Paddy McGuinness is taking legal action against the gossip website Popbitch after it claimed he stopped at a Michelin-starred restaurant during his 300-mile bike ride in aid of Children In Need.
Sources close to the BBC star told the Mail he began proceedings on Thursday night after the weekly newsletter accused him of taking a helicopter to L’Enclume in the village of Cartmel in Cumbria after breaking his ride at Preston in Lancashire.
The website claims he was ‘spotted staying overnight’ in Cartmel before he resumed his ride, which raised £9million for the charity, the next morning.
However, McGuinness, 51, denies the claims and instructed his lawyer to take on Popbitch, which is known for breaking gossipy stories about celebrities.
‘The story is completely and utterly false, at no point did Paddy leave the challenge or the team,’ said one member of the former Top Gear host’s team.
‘They were together every second. Paddy most nights was getting physio to prep him for the next day, followed by an early night due to the 6am wake-up.’
A spokeswoman for McGuinness confirmed the legal action. He is understood to be using a lawyer at London-based Carter-Ruck, which also represents former Strictly contestant Amanda Abbington.
L’Enclume is regarded as the most lavish restaurant in the country, and offers a 15-course tasting menu for £250. For another £290 guests can enjoy a select wine pairing.
It is owned by award-winning British chef and restaurateur Simon Rogan, who is known as one of the pioneers of the farm-to-fork movement in the UK. The venue says much of its food comes from its own farm nearby. It also has bedrooms and suites for guests to stay the night.
McGuinness, who recently divorced his wife Christine, began his epic charity ride, which was named Radio 2’s Ultra Endurance Cycle Challenge, from Wrexham AFC on November 11. Four days later he arrived in Glasgow on his Raleigh Chopper.
Speaking on Radio 2, the former Question of Sport host told his listeners: ‘What a week it’s been – it feels like I’ve been off for a month.
‘What we have achieved – by ‘we’ I mean you lot – over the last five days is nothing short of staggering. I still cannot comprehend what has happened and what is still happening now.
‘That is the power of Radio 2 and you gorgeous listeners and the wonderful great British public. The streets were lined for me from Wrexham to Glasgow, it was non-stop people supporting me, willing me on and wishing me the best.’
Referring to the physical effects of the challenge, he added: ‘The bum blisters are settling.’
Popbitch, which started in 2000 and is run by founders Neil Stevenson and Camilla Wright, declined to comment last night.
