Jeremy Clarkson apologises after confusing Paddy McGuinness with IRA’s Martin McGuinness

Jeremy Clarkson has apologised after confusing TV presenter Paddy McGuinness with former IRA leader and Sinn Fein politician Martin McGuinness.

The former Top Gear presenter was asked whether he had heard of the Take Me Out star, who is set to take over from Matt LeBlanc in a forthcoming series of the BBC show, at a press conference for Amazon’s The Grand Tour.

“No. The IRA guy? No idea,” he responded, before later noting his mistake and insisting that he had misheard the question.

He went on to reveal that he has “never seen” McGuinness’ ITV dating show, telling the Daily Star: “I didn’t know who Paddy McGuinness was. I have never seen that dating thing he does.”

“It was an honest mistake,” he continued. “I thought they said Martin McGuinness.”

He later reiterated his point on Twitter after he was accused of making the slip-up for publicity.

He tweeted: “No. it was an honest mistake on my part.”

Martin McGuinness was a leader of the provisional IRA who later joined political party Sinn Fein and served as the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland from 2007 until his death in 2017.

The Take Me Out presenter is set to join the BBC Two motoring show as a presenter later this year, along with former cricketer Andrew Flintoff and racing driver Chris Harris.

When his new role was announced last October, McGuinness described it as “a real honour” and said he was “thrilled the BBC have given me this opportunity.”

“To be hosting a show I’ve watched and loved from being a small boy is beyond exciting. Top Gear fans worldwide are a passionate bunch and I consider myself one of them,” he continued.

Friends star LeBlanc joined Top Gear in 2016. His final season as the show’s lead host will air soon on the BBC.