Her split from Paddy McGuinness after 15 years of marriage was only confirmed two weeks ago, but Christine McGuinness seemed in great spirits last week when she attended the Women’s European Championship Final at Wembley Stadium.
The model was pictured grinning as she entered the stadium with pals, and she later posted an Instagram picture looking healthy and gorgeous. The TV star wrote, “Things I love to see. Women supporting women…Going against the grain… Doing what they love… Believing in themselves… Fighting for equality… And our country getting behind them shouting “Yes girls”. Come on England.”
Her uplifting post came after a tough few weeks for Christine, 34, after she and Paddy, who turns 49 next week, confirmed their split in joint Instagram statements.
The mum-of-three – who shares twins Penelope and Leo, nine, and six-year-old Felicity with Paddy – had publicly confided that her marriage had been going through a “very, very difficult” period in the lead-up to their announcement, and it later emerged that the couple’s marital troubles had stemmed in part from rumours Paddy had been unfaithful.
Pals revealed how heartbroken Christine was devastated by her husband’s alleged indiscretions, which she is said to have uncovered through TV insiders while competing on reality show The Games in May.
But sources say that while Christine is still very much processing the split and supporting her children through it, she’s recently discovered a new lease of life.
An insider tells Closer, “Christine feels like she’s shed so many of her insecurities and is growing in confidence every day. Her kids will always come first, but she’s found time for herself again, and that self love is the secret behind her smile. She can’t stop smiling, thinking about the future and everything ahead of her.”
After living for over a decade in her husband’s shadow as he pursued his hugely successful TV career while she cared for their three children – all of whom have autism – behind the scenes, their marriage hit headlines for the wrong reasons in 2018 when Paddy was pictured looking cosy with singer Nicole Appleton on a night out in London.
Christine, who met Paddy when she was modelling at an event in Liverpool when she was just 19, said she “vomited” after seeing the pictures, but revealed how she had “just got on with life” with Paddy for the sake of their children.
Christine and Paddy have both spoken candidly about the challenges they have faced while raising three autistic children.
In their December documentary, Our Family And Autism, Christine, who was also diagnosed herself last year, opened up about how everyday activities, such as mealtimes, day trips and something as simple as cutlery or a changed water bottle, can become triggers for their children, and revealed during lockdown how their son Leo’s meltdowns had become so bad, he had physically lashed out at them.
Due to the children thriving on routine and normality, the former couple recently revealed they are still living together in their plush £2.1 million family home in Cheshire.
In their joint split statement, they added, “We’ll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together.”
And sources say that while it’s hard for both of them as they begin to navigate their new co-parenting set-up, the happiness of their children will always remain their priority.
“While it’s been really difficult for both of them, they are both adamant that their kids are their number one priority and always will be. When they both focus on co-parenting, it makes it easier to get on,” the source says.
“Paddy has spoken about buying a home close while Christine remains in the family home while they work out a custody arrangement that will work best for them.
“Despite everything that’s happened, they both agree that the children are their world and they’ll do anything to keep a stable environment for them for the moment, before working out the future.”
Following Christine’s own autism diagnosis, she shared her struggles to build friendships at school, but last week she appeared content and happy as the source reveals how her new group of pals – including her The Games co-stars Chelcee Grimes and Olivia Atwood – have been helping her through the end of her marriage.
The source adds, “Christine’s really enjoying a new circle of friends. She made some good girlfriends on The Games like Chelcee and Olivia. She’s planning more girlie trips away and says they’ve been like a breath of fresh air as it feels good to be socialising again and feeling like she can have fun.”
And after carving out a career for herself in reality TV when she joined The Real Housewives in 2018, Christine went on to star in The Full Monty last year, before taking part in The Games_._
However her career took a more serious turn following her documentary with Paddy and, in June, Christine revealed she was filming her own BBC documentary, The Secret World of Autistic Women and Girls.
And sources now say that Christine is very excited at the prospect of more work in TV, too.
An insider says, “Christine absolutely loves being on TV. Her stints on ITV’s Full Monty and The Games went very well and they’d love to work with her again.
“She’s a really relatable person and always up for a laugh. Her friends wouldn’t be surprised if she dipped her toe back into reality TV. She’d love her own show, though she wouldn’t want to involve the children, or something like learning a new skill – she likes a challenge.
“There’s lots of interest but her kids are her number one – she loves them so much and they are her focus as she begins her new chapter.”