Exclusive:
Following their high-profile split, Christine and Paddy McGuinness have strived to keep a healthy co-parenting relationship for their three kids – and it is down to one key thing
Despite going through a high-profile separation from comedian Paddy McGuinness, TV star Christine has always promised the couple’s priority would be their kids. In fact, two-and-a-half years after their separation, Christine and Paddy are still sharing a home and have just enjoyed an “autism-friendly” Christmas with their little ones, twins Leo and Penelope, 11, and Felicity, eight.
On navigating co-parenting during the festive season, Christine shared one key rule that they continue to stick to. The 36 year old told OK!: “It was as normal as possible because our priority will always be the children. We still share our home and together or apart, we’ll always try and keep Christmas familiar for the children, because it’s all about them.”
Their commitment to their three children’s happiness is clearly unwavering as Christine continued: “We have a planner in the kitchen between me, Patrick and the children, with the dates of any events we’ve got. We put it on there and try not to clash with each other. It’s the same with family members coming over,” she elaborated.
“We have to plan in advance to make sure no one’s clashing and there are not too many people around at once, because it just upsets the children.”
In the exclusive chat, Christine also reflected on her journey from reality TV to self-discovery and said she feels like has come a long way since her Real Housewives days, admitting she “wasn’t myself at all” and felt “uncomfortable and shy.”
Braving new challenges like Strictly The Real Full Monty in 2021 to strip for charity, and her enlightening 2024 adventure Pilgrimage: The Road Through North Wales, Christine has embraced personal growth. She viewed Pilgrimage as a transformative experience where she could be her real self, craving more of such authentic experiences.
“I found the Real Full Monty really overwhelming because I was performing in front of loads of people,” she disclosed. “Pilgrimage was a journey of self-growth. I wanted to be there and didn’t want to leave the group like I normally would when I’m working. I stayed and ate with everyone, and that was new for me.”
And as for the McGuinness household, Christine shared insight into their version of “normal,” noting her children aren’t quite aware of their parents’ celebrity status. Her children were intrigued when she authored a children’s book featuring autistic characters.
“The best reaction I got was when I wrote a children’s book that included autistic characters and they thought I was ‘cool’ for being an author,” Christine chuckled.
In her eyes, their ignorance to fame is endearing: “I don’t think they fully understand that what their mummy and daddy do is a bit different to some of the parents at school. I love how innocent they are and the fact they don’t care. If anyone came to the house who’s also on the television, our children wouldn’t bat an eyelid. I don’t think they understand what a celebrity is!”
