Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inbox We have more newsletters Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inbox We have more newsletters The breakdown of a marriage is never easy - especially where there are children involved and the couple in question are pretty high-profile celebrities too. But glamorous model and TV personality Christine McGuinness seems to be moving on and living her best life, since her shock split from comedian and Top Gear host husband Paddy McGuinness - one which the couple shared with the world in the summer of 2022. And there is reportedly one emotional and non-negotiable deal breaker that the devoted parents are adamant about when it comes to their divorce, a source has claimed.
And that is making sure that the transition for their children, Felicity, seven, and 10 year old twins Leo and Penelope is as smooth as possible. “Ever since they split, the main concern for both Paddy and Christine was making it as amicable as possible for the sake of the children," they told us. "They haven’t rushed anything, and the kids will always be their main priority.
” Indeed, Christine and Paddy - who recently said his divorce would ‘come into’ his new stand-up tour - are still, two years on, living in the same family home in Cheshire, a rather unconventional agreement but one which for Christine and her children, all four of whom have autism , isn’t awkward. She explained recently that, although she doesn’t know how long the arrangement will last, she doesn’t want to move her children into separate houses and ‘mess up their routine’. Blackpool-born Christine, 36, previously said of her and 50 year old Paddy’s unusual set-up: “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.’ It was clear even from their joint statement two years ago revealing their split that the former couple’s number one focus during their divorce would be the happiness of their little ones.
The statement on Instagram read: “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. We’ll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together.
” Our source said, “They tried their hardest to make the marriage work but it wasn’t to be - and whatever issues they have with each other they have made a pact to be the best co-parents possible. Paddy is always in awe of how dedicated Christine is to the kids and knows what a great mum she is.” But with both parties wanting, naturally, to move on with their own lives and potentially find love again , it is clear that sooner or later, big change is coming - and our source maintains that the former couple don’t want to do anything rash that would negatively affect the kids.
“At the moment things are ok between them. But obviously they’re both going to move on at some point and that’ll be hard especially because the kids hate change - so they’ll have to make sure it’s all done slowly and respectfully, when the time comes, to introduce new people into their lives.” They added, “Christine was with Paddy for most of her adult life so it’s been a hard adjustment and she finds it harder to switch off than he does when she’s not with the kids but she’s determined to have some fun.
But they’ve glad they’ve sorted out the divorce and that the children are as happy as they can be.” And Christine, who recently shared snaps of a sun-soaked holiday with her Birmingham-born rapper friend Roxxxan , has insisted she remains on good terms with her former spouse, confessing that the duo remained “very open” with each other, with the comedian even telling her about dates he’s been on . Divorce is never easy, but as former Real Housewives of Cheshire star Christine previously confessed, she stayed in her marriage for the wrong reasons.
“I didn’t want my family to ever fall apart and that’s why I stayed married. As an autistic woman, I like to stay where I’m comfortable, I like things to stay the same”, she admitted. “I understand myself better now because that’s where I was comfortable just knowing that it was me, Patrick and the children - but sometimes change has to happen.
You just have to deal with it in the best way possible.” And it looks like Christine and Paddy are doing just that..
