Paddy McGuinness teams up with childhood friend to help homeless amid cost of living crisis

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Actor and comedian Paddy McGuinness, who grew up in Bolton, attended the Homeless Help Christmas Party this week, organized by a childhood friend to help the needy in Bolton and Manchester

Paddy McGuinness with helpers from Homeless Aid UK

Top Gear star Paddy McGuinness has teamed up with an old childhood friend to help the poor and homeless in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

The actor and comedian is showing up to do what he can to lift spirits among the needy using the food banks and soup kitchens rung by his friend's charity.

And he was at the Christmas party on Thursday, cracking jokes and posing for selfies with amazed homeless guests as they enjoyed their holiday dinner.

Paddy, 49, grew up on the terraced streets of Bolton with Billa Ahmed, 52, who set up the charity Homeless Aid UK in 2017, first helping people living on the streets in Bolton and in Greater Manchester.

Now it also runs soup kitchens and food banks as far away as London and Glasgow.

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Paddy McGuinness with his old pal Billa Ahmed

Speaking at the party, Paddy said: "I have known Billa, since I was a kid he used to live down the street next to me.

"I was doing Top Gear in Bolton a few years ago when I ran into him, he told me what he was doing and to get off, so I did.

"I remember the queue was shockingly long and now that I'm back it's even busier. Admiration Weirdly it's a nice atmosphere here but tinged with sadness because you don't don't want it to be full, but it is.

"It's a great night, but I wish we didn't have to."

He has nothing but admiration and praise for his former childhood companion and volunteer helpers.

"I'm just here to say hello, I'm minimal," says the TV host.

"These guys are the ones doing it 24/7 and the only thing I can offer here is selfies."

Billa said the increase in the number of people needing the charity's help with the cost of living crisis is "frightening".

Even working people...