, as reported by The Sun.
‘I will be sad to leave it, but with other commitments and enjoying more family time, I’ve had to make some difficult choices.’
Paddy, 52, shares three children with ex-wife Christine – twins Leo and Penelope, and daughter Felicity.
Addressing Paddy’s exit after two seasons hosting the show, a Channel 4 spokesperson said: ‘Paddy has been a brilliant host of Tempting Fortune, bringing his trademark humour to both series.
‘We’re grateful for everything he’s brought to the show, and we totally understand that the filming commitment overseas is a big one and he is unable join us for the next series.’
While a replacement for the host is yet to be announced, filming on the third season of Tempting Fortune is set to begin early next year.
The first season was filmed in South Africa and the second in Langkawi, where production is expected to return again.
Speaking about the show last year, Paddy said it ‘has everything you want as a viewer’.
‘It has the characters, the drama and the water cooler moments. It is cram packed full of them. It has something for everyone, truly,’ he explained.
However, those who tuned in weren’t quite as impressed, taking aim at the actions of the people who took the temptations, with the show ‘rewarding failure’.
‘It’s frustrating to see the selfish people enjoy so many rewards without consequences,’ user escuderojoann posted on IMDB.
‘Very unfair I will never watch this show again. Very frustrating to see. Why wasn’t there a twist at the end like giving the strongest ones a trip for avoiding temptations,’ sandyross-90474 commented.
‘The entire problem with this show is that the reward differential for those that had resisted temptation and those that didn’t was not great enough. That ruined the whole show. It DEFINITELY needed a final twist and didn’t have one, making it one of the most morally bankrupt shows I’ve ever seen,’ Jordan 011 added.
Their sentiments seemed to be confirmed by the amounts that were won on each season – with the prize fund at the end of the second reduced to £28,835.
Metro has contacted Channel 4 and representatives for Paddy McGuinness for comment.
Tempting Fortune is streaming on Channel 4.
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