Tanned, glowing and giddy, Christine McGuinness could barely stop smiling as she arrived alone at the Peninsula London hotel looking incredible in a plunging pink corset and mini skirt yesterday evening.
The former model and mother of three ensured all eyes were on her as the last guest to arrive at a lavish dinner to celebrate the relaunch of tanning brand Skin and Tan, formerly Skinny Tan.
But it was perhaps the last thing Paddy McGuinness would want to see, as his ex-wife’s dramatic entrance came just days after she claimed to be a ‘five-star lesbian’ and rumours have been swirling of a budding romance with former Olympic boxer and Strictly star Nicola Adams.
Christine relished telling us about her plans for a wild summer now that she’s no longer tied to former Top Gear host Paddy, who friends say ‘badly dulled her shine’.
Flashing a cheeky smile, she told the Daily Mail, ‘I’d like to stay out of trouble’ and ‘enjoy the summer’.
‘Now the kids are older, I can get out more to events and want to get away as much as possible, and I’ve got some fun trips planned this year,’ she added. ‘I’m just having fun and enjoying myself.’
Although she was happy to hint at her plans for a carefree summer, Christine is not yet ready to publicly confirm the rumours about her alleged budding romance.
Yet it was certainly clear something was keeping her smiling that evening, sharing a three-course meal, glass of wine and, of course, a gossip session with celeb pals, Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan and This Morning’s Ashley James.
Christine McGuinness ensured all eyes were on her as the last guest to arrive at a lavish dinner to celebrate the relaunch of tanning brand Skin and Tan yesterday
Beaming, Christine relished telling us about her plans for a wild summer now that she’s no longer tied to her ex-husband
Christine claimed to be a ‘five-star lesbian’, with rumours swirling of a budding romance with former boxer and Strictly star Nicola Adams, pictured
One onlooker, who noticed Christine’s ‘playful’ mood, said: ‘She was really carefree, taking pictures and enjoying the meal. Someone is clearly making her happy and she was excited to debrief with the girls at dinner.
‘She’s aware everyone wants to know the gossip about her new relationship, but for now she is keeping her cards close to her chest.’
While Christine is clearly enjoying life after their separation in 2022 following 11 years of marriage, sources close to Paddy say he’s ‘jealous’ of Christine’s busy social life.
Our source tells us: ‘Seeing your ex-wife all over the papers and online, talking gleefully about being a happy lesbian, is enough to enrage most men.
‘He has always been the one with a social life, not Christine. She’s been at home with the kids. Christine’s friends find her new lease of life brilliant and all the more funny because Paddy will be fuming.’
After years of staying out of the spotlight as a stay-at-home mum, Christine, a former model and beauty queen, has embraced a busier life as a single woman.
But it hasn’t been without its challenges. Although they separated four years ago, Christine, 38, and Paddy, 52, still share a diary to co-parent their twins Leo and Penelope, aged 13, and daughter Felicity, 10.
Sources close to the family tell us Paddy constantly blocks out the diary with his commitments, causing tensions between the pair.
Although she hasn’t confirmed any romance with boxer Nicola, Christine has been open about her sexuality, sex life and new-found love of ‘Japanese bondage’.
Nicola, however, heavily alluded to the pair’s rumoured romance on Monday as she shared a video declaring she was ‘crazy’ about someone on Instagram. The clip saw her dancing with her eyes closed, edited alongside a clip of actor Evan Peters doing the same dance in Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
Paddy and Christine McGuinness in 2017 before their split. Sources close to Paddy say he’s now ‘jealous’ of Christine’s busy social life and finds it ‘humiliating’
Along with the video, Nicola wrote: ‘Them: “You’re not that crazy about that woman”’, while writing in the caption: ‘Who me? #wlw’ [women-loving-women].
Rumours about the pair’s romantic involvement were sparked after they attended the DIVA Awards, a celebration of the achievements of LGBT women at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in London last month.
Nicola, an undefeated former professional boxer, split from her partner last year – model and influencer Ella Baig, 28 – with whom she had a son, Taylor Nate, by IVF in July 2022.
A source close to Christine tells us: ‘Speaking more openly and publicly about her sexuality is like a weight lifted off her shoulders, and she can finally be herself.’
But showbusiness insiders tell us that Paddy is not happy about Christine’s willingness to publicly discuss her dating life.
Last year, just three days after arriving in Ibiza for the start of filming Celebs Go Dating, Christine announced she was quitting the show.
At the time her friends said Paddy played a large role in influencing her to step away, with rumours that they have a water-tight NDA not to discuss their marriage publicly.
One of Christine’s fiercely loyal friends said: ‘Can you imagine if Christine went on a date with a woman? He would be furious! He would be mortified and ripped apart by his silly friends. Then there’s the matter of him not wanting Christine to talk about their marriage in any detail.’
With Christine immersing herself in showbusiness circles after the divorce, Paddy is instead opting for a quieter life, hoping to concentrate on his presenting career.
Committed to the job, he has undergone something of a transformation himself. Recently, he’s been on the cover of Men’s Health, showing off his new biceps and abs, a stark contrast from his former ‘dad bod’.
One friend of Christine‘s said: ‘You can’t help but wonder if this was Paddy’s attempt to go up against Christine when it comes to who gets the most publicity. He has no control over Christine any more which must be very difficult for him because he always ruled the roost.’
As Christine plans a summer of fun-filled lavish holidays and work opportunities, will Paddy try to steal her new found spotlight?
Whether it’s a season of romance, or more star-studded events, there’s hope from her friends that Christine can continue to live her best life.
