Everything Paddy McGuinness has said about Christine split amid hope for reunion

15 March 2024 , 18:30

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Everything Paddy McGuinness has said about Christine split amid hope for reunion (Image: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

Back in July 2022, following a family trip which was understood to be a 'make or break' holiday for the pair, Paddy McGuinness and wife Christine revealed they had been separated for sometime.

The former couple, who had been married for 11 years, share three children together, who all live with autism. However, the proud parents to three kids, Penelope, Felicity and Leo have continued to live together ever since, despite their split as they continue to co-parent their kids.

Paddy and Christine appear to still be on good terms, and have recently been sharing sweet family photos together at their home in Cheshire. While Christine has been vocal about life after marriage with Paddy, it took the Top Gear host over nine months to address their split.

Paddy and Christine announced their split in July 2022 (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

The couple were married for 11 years (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

In April 2023, nine months after their shock separation announcement, Paddy opened up for the first time about battling a bout of homesickness while he was away from Christine and their three kids. The Top Gear host, 50, discussed his aversion from being away from his family. "I've always had a sort of rule what I stick by where I never do more than nine days anywhere because I just like being at home," Paddy revealed. "I think naturally you get homesick," he added to The Sun.

The TV presenter also revealed that even while he's travelling, he always ensures that his phone is nearby so he can keep in contact with his children. After making the joint decision to continue to to live together for the sake of children, Christine and Paddy have been open about their co-parenting dynamic in their household.

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Christine previously explained: "We’re not actually like any other family I know. I love the way we are, I try not to compare myself to any other family because we're actually not like any other family that I know. I'm comfortable and I embrace our family the way we are, and I love our differences. Each and every family is unique anyway but ours is just one that I've never seen on any social media platform before and I'm quite proud of that."

Paddy and Christine still live together (Daily Record)

The former couple share three children together (instagram/mrscmcguinness)

At the time of their split announcement, Paddy and Christine wrote a joint statement which read: "We hadn't planned on sharing this publicly until we were ready but the lack of privacy surrounding our personal life, we feel left with no other option but to clarify.

"A while ago we took the difficult decision to separate but our main focus was 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. We'll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together."

The joint statement continued: "We hope this now draws a line under anymore unwanted and unnecessary intrusion into our private life. Although we work in the public eye we ask kindly if you could respect our wishes for privacy on this matter. We'll be making no further comment."

Paddy recently suggested that his divorce from Christine could be a long way off. The TV star hinted that he and Christine could one day sort out their problems and become a couple again. In a frank interview, Paddy said while he and Christine no longer share a bed, the pair still love one another deeply and he forgets that they are separated.

Paddy and Christine have been sharing family photos recently (Instagram)

Fans are hoping the pair will get back together (Getty Images)

"There's no toxicity in the house, says it all really," he said. Paddy went on to add: "We have separate bedrooms because we respect that we aren't together anymore but, whether we work it through or we don’t, what we do have is a really, really lovely family unit at home. We both love each other."

He added to The Sun: "We still hug, and we're still messaging and phoning each other every day, we're just not jumping into bed together any more." He went on to paint a reasonably rosy picture of their life together, saying that their home is filled with laughter and love rather than arguments after the split. And he added: "I don’t think either of us are in a rush to get a divorce.” Paddy also said he is in no rush to start dating other women and said he is unlikely to sign up to dating apps like Hinge or Tinder.

Paddy's comments come just weeks after Christine herself admitted that life hadn't changed that much for her and her estranged husband following their shock split announcement. She said in a previous interview that they were staying together in their family home for the benefit of Leo, Penelope and Felicity: "It’s the one thing that we completely agree on – the children’s needs come first. We don’t want them to be affected by anything. Patrick’s diary is busy, as it always is, so he very much dips in and out of the home, because he’s working away a lot."

Her comments had come amid reports the pair were gearing up for an expensive divorce case. One report suggested that Christine hoped to continue living in the £4million family mansion. Lawyer Catherine Bedford, 52, who worked with Ant McPartlin's ex-wife Lisa Armstrong in their divorce settlement, was supposedly due to represent Christine. Ms Bedford was previously described as a 'Pitbull attorney' in American media.

Christine still lives with Paddy (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Days after divorce reports appeared online, Paddy and Christine gave fans hope that they were on friendly terms as they shared a cute photograph together in the run up to Valentine's Day. They posted a photo of their feet touching while sitting back and watching TV - with Paddy writing: "Strong high arch game in our house but there can be only one! Who takes the crown and the Pes Cavus bragging rights? Mum or Dad? School boy error leaving my socks on."

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The snap drew the attention of fans who praised the exes for being so warm. One wrote: "You both have such a lovely relationship regardless of whether it is just as parents or as husband and wife which is no one else's business. But credit to both of you for ensuring the children are not caught between either parent but is both of your priorities. you are a lovely family."

Another typed: "You two are such an amazing example for your children. Whatever you do, kids come first and you two are freaking winning," another echoed. While another commented: "Lovely to see the two of you still sharing moments like this. You are both amazing and such good parents to your beautiful children."

Susan Knox