Christine McGuinness shares how autism diagnosis affected her after Paddy split

Jess Bacon
·Contributor
Updated ·2-min read
Christine McGuinness attends the Pride of Britain Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London. Picture date: Monday October 21, 2024. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)
Christine McGuinness opens up about dating after her diagnosis at the Pride of Britain Awards (Getty Images)

Christine McGuinness has opened up about dating after her autism diagnosis at the Pride of Britain Awards in London.

The mother of three was in her early thirties when she was diagnosed with autism in 2021, and her whole life began to “make sense”.

Now the 36-year-old model has faced a new challenge after the diagnosis with dating, after she split from her husband Paddy McGuinness, 50, in 2022.

Though the model has said in the past she would “never marry again”, Christine revealed that she started dating for the first time since the split earlier this year, even while the former couple still live together.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Paddy McGuinness and Christine Martin attend the Pride Of Britain Awards 2021 at The Grosvenor House Hotel on October 30, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Paddy McGuinness and Christine Martin attend the Pride Of Britain Awards 2021. (Getty Images)

On the red carpet last night (October 21st), Christine told the Daily Mail that she had been worried to start dating after her diagnosis and the horror stories she’d heard about dating.

"I only started dating this year after I delayed it for a long time because of the worries," she said. "It was scary hearing other people's stories as I haven't heard many good dating stories so I wasn't in any rush to do it."

Despite her nerves, Christine has been dating a "mystery" man since June, who she met through mutual friends. She revealed that neither Paddy or her children had met them yet, as it was still "early days."

Meanwhile, Christine continues to co-parent her twins, Leo and Penelope, 10 and Felicity, 8, with her ex-husband, which has been amicable throughout their separation. All three of the children also have autism, which the model previously told Yahoo UK gives them all a "special bond".

"Co-parenting is good, we're both just really busy so we both just try and go in and out whenever we can," she added. "There are times when we are at home together and times when it is just me and times when it is just him. It is kind of how it's always been!"

Read more about Christine McGuiness and autism:

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