Christine McGuinness’s ex-husband has undergone a stunning transformation in order to reinvent himself – but as a source reveals, Christine is also determined to make a fresh start
Christine like her ex Paddy is ready for a big reset this year(Image: Getty Images)
Paddy McGuinness looked unrecognisable last week as he showed off the results of his impressive 75-day transformation.
Flaunting his six-pack online, the star told fans he decided to embark on his health kick after weeks of bingeing on “beer, cake and biscuits”. “The effect it had on my body, and more importantly my mind, was staggering,” he explained.
And now insiders can reveal his new look is all down to him wanting to reinvent himself – and his ex-wife Christine McGuinness is just as determined to make a fresh start.
“Being a fitness fanatic herself, Christine is really happy for Paddy,” a source tells new. “While it’s definitely over between them, she’s proud of him and it’s all about them carving new, separate identities for themselves. For Paddy, it’s saying goodbye to the Paddy we knew – the lad who loved a pint and was always up for a laugh. The new Paddy is all about fitness and feeling great.
“For Christine, it’s spurred her on to do the same and focus on what she wants to achieve this year. She wants to say yes to every work opportunity and ultimately be in a committed relationship.”
The 37-year-old, who has three kids with comedian Paddy, certainly dabbled in romance last year – including a stint on E4 show Celebs Go Dating, which ended abruptly when she quit halfway through filming in Ibiza.
Admitting she was struggling with the attention on her romantic life, the former Real Housewives Of Cheshire star said at the time, “I’ve been thinking quite a lot while we’ve been in Ibiza and I think I need to date in more of a natural environment”.
Christine ultimately wants a ‘committed relationship’, claims our source(Image: Instagram)
“I think I just would love to meet somebody and date more privately. It’s where I’m kind of feeling myself going back, when I want to go freely forward.” But finding that special someone in 2026 is firmly on her agenda.
“Christine really wants to find love this year,” adds the source. “She and Paddy are in a good place, very respectful of each other, happily co-parenting and she feels like it’s the right time.”
The star, who has been romantically linked to singer Chelcee Grimes and DJ Roxxxan in the past, is thought to be currently single. However, she previously confessed she was exploring dating women after her separation from Top Gear presenter Paddy, who she was married to from 2011 until their divorce was finalised in 2024.
Last June, asked if she has a label for her sexuality, she said on an episode of the How To Fail With Elizabeth Day podcast, “No, and again, I’ve thought about it. A lot of people always ask me, ‘Are you a lesbian? Are you bisexual? Are you what? Is this
a phase?'” She went on to describe herself sexually as a “free spirit”, explaining that she was enjoying deeper connections with women, and insisted it has “never mattered” to her whether she was dating a man or a woman.
She’s dabbled in romance, but this year it’s thought Christine wants to find that special someone(Image: E4)
Our source maintains that Christine, who was diagnosed with autism in 2021 and ADHD just months later in 2022, is also putting a lot of effort into her mental health, after previously suffering from bouts of anxiety and depression.
“She wants to make sure she’s looking after herself, and is making sure she doesn’t get hit with that anxiety that she can often struggle with,” says the source. “She’s a yes person, and eager to please – but she’s learning how to put her foot down and say ‘No’ when she needs to.”
Christine has been open about her struggles with anxiety in the past. In 2024, while discussing her appearance on ITV ‘s The Real Full Monty, alongside her pal Duncan James, who has faced similar battles, she admitted that it’s something she’s dealt with her whole life, particularly being in the spotlight.
She confessed, “A lot of people suffer from anxiety. It’s awful. I genuinely struggle with it when I walk down red carpets.”
Speaking of her nerve-wracking 2021 stint on The Real Full Monty, she admitted, “I’m not a performer, I’m not a singer, I’m not an actress; I’m a mum. I’ve done bits of telly, but I’m just me. And I was so scared. I had the biggest meltdown. I was absolutely petrified, and it wasn’t even about the performance side of things.”
Christine and Paddy continue to co-parent amicably under the same roof(Image: GC Images)
Despite their divorce, exes Christine and Paddy still live under the same roof as they amicably co-parent twins Leo and Penelope, 12, and daughter Felicity, nine, all of whom are autistic. And it seems there will be no sudden changes on the horizon unless one of them gets serious with someone new.
Indeed, the former husband and wife spent Christmas together for the sake of their children. Paddy, 52, said ahead of the festive season, “I feel for people who separate. Separations are a tough experience for anyone to go through. So if you can come out of it as friends and still get on and do the best for your kids, it’s a bonus.”
The source adds that as ever, the kids they share and their happiness continues to be her and Paddy’s laser focus, regardless of what’s going on in their respective love lives. “The kids most definitely remain Christine’s top priority,” the source says.
“Right now there are no big plans for her or Paddy to move out of the home they share. There’s the sense that this might change, if she or Paddy get serious enough with someone else but for now, it won’t.”
