PADDY and Christine McGuinness are close to finalising an amicable out-of-court divorce settlement. The former Top Gear host and his model ex-wife are said to have swerved a court hearing and will stay in their £4million home for now. The pair separated in July 2022 and TV star Christine, 36, had lined up “pitbull” lawyer Catherine Bedford , of Harbottle & Lewis.

The legal hotshot helped land a reported £31million payout for Ant McPartlin’s ex-wife Lisa Armstrong . A source said: “They managed to settle the divorce out of court and have kept everything amicable. "Their main focus is co-parenting their three kids and working on their separate telly and work projects in between.

READ MROE CHRISTINE MCGUINNESS “They have separate bedrooms and a house in Cheshire big enough for them all, so there is no need to move yet. “But they probably will sell it down the line and get their own places.” Paddy, 50, has been touring Europe as he records a BBC series with former Top Gear co-host Chris Harris , 49.

Meanwhile, Christine revealed this week tha t she was ready for romance , saying: “I know that I deserve love, and I love love, and think being around someone intimately, and laughing and enjoying adult company is an amazing, magical thing to have in your life if you’ve got it.” Most read in Celebrity Paddy has said: “The fact that we can still live together, we never argue and there’s no toxicity in the house says it all really.”.