Fortunately for Paddy McGuinness, his ex-wife Christine wouldn’t be up for a Take Me Out-style trip to Ferndando’s – or anywhere – with a new flame, as she finds the prospect of dating “petrifying”.
The 35-year-old model and Top Gear host Paddy, 49, were friends before they got together and were then married for 11 years, so now she cannot imagine the awkwardness of going on a first date.
“The thought of dating is actually my worst nightmare,” she grimaces. “I’ve just never really done it.
“When I met my husband, we were friends first. I think that helped, it worked because I never had that pressure of, ‘What do I wear? Where do I go? What is the food going to be like? Will I like the restaurant?’
“The idea of dating, for me, is petrifying.”
Christine, who has autism, adds: “It’s sensory for me. A typical date, from what my friends would say, is you go for dinner, or you might have some drinks.
“I don’t drink and I don’t really enjoy eating in different places with people that I don’t know. Once I’m comfortable with someone, that’s lovely.
“But I don’t know how I am supposed to get to that point.”
Christine has had offers of dates via her Instagram DMs but laughs: “My Instagram isn’t [dating app] Raya!”
And she does not even feel particularly single, given she co-parents her three children with Paddy – and is busy taking on more reality shows, such as Celebrity Hunted.
“Nothing has really changed,” she adds. “I don’t feel like a young, free and single person.
“Life’s good. I’m just very calm and peaceful and I don’t want anything to disturb that right now.”
Definitely no likey.
