Top Gear host Paddy McGuinness has admitted to suffering after being bombarded with abuse on social media following his split from wife Christine McGuinness.
The popular comedian - who was back on screens as the latest series of the motoring show zoomed into action on BBC One on Sunday (October 30) - says he has experienced online hate for years since he took over presenting the hit auto programme.
But now, Paddy, 49, has admitted that he has faced fresh scrutiny and additional attention from cowardly trolls who have targeted him since the breakdown of his marriage.
Paddy and model Christine, 34, went their separate ways in July this year after sharing 11 years of marriage and three children together.
Speaking to The Daily Star the Phoenix Nights star confessed he has had enough of being made a target for abuse by trolls who “have an opinion on everything”.
He said: “If you look on any kind of social media, everyone has got an opinion. Everyone had an opinion when we took over Top Gear, everyone had an opinion when Question of Sport changed.
“And back in the day, everyone had an opinion when the host changed on X Factor. These days, everyone has an opinion on Strictly.
“Everyone has got an opinion on everything. And the thing is these days, everyone likes to share that opinion.”
Paddy has regularly shared an insight into his personal life with his fans via his social media accounts for years and he says he knows "if you buy into it too much it's not good," when it comes to the comments he receives online.
He explained that having been in the TV industry for "over 20 years" has helped him not to take things too seriously because he was famous before social media and the negative aspect of it was popular adding "I’ve seen it all happen and I’m aware of it."
Paddy and Christine - who are parents to eight-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and five-year-old Felicity - are currently still living together in their Cheshire-based family home as they care for their children.
The Real Housewives Of Cheshire star is currently filming a BBC documentary about her autism diagnosis after discovering she suffers from the same condition as her children.
Christine addressed her relationship troubles with Paddy prior to their breakup during a chat on Lorraine earlier this year as she admitted they were trying to deal with their issues "as privately as possible."
She said: “Marriages go through ups and downs anyway. Especially long ones like ours.
“It's not always going to be plain sailing but we're trying to deal with things as privately as possible. We both just want to be there to support the children and give them an amazing summer."
