Paddy McGuinness, host of ITV's Take Me Out, has dedicated this week's episode to a contestant named Charlie, who has died since the show was filmed. McGuinness tweeted a tribute during the broadcast, describing Charlie as 'a fantastic lad' who would be 'greatly missed by his wonderful friends & family'.
A friend of Charlie replied to McGuinness's tweet with a photo and wrote: 'So hard to watch, but a great guy and some great memories mate.' McGuinness, who usually live-tweets during episodes, refrained from posting further updates as a mark of respect.
Viewers also expressed their condolences on social media, with one calling McGuinness 'a gent' for his respectful silence, and another saying Charlie 'seemed way too young to be taken from this world'.
A spokesman for Thames, the show's production company, said: 'It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the tragic news regarding Charlie. Our thoughts and best wishes go to his family and friends. We ask that you respect the family's privacy at this time.'
