BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay has revealed he directly confronted his friend and fellow broadcaster Paddy McGuinness over suspicions that a dramatic 'before' photo in his body transformation journey was fabricated.
The Suspicious Phone Call
The incident came to light during a discussion on Scott Mills's BBC Radio 2 show on the morning of Monday, 12 January 2026. Newsreaders Tina Daheley and Ellie Brennan expressed astonishment at the physical 'glow up' of the Question of Sport host, which Paddy had been showcasing on social media over the weekend.
Vernon Kay, however, admitted to being privy to Paddy's secret fitness regime but was taken aback by the published images. "I left him a voice note that said, 'Patrick, come on… that before picture — that’s a fake belly. That’s not real, that’s AI,'" Vernon told listeners. He confirmed that Paddy had previously informed him of his training efforts, but the visual evidence seemed too extreme to be genuine.
Paddy McGuinness, 52, confessed to Vernon that many others had similarly accused him of using artificial intelligence to generate an exaggerated 'beer belly' for the 'before' shot. In his defence, the former comedian insisted the photo was authentic, attributing his out-of-shape physique to a period of "sitting on the sofa and eating garbage."
The 75 Hard Challenge Explained
McGuinness attributed his remarkable turnaround to the strict 75 Hard programme, a mental and physical toughness challenge popularised by American podcaster Andy Frisella. Vernon Kay outlined the rigorous daily rules participants must follow for 75 consecutive days, with any failure meaning a restart from day one.
The key tenets of the plan include:
- Two separate 45-minute workouts, one of which must be outdoors.
- Sticking to a structured diet with no alcohol permitted.
- Drinking a gallon (approximately 4.5 litres) of water.
- Reading 10 pages of a non-fiction book.
- Taking a daily progress photograph.
A sceptical Scott Mills questioned the outdoor activity rule, joking whether "knitting outside" would qualify. Vernon suggested that even "feeding the birds in the park" could count, especially if you "chased them like a child."
Celebrity Reactions and Paddy's Verdict
On Instagram, Paddy celebrated his completion of the challenge, posting, "I still can’t believe how much I’d let myself go." He admitted the 'before' picture resulted from nearly two months of indulging in beer, cakes, and biscuits, which had a "staggering" effect on both his body and mind. He also credited a tan for enhancing his new look.
While he "thoroughly enjoyed" the experience and plans to share a full time-lapse video, Paddy conceded that programmes like 75 Hard "aren’t for everyone."
His celebrity friends were quick to comment. Countryfile's Matt Baker called the transformation "brilliant," while presenter Scarlette Douglas wrote, "you look bloody brilliant!" In a humorous nod to the online scepticism, radio host Andy Goldstein quipped, "AI is getting out of hand now!"
