AS a recently single model and telly star, Christine McGuinness is likely to keep attracting admirers.
But far from rushing into another relationship, she says she cannot imagine marrying another man following her split from comedian husband Paddy.
The couple, who have three young children, last year confirmed they were getting a divorce and, Christine, 35, insists she now needs some time to find herself.
Travelling to Wales for BBC Two series Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales, she has already kick-started her journey towards freedom — but not in a direction that takes her away from her ex.
She revealed in the three-part series: “The only life I’ve known is with Patrick and I’m not sure what my path is now I’m on my own. I need to figure it out.
“Patrick and I have been separated for almost two years now, but I don’t think I’ve dealt with the separation completely yet and I know that one day I’m going to have to do that.
“Everyone has hard times, everyone has challenges, but if only you could gather all your trauma or your worries and just chuck it away.
“The biggest change is to come, I’m just scared of doing it.”
Christine has no plans to move out of the family home she shares with Paddy as they co-parent their twins Penelope and Leo, nine, and Felicity, six, who all have autism.
In an exclusive chat with The Sun’s TV mag, out next Saturday, she added: “I don’t see myself getting married again. I just don’t. I’ve never had time to myself.
“I was with Patrick since I was 19 and now I’m single for the first time in a long time.
“People are kind of, ‘Oh, you must be out there having fun and going on dates and having a great time’, but I’m thinking, ‘No, I’ve got time for myself for the first time’.
“I don’t need to tell anyone where I’m going or what I’m doing. That is so freeing and something that I’m not sure I want to give away again.”
Though they have separate bedrooms in their Cheshire mansion, the former couple try to keep family life as normal as possible.
We’ll always put the children first. We’re living in a happy home and it’s working for us for now — I’m not sure if it’s our long-term plan.
Christine McGuinness
Christine said: “There hasn’t been an awful lot of change because we are a family, regardless of what’s between me and Patrick.
We haven’t done what most couples do, where they separate and almost instantly someone moves out and they don’t see each other again.
“Me and Patrick aren’t like that. We’re still in the family home, we’re still raising the children together, doing all the important things together like school plays, sports days, Christmas, birthdays.
“We’ve got a good understanding of parenting and how important it is for both of us to be in the children’s lives, so we support each other. We both equally want to be there to enjoy those times.
“Our children won’t be children forever. They’re only young for a short time and we respect each other enough to say, ‘We both want to be here, let’s do it together and be happy’.
“That’s what we were always going to do. That shouldn’t change just because we have separated.
“We’ll always put the children first. We’re living in a happy home and it’s working for us for now — I’m not sure if it’s our long-term plan.”
Christine says she is terrified of getting involved with another man, despite Paddy admitting he’s been on a few dates since their split.
And she admits the practicalities of her domestic arrangement do not lend themselves to finding a fella.
She said: “It’s only recently I’ve thought, ‘Could I? Would it work?’. But I think my life isn’t ready to.
“I’m not sure anybody would be okay with dating someone who still lives with their ex. I’m happy to put my life on hold until I figure that out. I certainly wouldn’t be ready for anything serious.
“I think a bit of fun maybe, eventually, would be nice — to have some adult company. But it would take a really understanding person. Like I said, I’m not in any rush.”
Christine’s blossoming TV career also keeps her busy, including starring in Pilgrimage, which sees a group of celebs travel on a spiritual journey from Basingwerk to Bardsey Island in Wales.
Being a mum is my purpose in life and I know I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my children
Christine McGuinness
As well as reflecting on her divorce in the series, which airs later this month, it was a great excuse for her to enjoy the company of new people, including The Traitors contestant Amanda Lovett, Friday Night Dinner’s Tom Rosenthal and former Made In Chelsea star Spencer Matthews.
And it was a challenge following Christine’s own autism and ADHD diagnoses, which she received in 2021 shortly before separating from Paddy.
She said of having the conditions: “I always knew that I was different, I always felt different, but I just didn’t speak up.
“I always felt like an outsider, and I still do, but since I’ve been diagnosed I understand the world and myself a lot better.
“My diagnosis has opened up a new world, a brand new life. I have little quirks and funny ways, but nobody made me feel odd or different for doing me on Pilgrimage.
“I can’t believe I’ve stayed in different places and got on with everyone. Being on the show was the first time I ate a meal with people I didn’t know before.
“Being autistic can hold you back if you allow it, but I have a voice now thanks to the people I’ve been around, who gave me space and time, and listened.
“I am quite free-spirited and I like to go with the flow when I’m around the right people.”
While exploring her own autism journey, proud mum Christine also has her hands full juggling the needs of her children, who were all diagnosed at a young age.
But she wouldn’t have it any other way. She explained: “My children are also considered different because they are autistic, and I’ve often had comments like, ‘I bet you wish there was a cure to fix your children’. I really don’t.
“I think every child is a miracle, but it makes me want to be around forever because they are so magical.
“My support system is small and I’d say my children are my best support.
The biggest change is to come, I’m just scared of doing it.
Christine McGuinness
“If I’m struggling or having a bad day, I look at my children and think, ‘That’s what I’m here for’, and no matter what mood I’m in, they give me so much love back.
“Being a mum is my purpose in life and I know I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my children.
“I don’t know what I’d do without my babies and I don’t know what they’d do without me.”
Christine admitted she used to be terrified of dying and leaving her kids without their mum.
But she said: “I’m not scared of death itself any more because Pilgrimage has been a revelation.
“Having things taken out of my hands — from bad memories to the breakdown of my marriage and everything in between — the power of the pilgrimage has been insane.
“I’m scared I won’t be able to carry on doing stuff on my own, but it feels like the beginning.
“It’s made me want to live more, laugh more and make more memories. I didn’t expect it. I can’t believe how much I’m taking away now.
“I’ve learned to make the most of my life and what we’ve got right now, not to hold back because no-one knows what happens next.”
