I'm A Celeb's Barry McGuigan puts vocal skills down to Eurovision star dad after 'lovely' duet
Barry McGuigan hit all the right notes as he joined Danny Jones for a rendition of the McFly song Shine A Light, with campmate Rev Richard Coles hearing the song it was 'lovely'
Barry McGuigan’s impressive vocals prove he has music in his genes thanks to his dad who came fourth in Eurovision.
The former world boxing champion hit all the right notes as he joined Danny Jones for a rendition of the McFly song Shine A Light. Afterwards, campmate Rev Richard Coles remarked: “Revelation of the evening, Barry McGuigan can sing like a canary. It was lovely.”
But to those who know Barry, it is no surprise at all that he takes after dad Pat, who competed at the 1968 song contest at the Royal Albert Hall in West London with the track Chance of a Lifetime. Among his rivals that year was Cliff Richard, who came second with his smash hit Congratulations.
Barry has spoken previously about his father who died in 1987 aged 52, saying how he played a “hugely important part of my life”. Pat, who used the stage surname of McGeegan, was also renowned for singing Danny Boy before several of his son’s fights.
Barry, 63, said of him: “He was a travelling musician with great credibility, and he played four or five musical instruments and sang in several big bands, and then sang in a number of show bands. He was then picked for the Eurovision Song Contest. Our hometown was abuzz.
“It was very important to us. I remember running out the road to meet him coming in from Dublin after coming back… it was very exciting as a kid.
“And I suppose in many ways, the Eurovision became central to my life, because that was his sort of biggest and most famous moment. And funnily enough, my biggest moment took place in London too, which was at Loftus Road against Eusebio Pedroza on the BBC when we had an audience of almost 20 million.”
That night, Barry famously defeated his Panamanian rival to claim the WBA featherweight title. But the Northern Irishman believes his beloved father, who was beaten to the Eurovision crown by Spanish singer Massiel, performed in the song contest’s heyday. Barry said of it: “When my old man was involved with it all those years ago, I would like to think it had a bit more credibility.
“The year that dad took part… we had Cliff with Congratulations. And shortly afterwards, ABBA won. It had more gravitas, but now it’s more of a throwaway.” Barry has lived to fight another day after surviving the latest Bushtucker Trial, Spiralling out of Control.
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