Christine McGuinness has opened up on her plans to get back into the dating scene after splitting with her ex Paddy McGuinness after 11 years together.
The Top Gear presenter and model, who have continued to live together for the sake of their family, share three autistic children, twins Penelope and Leo, nine, and seven-year-old Felicity.
But the couple decided to call things quits in July last year following a 'make or break' holiday the 49-year-old and his wife Christine, 35, decided to part ways.
Christine, who was diagnosed with autism at the late age of 33, discussed her plans to start dating again during a recent interview as she helped to launch Vanish's new campaign Me, My Autism & I – in partnership with the charity, Ambitious about Autism.
She told The Mirror: "I was talking about this with a friend, actual dating I can’t think of anything worse and I think for an autistic person it is so much worse because the dating scene from what I’ve heard, you have to go into a restaurant, you're meeting someone you don't know, you're in a place that you might not have been to before.
"I don't drink so I wouldn’t go to a bar but I never really dated so going on dates for me is not something I want to do. I absolutely do not want to go on a date.
"When I met Patrick, I already knew him it was a slow burner so that just happened. I think once you're comfortable with someone, then you can do your dinner dates I need it to happen the other way round."
Christine explained a new romance in her life would need to occur in a similar fashion to her relationship with ex-Paddy.
"Ideally, I would have to know someone first before I started dating like me and Patrick were friends first and then it turns romantic.
"But now I've got zero time and anytime I've got needs to be for me, I just want to focus on work and on my children. You can never say never, but dating doesn’t appeal to me from what I’ve heard."
Christine explained she doesn't like "being around people" she doesn't know.
I don't know how I’m going to be around someone new and you’ve got to get to know them and I’m just trying to get to know myself," she added. "I would hate to have to pretend or act normal for someone new. I’m not ready for it."
Real Housewives of Cheshire star Christine and her husband Paddy announced the news of their separation in a statement back in July.
At the time, the couple wrote: "We hadn't planned on sharing this publicly until we were ready but the lack of privacy surrounding our personal life, we feel left with no other option but to clarify.
"A while ago we took the difficult decision to separate but our main focus was as always is to continue loving and supporting our children.
"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 joint statement continued: "We hope this now draws a line under anymore unwanted and unnecessary intrusion into our private life.
"Although we work in the public eye we ask kindly if you could respect our wishes for privacy on this matter. We'll be making no further comment."
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