Christine McGuinness calls co-parenting with Paddy 'blessing' after split

Christine McGuinness has spoken candidly about her divorce from husband Paddy McGuinness, confessing that their separation was a 'difficult and challenging' time. 

It is pertinent to mention that the former couple split in 2022, but they decided to continue living together in their family home for the sake of their three children.

Despite the pair maintaining an amicable set up, Christine confessed that she struggled with the breakdown of their marriage.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Christine shared: 'Divorce is scary and it was scary for me - obviously, I've never done a divorce before! It's an awful time.

'But as much as it was challenging and difficult, a lot of the thoughts and feelings were really from listening to other people's stories.

'Obviously, you hear about divorce, you instantly think negativity, heartbreak and a broken family or whatever, you don't hear about other families that [continue to] share their home.'

Paddy and Christine's children, twins Penelope and Leo, 11, and Felicity, eight, all have autism, with the couple choosing to continue to live together so as not to disrupt their routines.

'A lot of families that have got children with special educational needs choose to do it this way,' Christine explained. 'Maybe they don't talk about it so much, but they're the ones who really get it and understand it.'

Christine continued: 'I actually do think it is a blessing, the way we work co-parenting.

'It was always a decision from the beginning that no matter what, between me and Patrick, our priority is always the children, and that's how we've kept it, fortunately...

'We're lucky that we genuinely get on so well. We're not in a rush to sell the house. We don't want to be putting the kids in mummy's house and then in daddy's house - and our work's not in a routine and our children thrive on routine.

'They love the home, and in my head it's the children's home for them to grow up in. I'm not in a rush for that to change, to be honest.

'I'd love my own little flat somewhere, but this is my home.' 

Meanwhile, Paddy McGuinness has reportedly moved on from his previous marriage and is now dating a 'stunning Radio 2 publicist.

It is pertinent to mention that Paddy hosts a weekly show on BBC Radio 2, where Emma also works.