'I'm trying to say yes to more opportunities'

Christine McGuinness has never looked or sounded better, despite splitting from comedian husband Paddy McGuinness two years ago.

- JULIE ANN TRAINOR

The former couple still live together in their Cheshire home, co-parenting their three children, but she admitted recently that she is absolutely loving the single life.

Revealing that she's not currently in a relationship, the 36-year-old said she has been enjoying getting out there again, and has what she calls a "busy dating diary".

Christine's kids, 11-year-old twins Leo and Penelope and Felicity, eight, are all autistic, and she was also diagnosed with the condition in 2021 - something that made her whole life "make sense". So, as we celebrate Disability History Month, she opens up about the importance of representation on huge shows such as Strictly.

The Blackpool-born model also talks to new about why she's not ready to get her dancing shoes on yet-though she's been asked and what she's learnt about herself since dipping her toe in the dating pool again.

Hi, Christine! Strictly has featured celebrity contestants with disabilities in recent years. Have you ever been asked - and would you be a good representative?

Everyone asks that, but I don't know. For me, it's the live audience I would be petrified of, and when people look at me I feel they think, "Oh, well, she can't be autistic because she's done an underwear shoot, so she's fine." But a lot of it is on the inside. Almost like a swan [calm above the surface, paddling hard below the surface]. I'm calm on the outside, but my heart is racing 100 miles per hour.