Christine McGuinness opens up over new relationship after going on birthday date

Christine McGuinness has opend up about her new relationship (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Sexy Fish Manchester)

Christine McGuinness has been radiating positivity and looking fantastic, despite parting ways from her comedian husband Paddy McGuinness two years earlier. Despite the split, the erstwhile couple still share their Cheshire residence, where they continue to co-parent their three children.

Lately, Christine expressed that she's thoroughly enjoying her newfound single status. At 36, she revealed her pleasure in diving back into dating, sporting what she refers to as a "busy dating diary". Her children—a set of 11 year old twins named Leo and Penelope, along with eight year old Felicity—all have autism. Christine herself was diagnosed with the condition in 2021, an insight that helped her life "make sense".

In light of Disability History Month, Christine sheds light on disability representation in prominent TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing. The Blackpool-born beauty discusses with new why she's not yet ready to strap on her dancing shoes—despite being approached—and divulges what personal discoveries she's made since she started navigating the dating scene once again.

With recent series of Strictly featuring celebrity contestants with disabilities, Christine shared whether she’s been invited and if she feels she’d make a fitting ambassador for the show, reports OK! Magazine.

Christine and Paddy McGuinness separated in 2022 after 11 years of marriage (Image: WireImage)

She said: "Everyone always asks, but I honestly don't know. The thought of a live audience terrifies me, and when people look at me, I feel they think, "Oh, well, she can't be autistic because she's done an underwear shoot, so she's fine." But much of it is internal.

"It's like being a swan - calm on the surface, paddling furiously underneath. I appear calm, but my heart is racing. I participated in The Real Full Monty, which had a Strictly theme the year I was involved, for breast cancer awareness. I was doing it for my mum, so I had that drive to push through."

Askd if she would be making more autism documentaries with the BBC she said: "I would love to. I can't confirm anything right now, but I'm open-minded when it comes to what to do next. I love making documentaries. I'd love to explore more hidden disabilities – such as dyspraxia, ADHD and dyslexia.

"I'd love to learn more about people as I'm interested in how they think –probably because I grew up being autistic and I didn't know. I hid a lot. I would study people – and I still do it now – so I'd love to do something like that."

Christine has recently started dating again (Image: WireImage)

She also opened up on how her autisum has affected her dating, saying: "I only started dating this year and I think I delayed and delayed it, because of the worries. Not just because of how I am, and my sensory issues, but I wasn't in any rush at all. And then it just kind of happened – I met somebody on my birthday, and we started dating."

She added: "I'm completely different when I'm comfortable around someone, and I've learnt that the nervous feeling I used to carry – that kind of anxiety – is a physical feeling, which I didn't realise. Yet when you stop feeling that and you are comfortable in your environment, it's not there any more. I thought that was part of my autism – that walking on eggshells feeling. I haven't got that any more."

She added: "It was only after my diagnosis that I began to understand myself better. When asked about her Cheshire neighbour, Coleen Rooney's participation in I'm A Celebrity, she pondered if she would ever consider the jungle.

"I think I'm A Celebrity is one of those things no one wants to actually do, but it's the kind of opportunity you can't turn down, and that's how I feel. It's an incredible opportunity, but do I want to be covered in insects and all that? No, not at all! [Laughs] However, I'm trying to say yes to more opportunities."