Christine McGuinness on co-parenting with estranged husband Paddy: 'Always be a family'

Christine McGuinness attends the Chrishell x Lipsy Partywear Edit launch event at Il Borro Tuscan Bistro on November 3, 2022 in London, England
Christine McGuinness has opened up about co-parenting with estranged husband Paddy. (Getty Images)

Christine McGuinness has insisted that her estranged husband Paddy McGuinness would "always be family" as they co-parent their three children together.

The star, 35, was married to the presenter, 49, for 11 years – although they spent 15 years together in total – before they announced their separation last July.

Speaking on Lorraine, the mother-of-three said: "We want to keep things the same as much as possible for the children.

"I don't want anything to affect them. We'll always be family and we're living in a happy home."

Christine McGuinness and Paddy McGuinness attend the National Television Awards held at The O2 Arena on January 22, 2019 in London, England
The couple, pictured here in 2019, were together for 15 years. (Getty Images)

The couple share twins Penelope and Leo, nine, and Felicity, seven, who have all been diagnosed with autism.

Christine appeared on the morning TV show to discuss her new BBC documentary, Unmasking My Autism, which details her own personal experience of discovering she had the condition at the age of 33.

Read more: Christine McGuinness reveals feeling suicidal as a teen due to undiagnosed autism

She said: "I didn't realise everyone doesn't talk to themselves all day or rehearse conversations. I think you've got to prepare but apparently people have really casual conversations.

"I'm okay today as I know what I'm talking about but if the discussion went somewhere else, I would have to take a moment to think about it... and then go over it in my head for three weeks afterwards."

Earlier this month, McGuinness revealed how she was left feeling suicidal as a teen while struggling with her undiagnosed autism.

She recalled wishing that her life "would just end" due to not being able to make sense of her feelings.

Read more: Autism: The signs, symptoms and getting a diagnosis explained

Speaking on Heart's Dirty Mother Pukka podcast, McGuinness said that the lack of diagnosis in her childhood negatively impacted on her mental health with her struggling to make friends at school, and leading her to leave education aged 14.

She said: "I used to pray that I wouldn't wake up. I used to pray that my life would just end and I convinced myself that nobody would even notice."

Watch: Christine McGuinness discusses autism diagnosis