Paddy McGuinness returned to BBC Radio 2 with a bang after completing his nationwide stand-up comedy tour. The dad-of-three has been absent from his morning weekend show for two weeks, swapping the radio booth for the stage for the first time in more than eight years.

Now the broadcaster has returned to the airwaves after completing the final leg of his tour, Paddy McGuinness: Nearly There. And it’s fair the star thoroughly missed his morning programme. Taking over from Angela Griffin on Saturday (April 12), the former Take Me Out host gave listeners up and down the country a “virtual hug”.

He opened with: “Awww when I say it’s good to be back, that’s an understatement. I have absolutely been pining for you all! I’m going to give you a virtual hug, in fact, I’m going got hug this mic but I don’t know if anyone’s ever done that before.

“Go on, get in there you lot, how’s that? Oh, that’s better. There we go, lovely big virtual hug for you.” Moments later, Paddy took to Instagram to share his return online as fans flooded to the comments to share their gratitude online.

One user penned: “Great Paddy! I only listen when you’re on [smiling emoji]” as another agreed: “Missed you last week on the radio, not the same on a Sunday.” A third echoed: “Hurrah! It hasn’t been the same without you! Bring on the laughs! [heart emoji]” as a fourth chimed in with: “Morning Paddy, great to hear you back on Radio.”

It comes after his ex-wife Christine McGuinness opened up about the comic joking about their marriage in his new stand-up show. According to The Sun, it took Paddy just 63 seconds into his gig to take a dig at Christine.

He said: “Tonight folks, we’re all here as human beings with one common goal – and that’s to help me pay for my divorce. I’ve had the pants down, me, the pants down”.

Opening up on the joke, Christine told Woman's Own admitted that the pair no longer keep up with each other's personal lives aside from their duties as co-parents.

She told the outlet: “I didn’t see it. It’s funny because we both work in television, yet neither of us watch what each other does. He’s touring and that’s part of his job.”

Paddy and Christine McGuinness ended their marriage in June 2022 after 15 years together. Despite their messy divorce, the pair continue to live together and co-parent their three kids. The former model also gave fans a rare insight into how she lives in the same £6million home as the broadcaster.

Their lavish home boasts seven bedrooms, an indoor pool and even its own soft play centre. In an interview with Woman’s Own, the 37-year-old former model revealed that the pair now “live on different floors.”

She added: “Neither of us watch what each other does. Obviously, Paddy and I are on separate floors and have separate rooms. So, my bedroom and dressing room is my little haven.”