CHRISTINE McGuinness has sworn off men for good. The 38-year-old, who spent 11 years married to Paddy McGuinness, has returned to dating women since their split in 2022 – and she’s having a good time.
In the past month, she has been linked to boxer , as well as being spotted by The Sun On Sunday in the front seat of her £100,000 Land Rover Defender. So, what’s really going on?
Christine McGuinness opens up about divorce, dating only women, and why she’s not interested in Paddy’s love life Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Christine was seen kissing rapper and DJ Roxxxan Credit: TillenDove
“I’m happily single and just . I’m actually not dating multiple women – I tend to stay with one for a while if I’m happy. I don’t mix, but I text lots of people,” she laughs.
“People slide into my DMs. My type is more masculine women, strong and into fitness. I go to a lot of gay events. I met Rox at the National Diversity Awards. I’ve known her for years and I absolutely adore her. I’ve got so much respect for her. Then, I met .
“They’re two completely different women – one I’ve known for two minutes and one for two years. I have to think about what I really want, because the publicity I’m getting is so overwhelming, especially when it’s not even a relationship. Now it looks like I’m dating two women, and I’m not dating either!”
It’s clear Christine has been enjoying , but still living in the same house as makes it difficult to take the next step.
“Everyone always thinks it will work, keeping it casual,” she admits. “I always start with that intention. But when I’ve been dating, it gets a bit more serious and someone brings up: ‘Is it going to be a relationship or not?’
“I always have to say: ‘I’m not ready’, and I don’t want to keep doing that. I don’t want to upset anyone. I genuinely care so much for whoever I’m spending time with.
“I have to hold back, because while I’m emotionally and mentally ready for it, my life isn’t. It is s**t. But I’ve got to be an adult and go: ‘Can I be in a relationship when I’m still living with my ex-husband?’ So I can’t offer that yet. I don’t want to mess around and do that for ever. And I keep getting to the point where I really care about someone, then I have to say bye. It’s horrible. With women, you lose a whole friendship group, too.
“But I would love to be able to call somebody my wife one day, and be in a really solid, loving, lesbian relationship.
The only gender I am open to dating is female, says Christine Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Christine spent 11 years married to Paddy McGuinness but split in 2022 Credit: Getty
“At the moment, I want to focus on doing more work so I can get myself into a position where I can be in a relationship and invite somebody over to my house.”
How would she describe now?
“I’m not offended by anything – queer, bi, gay, lesbian,” she says. “But the only gender I am open to dating is female.”
Christine, who won Miss Liverpool aged 18, was just 19 when Paddy chatted her up at the Liverpool International Tennis Tournament in 2007. They went on to tie the knot at Thornton Manor on the Wirral in 2011, and have three children together – twins Leo and Penelope, 12, and Felicity, nine –
“When I was a teenager, I dated girls,” she says. “My family were open-minded, everyone was fine with it. I’d just finished a relationship with a woman before I met Paddy.
“Since the , I’ve only dated women, so it has felt like coming out all over again. Paddy has millions of fans and they could have been thinking: ‘She obviously just wanted to be with women,’ but it wasn’t like that at all. When I got married and said my vows, I really believed that was for ever.”
Christine – who was also diagnosed with and ADHD in 2021 at the age of 33 – tried to come out publicly last year when she was, but she left the show after only two weeks.
“I felt so ready to say I want to date women, but I couldn’t cope with all the attention, even though it was positive. I kept thinking about my children at school. I was worried in case there was any negative backlash. Of course, there wasn’t. I spoke to them and they were so unbothered.”
Christine – who was diagnosed with autism and ADHD in 2021 – tried to come out publicly last year Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
She says her children are her priority Credit: Instagram
, especially when children are involved, but Christine and Paddy seem to have cracked it, with a hat would leave even and envious.
Christine opened up to Fabulous in July 2022 for the first time about their marital problems, and just weeks later,
But now, four years on, the couple are still living together and are so civil, even their love lives aren’t off-limits. “We don’t sit down together and swap stories,” she laughs. “But I might say: ‘Oh, I’m going on a date this week.’ We haven’t had in-depth conversations about it.
“People think because we get on, we would invite our new partners over. But we are not double-dating! It’s not like we’re best mates having a laugh all day – we’re not.
“It’s very logical for us. Four out of five of us in the house are autistic, and it’s amazing for the kids to be in one place. Me and him are not on a schedule – we have to communicate and set up calendars. It’s quite mature.
“I’m not sure what his dating life is like, and I don’t really care. I’ve got enough going on in my own life! If I was going to be heartbroken about it, then I wouldn’t have divorced him. I’m not being disrespectful, it’s a heartbreaking situation, of course. But I’d already seen him all over the press with other women when I was married to him, so it’s not going to hurt me seeing it now.
“Now I’m divorced and all over the press with other women and he doesn’t say: ‘What’s going on there?’” she laughs. “I can’t really say anything. My life is a circus!”
Christine admits that the success of their unusual living arrangements is largely thanks to the size of their home. “We’re fortunate that we have a big house, so we’ve got separate wings,” she explains.
Christine insists she’s not dating Nicola Adams after meeting at the Diva Awards Credit: Getty
Believe it or not, Paddy and I are not in a rush to sell the family home, says Christine Credit: Alamy
“Some people have to live [in this situation] for years because of finances. And it is difficult even when things are good, just because it’s different. It feels like this isn’t how you’re supposed to divorce, but I’m happy that it is for us.”
As for the prospect of bringing other women home to meet their children, or possibly re-marrying one day, Christine doesn’t foresee it being a problem any time soon.
“I think if it got to the stage where either of us were getting into a serious relationship, then that would be a conversation between me and him,” she says. “But I think that’s going to be years off. We still do family holidays together.”
And what about them being “at war” over the sale of , with reports Paddy has set the price at £6.5m – three times what he paid for it – because he doesn’t want to sell?
Christine rolls her eyes. “Believe it or not, we’re not in a rush to sell the family home. I read about the ‘clash’ between me and him. There genuinely isn’t. It was valued at what it was valued at. We’re not in a hurry to sell it.
“I struggled after the divorce, panicking and thinking: ‘I’m going to have to sell the house. How am I going to do all of that with the kids?’ And I’m not there yet.
“I love my home and being there for my children. I’m not planning on moving out, but at some point, ideally, a second home for me would be amazing. I’ve realised I’ve never really had my own safe space or my own privacy. It’s something I feel I am missing. I want to figure out what my bedtimes look like by myself, because even though I sleep alone at home, I’ve got the kids to look after first.
“It’s nice staying in hotels, but it’s inconsistent and it’s not good for my autism. Every week, I am packing and unpacking. So the shared house doesn’t work in that sense, but I’ll get there.”
Divorce is never easy, especially when children are involved, but Christine and Paddy seem to have cracked it Credit: Splash What was the last. . .
TV show you watched?
Virgin Island. I don’t know how I feel about it. They show a lot.
Thing you bought?
A vitamin water this morning.
Time you laughed?
I was telling my friend how I ran into someone I’d dated while I was vomiting in a bin.
Person you texted?
My manager to say: “The hotel can’t find my luggage!”
Concert you went to?
Raye in Glasgow.
In the meantime, Christine’s personal life is also inspiring her career. As well as her BBC podcast with bestie Sophie Gravia, Situationships With Sophie And Christine, based on her sexual encounters since being single, she’s also been inspired to write a series of “spicy” novels.
“I started writing these books three years ago,” she reveals.
“I fell in love with writing after my autobiography and my kids’ books.
“It’s based on a true story – my story – about having this second chance in life. It’s about a woman moving to the city and dating, and she writes down her thoughts after having sex, as that’s what I was doing. It’s not always naughty, but when it’s sexual, it’s quite sexual! Maybe I’ll become the real-life Carrie Bradshaw. I will finish it, but I get distracted. I’m too busy living my own spicy life!”
Christine has also co-produced and hosted a series for the subscription service Subs, about her journey post-divorce. “I thought: ‘What shall I do now? I’m divorced, not dead. I want to live and figure out who I am.’ The series was called This Changes Everything – I did hot and cold thermo- and cryotherapy, neon naked body painting and Shibari – Japanese rope bondage.
“You can do it solo or with a partner. It’s all consensual. It’s not necessarily sexual, although it can be – it’s more about vulnerability. So for me, I realised that I like being in control of everything, and it was just more about letting go.
“With Shibari, it was me learning how to tie another woman up and seeing how much I enjoyed that. Then I was tied up, and it is quite sexy. But also, it’s: how ready are you to trust someone and let go if you are lying there with your hands behind your back? I loved it as an art form.”
As she approaches her 40s, Christine admits she is looking forward to being more demanding in every aspect of her life.
“I think most women in their 40s are better at saying what they want. We know what we enjoy, we know what we’re not interested in. I’m excited to get to that point where I don’t put up with s**t any more because I’ve had enough!
“I dedicated my life to Paddy. Those 15 years, I was young, he had all my 20s. I supported his career. We’ve got three beautiful, amazing children, and I’m still absolutely supportive of him and his work, his future. And his relationships.
“But at some point, I’ve got to live my life. I need to take at least a year where I just show up for myself, figure out what I want to do, and where I want to be.
“I have said this for the past four years, then I meet a woman! But it’s what I’m trying to do this year, without any distractions – figure out what I really want.”
- Follow @Mrscmcguinness and listen to Situationships With Sophie And Christine on BBC Sounds.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
