Paddy McGuinness and wife Christine split back in 2022 after a decade of marriage.
In the statement at the time, Paddy and Christine said they have been left with “no option” but to announce their split due to “lack of privacy surrounding our personal life”.
Here’s how Paddy – who is hosting Comic Relief: More Funny for Money on March 15 – and Christine’s split played out and everything that’s happened since.
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Paddy McGuinness split from wife Christine: Relationship timeline
The Top Gear and A Question of Sport star met Christine in 2007. They were introduced through a mutual friend while at an event.
The couple got engaged on Christmas Eve in 2010.
Christine wrote in her autobiography: “On Christmas Eve 2010, when I was 23, something quite amazing happened. I was sitting by the fire with Patrick and we were getting in the festive spirit and opening presents together.
“In the middle of the excitement, he disappeared. Eventually he returned to the lounge and presented me with a Christmas card. ‘To my fiancée,’ it read. ‘I’m not your fiancée, you idiot,’ I joked.
“And when I looked up, he was there with a stunning diamond ring – down on one knee.”
Paddy and Christine wedding
The couple married at Thornton Manor in Cheshire in front of 200 guests in June 2011. Although according to Christine she “didn’t have any friends to invite”.
As a result, she said she only knew about 20 people there. Singer Rick Astley performed on the day.
“Peter Kay was his best man. They’ve known each other since they were kids,” she wrote in her book.
Paddy and Christine’s children
Paddy and Christine went on to have three children together – twins Penelope and Leo, nine, and six-year-old Felicity.
The couple remain living together and have pledged to remain friends for the sake of their children.
The statement said: “A while ago we took the difficult decision to separate but our main focus as always is to continue loving and supporting our children. This was not an easy decision to make but we’re moving forward as the best parents we can be for our three beautiful children.”
Speaking about still living together, Christine told The Sun‘s Fabulous mag: “The same as when I was his wife, I’m there to support the children when he goes out to work – that’s how it is. When he comes back, that’s when I’ll try to put some of my work in. It doesn’t affect the children, because they’re not moving anywhere.”
Who has Paddy McGuinness dated before?
His relationship with Christine went on to become Paddy’s most high-profile yet, with their marriage making headlines, especially over the past few weeks.
However, before meeting Christine, reports claim Paddy was linked to model Abigail Titmuss. Reports of the alleged relationship – said to have happened in 2004 – have never been confirmed.
Nicole Appleton scandal
During his marriage to Christine, Paddy was rocked by a scandal when he was pictured on a night out with another woman.
He was seen “arm-in-arm” with All Saints singer Nicole Appleton. There is no suggestion that anything more happened between the pair.
The pictures surfaced in 2018 and Christine revealed how the snaps made her feel in her autobiography. She wrote: “My husband, arm-in-arm with another woman. I felt physically sick. I ran to the toilet to vomit. Still to this day, I can remember that absolutely awful pit-of-your-stomach feeling.”
At the time, she forgave him for the sake of their family. However, she also said: “It was a bit of a heartbroken moment. I was absolutely devastated by these pictures.”
In the wake of split rumours, the couple decided to make some changes.
Christine told OK! shortly afterwards: “We’re putting effort in and making more time for each other – we haven’t done that since having children.”
Parenting hasn’t been without its problems, though. All three of their kids, as well as Christine herself, have been diagnosed with autism.
When did Paddy and Christine split?
Rumours first started to surface that something was wrong between Paddy and Christine when fans speculated that Paddy had his tattoo tribute to his wife removed.
However, he then showed his support to Christine over her new documentary.
Christine then broke her silence on the split rumours and admitted they had been through “difficult times”. However, she insisted: “We’re really good honestly.”
She then posted a series of cryptic messages on her Instagram page.
Friends then claimed that the couple were “trying to work through issues”. Christine then enjoyed a night out in London in early July without Paddy but appeared to make a statement that all was well as she was still wearing her wedding and engagement ring.
July 2022 saw Christine admit the couple were having marriage problems. Shortly afterwards, the couple revealed that they had split “a while ago”.
Christine McGuinness and Chelcee Grimes spotted kissing
A few months on from her split, Christine was spotted kissing singer Chelcee Grimes.
Christine and Chelcee met while competing together on ITV’s revival of The Games. They struck up a strong bond, describing themselves as “soul sisters”.
The pair were pictured sharing a kiss at London’s Winter Wonderland in December 2022.
Paddy McGuinness shows support for wife Christine amid autism documentary
In March 2023, Christine made a documentary about her autism. During the doc, she also spoke about the sexual abuse she’d experienced as a child.
“Very proud of Christine for making this new documentary highlighting autism, particularly in women,” Paddy wrote on social media after.
“It’ll be a massive help to our daughters in years to come along with our little lad.”
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When did Christine McGuinness kiss Chelcee?
In August, Christine was once again spotted kissing Chelcee while on holiday in Ibiza.
A source in Closer magazine said Paddy was “happy that Christine has moved on”, meaning he could too.
“While they know that continuing to still live together might seem unconventional, it works for them, and it has even brought them closer together – with Paddy able to properly get to know Chelcee, which wouldn’t have done otherwise,” the source said.
Furthermore, Paddy is said to enjoy Chelcee’s company – and can see how his kids “adore” her too.
“She’ll always be the mother of his children and he just wants her to be happy, so seeing Christine in such a good place and so full of life, gives him a sense of peace and contentment that has helped him in his process of moving on too,” the source said.
Is Paddy McGuinness dating again?
In December 2023, it was reported that Paddy had begun dating again – however, Christine hadn’t.
“We talk an awful lot and we’re very open. He has said to me when he’s been going on a date,” Christine said on Vicky Pattison’s podcast, The Secret To.
“We still live in the same house, but I think both of us right now, we’re very much in the same place where we’re just like don’t really know what to do or where to go. We’ve been in this marriage for 16 years. I’ve been with him since I was 19, so my dating history before him was an absolute mess,” she then continued.
“Then I’ve had this lovely long marriage. I kind of don’t really know where to go, where to start, and he’s the same, he’s very much the same. He’s tried it and gone: ‘I’m not quite ready.'”
Christine enlists celebrity lawyer for divorce
In January 2024, it was reported that Christine had hired a lawyer as she fights for a “multi-million” divorce settlement.
Christine was reportedly determined to stay in the family home with their children. She has allegedly hired Catherine Bedford, a celebrity lawyer who has been branded a “pitbull”.
“Christine really wanted to work with a woman during her divorce and Catherine is one of the best in the business,” a source told The Sun.
“Christine wants to stay in the house she’s lived in as a family for many years. She’s poured many hours of love, care and attention into it,” they continued.
“It would be heartbreaking to have to leave the property after all this time and uproot her life.”
ED! has contacted Paddy and Christine’s reps for comment.
Paddy McGuinness shuts down ‘gagging order’ claim
In March 2024, Paddy hit back at claims that he was making Christine sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of their divorce.
In a video posted to his Instagram, Paddy fumed: “Oh my days, these cheeky little scamps are at it again. Now, I don’t mind them writing lies and rubbish about TV work, that’s all part of the job, you get used to that over the years. But this kind of thing, come on, play the game you lot, be better.
“Two lots of lawyers they contacted, two lots of lawyers said: ‘Absolutely categorically, this has never been done’. No NDAs, no nothing. Me and Christine were talking about it this morning, it’s ridiculous now.”
Comic Relief: More Funny for Money airs tonight (March 15) from 10pm on BBC Two.
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