Christine McGuinness was beaming as she arrived at Manchester airport this morning.
Wearing a grey tracksuit and clutching a Louis Vuitton holdall, she smiled for the cameras as she made her way to Ibiza, where she is set to star on E4 romance show Celebs Go Dating.
It’s little wonder mum-of-three Christine was beaming. She’s off to soak up the Balearic sunshine in return for an appearance fee of around £40,000. More than anything though, her friends tell me she is simply relieved to be away from her ex-husband Paddy McGuinness, whom she still lives with.
Those close to her say that, for the first time since marrying Paddy 11 years ago, Christine is fighting back against the domineering former Top Gear host – and she’s really rather pleased with herself for doing so.
I can reveal that Christine didn’t tell Paddy that she had signed up for Celebs Go Dating, in which she will star alongside the likes of Kerry Katona and former S Club 7 singer Jon Richardson. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, he has no idea of what is to come when she begins filming this week.
It was reported at the weekend that Christine is ready to pair up with either men or women on the programme, but sources close to her say that she is ready to explore new romantic horizons and will date a woman on the show. And they are already rubbing their hands together with glee at the prospect of Paddy’s reaction.
‘This is Christine’s time,’ her friend told me. ‘She has been a stay-at-home mum while Paddy has done whatever he has wanted. Now the tide is about to turn, she has decided that enough is enough and this is now about her.
‘She and Paddy are living together, hopefully not for too much longer, but she is living as an independent woman with her kids and lots of help from her mum.’
Paddy and Christine McGuinness announced their split in the summer of 2022 after 11 years of marriage
So when Celebs Go Dating came along, she and her agent decided she would do it, but they didn’t tell Paddy.
‘It’s the kind of thing he would have been fuming about. But when the show is on he is going to be utterly humiliated by Christine. He will hate every minute of her making her own decisions. She isn’t just “open to” dating a woman, she most likely will.
‘Christine’s friends are giggling at how much he will hate seeing his ex-wife dating a woman. Talk about damage to his ego!
‘Christine has always been a bit too soft when it comes to Paddy – or at least that’s what her friends think – but no longer.’
Christine is going to make sure she enjoys every moment of her time in Ibiza.
I have been told that Christine is also planning a tell-all interview where she will make bombshell revelations about her romantic life, which could further humiliate Paddy.
She has hired a rival public relations firm to the one her ex-husband uses. Earlier this month she took on highly regarded Laura Sinclair, head of entertainment at Dawbell – the firm that represents Sir Paul McCartney, James Corden and Harry Styles.
Laura also works with the likes of actress Michelle Keegan and Lioness-turned-television presenter Alex Scott and has carved out a reputation for working with strong, successful women.
Christine is flying to Ibiza to star on E4 romance show Celebs Go Dating (pictured at Manchester airport in 2020)
One friend said: ‘Christine doesn’t give a you-know-what any more. She has had it with Paddy.
‘She was a teenager when she met him. He was in his late 30s and the dynamic was that it was all about his(itals) career.’
While I’m sure Paddy, 51, has his own views about Christine, those close to her despise him. They think that he hasn’t given the mother of his three children the respect she deserves.
The pair announced their split in the summer of 2022 after 11 years of marriage. Their relationship had been turbulent for some time and by early 2022, rumours began to swirl that the couple were on the rocks.
Christine had found a new lease of life after she took part in ITV reality show The Games, and sources tell me that Paddy was particularly irritated by her close friendship with singer and co-star Chelcee Grimes.
Even after their separation, Paddy and Christine decided to stay living in their Cheshire mansion – and the divorce was only finalised at the end of last year.
The couple claim they decided to continue living together so as not to uproot their three autistic children, twins Leo and Penelope, 11, and eight year-old Felicity. But Christine’s friends tell me Paddy refused to move into a smaller home.
It hasn’t been easy for the model-turned-television presenter, who has also been diagnosed with autism. Christine is keen to further her own career and often drives back from professional commitments in London overnight so she can be at home when her children wake up. Meanwhile, Paddy chooses to stay in a hotel in the capital.
Sources close to Christine told me that she was ‘utterly miserable’ about cohabiting with Paddy, who is currently touring with his comedy shows.
Christine developed a close friendship with singer Chelcee Grimes when both appeared in ITV reality show The Games
Paddy McGuinness on his way to the BBC studios in Salford on Sunday
Their home finally went on the market last month but the property, which is only thought to be worth in the region of £2.5million, is on sale for £6.5million.
Her friends say that as far as they are concerned, ‘he didn’t seem to be in a rush to get divorced and split their money because the situation suited him. She was in the home with the children and he would come and go as he pleased.
‘But, after everything that had happened, Christine just wanted to be free of him, so she accepted one of the first divorce deals on the table.’
Those close to Christine also claim that Paddy, who was the final host of Question of Sport before it was axed in 2023, tried to make her sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of their settlement. He denies this.
No wonder Christine was excited to get away to Ibiza, where she will stay in a lavish hotel with her new celebrity friends instead of dealing with her ex.
‘It has been so tough for Christine,’ said one friend. ‘She has kept it all together. Barely any of her circle have a good word to say about Paddy so they are thrilled that she is embarking on some new beginnings.’
And they assure me that Christine’s beaming smile at the airport this morning is about to get even brighter.
