Paddy & Christine 'This was not an easy decision

After months of speculation, Paddy and Christine McGuinness announce their separation but insist they'll "always be a loving family"

- Catriona Rigney

Paddy and Christine McGuinness vowed to “always be a loving family” when they announced their split after 15 years together last week.

The pair, who have been married for 11 years and have three children – Penelope, Felicity, and Leo – confirmed the news in a lengthy and emotional statement on Instagram.

Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Christine, 34, and Paddy, 48, revealed they will continue to live in the same house together because their children – who all have autism – remain their priority.

The statement read, “We hadn’t planned on sharing this publicly until we were ready but after 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 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.