Christine McGuinness Opens Up About Dating After Paddy Split: “I’d Love to Have a Wife One Day”

Life after divorce has brought a new sense of freedom for Christine McGuinness—but she’s also discovered that finding lasting love isn’t as straightforward as she hoped.

The television personality has spoken candidly about her relationships since splitting from ex-husband Paddy McGuinness, revealing why she’s in no rush to change the unique family arrangement they’ve built together.

“I’d Love to Have a Wife One Day”

Appearing on the It Started With A Kiss podcast, Christine admitted she dreams of one day having a lifelong female partner—though not necessarily another legal marriage.

“As much as I would love to have a wife one day—not like a legalised marriage, but a celebration of love—I’d love to be able to say, ‘This is my wife.'”

After finalising her divorce in 2024 following 11 years of marriage to Paddy, Christine says she’s happy with where life is right now, even if it has complicated her dating life.

Living Two Separate Lives

Despite their divorce, Christine and Paddy continue to share the £2.5 million family home while co-parenting their three autistic children—twins Leo and Penelope, and daughter Felicity.

Away from home, however, Christine enjoys a completely different lifestyle whenever work takes her to London.

“I like the separate life,” she explained.

“My family, my kids, my home is up there, and then I come to London, step off that train, and I can work. I can have fun. I can sleep in, and I don’t need to worry about everything.”

She admitted that balancing those two worlds has become one of the biggest challenges in her relationships.

The Dating Problem She Keeps Running Into

Christine revealed that women she’s dated eventually ask the same question: whether she’s prepared to move their relationship to the next level.

While she’s honest from the beginning about her circumstances, she says many partners eventually want more than she’s currently able to give.

“I’ll always let them know my situation,” she said, adding that she doesn’t want anyone expecting her lifestyle to change anytime soon.

For now, she feels it’s too soon to introduce someone new into her family life and values the stability her current arrangement provides.

No Desire to Marry Again

Although Christine hasn’t ruled out finding lasting love, she made it clear another wedding isn’t part of her plans.

Laughing about her previous marriage, she joked that she’d “been there, done that,” saying the experience had cost her “a fortune” and aged her “about 10 years.”

She also confirmed she has no plans to have more children.

Still Close Friends With Paddy

One of the most surprising revelations was just how positive Christine’s relationship with Paddy remains.

The former couple continue to co-parent closely, and Christine even admitted there have been times when she’s shown Paddy photos of women she finds attractive just to get his opinion.

Their friendship, she says, has helped create an “ideal” co-parenting arrangement—allowing them to put their children first while each moves forward with life in their own way.

While Christine hopes to find the right partner one day, she’s made it clear she’s not willing to rush into a relationship that could disrupt the family balance she’s worked so hard to build.