Christine McGuinness ‘miserable’ sharing £2.5m mansion with ex Paddy and ‘wants to sell up’

Christine McGuinness is reportedly growing increasingly unhappy with her living situation as she continues to share a home with her ex-husband Paddy McGuinness, despite their divorce being finalised. The former couple, who announced their split in 2022, had initially agreed to remain in their £2.5 million mansion in Cheshire for the sake of their three children.

However, sources close to Christine claim she is now “desperate to sell up” and move on. The unusual arrangement, which saw both parties remain in their seven-bedroom home despite their separation, was said to be driven by Paddy. Friends of the pair suggest the former Top Gear host was reluctant to part with the property, which features a swimming pool, gym, and glass balcony.

In an interview with the Daily Mail’s Weekend magazine, Paddy, 51, gave a positive assessment of the living situation, stating that it could work if it was done in a “respectful way”. However, Christine, 36, has reportedly confided to friends that her reality is far from harmonious.

According to insiders, Christine is growing increasingly frustrated with the arrangement, feeling “utterly miserable” as she continues to share the space with her ex-husband. She is now preparing for a fresh confrontation, having made it clear to Paddy that she wants to sell the property and move into a new home with their children.

Despite Christine’s insistence, Paddy, who is currently on tour with his comedy show, is said to be resistant to the idea. In his interview with the outlet, he maintained that their plan was “still the same” and added, “It doesn’t feel tricky”.

Christine’s friends have raised concerns over his reluctance to sell, suggesting that he is stalling until he can afford a new home that meets his expectations. One insider stated, “Christine is at the end of her tether and can’t carry on living with Paddy…She is desperate to sell the house, split the proceeds, and buy a smaller property where she can live happily with their three children”.

The couple, who were married in 2011, share three children, 11-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and eight-year-old Felicity, all of whom are autistic. Christine was also diagnosed with autism in 2021.

Adding to Christine’s frustration, Paddy reportedly made a joke about their divorce during his recent stand-up tour. Just over a minute into his show, Nearly There, he quipped, “Tonight, folks, we’re all here as human beings with one common goal – and that’s to help me pay for my divorce. I’ve had the pants down, me, the pants down”. The BBC Radio 2 host also added: “I’m thinking of getting Children In Need to do a bike ride for me next year, or come round to a bedsit in Bolton filming me”.

However, sources close to Christine told The Sun that she had been “horrified” that Paddy made jokes on their relationship on stage since she has “kept a respectful silence during their divorce proceedings”. A source also added that Christine had been “distraught” at the idea people were laughing at their split.

This led to him scrapping any mention of their break-up during his later show in Middlesbrough, according to Mail Online, with a source saying he only mentioned Christine in regards to her autism diagnosis. The source said: “Paddy performed two 40-minute sets with a half hour break in between but at no point did he mention his divorce or splitting from Christine”.

Following her participation in ITV’s The Games in 2022, speculation began to grow about the state of their marriage. Later that year, they announced their separation, finalising their divorce in December 2023.

They both released statements on Instagram at the time, saying: “This was not an easy decision to make but we’re moving forward as the best parents we can be for our three beautiful children. We’ll always be a loving family, we still have a great relationship and still live happily in our family home together”.

The Mirror has approached Christine and Paddy’s reps for comment.

Source: Mirror