'Paddy has told me when he's been on dates'

Christine and Paddy McGuinness are divorced but share a home – something that Christine says can't last forever.

- JULIE ANN TRAINOR

If the last few years have taught Christine McGuinness anything, it's that she's made of strong stuff. The former beauty queen, 36, has been admirably vocal about some of her personal battles, including an autism diagnosis in her thirties, suffering childhood abuse and the painful breakdown of her marriage to presenter Paddy McGuinness, 51.

She's also been dealing with the emotional toll of her mother's breast cancer, but now that she's coming out the other end, Christine says she's very grateful her mum is in a "good place".

Christine does admit, in this exclusive chat with new, that there is one thing weighing on her mind. She knows the day is coming when she'll have to tell her children Leo and Penelope, 11, and Felicity, eight, that their parents are no longer together, something she says they are currently too young to understand.

Hi, Christine. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month how are things with your own family?

My mum had breast cancer and so did four of my aunties. My mum got her diagnosis during lockdown but, thank God, she's doing really good right now.

It has affected the whole family, so it's not nice.

Does it ever make you wary?

Of course. When my mum was diagnosed, it did feel how close really real it was to home, how serious it is and how no-one is safe. She's finished all of her chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but unfortunately her cancer is one of those that could come back anywhere in the body, so we're never fully relaxed. But she is doing very well and I feel like I've got my mum back. She has the best relationship with my children and they're so close.

They absolutely love crazy Nannie she's the fun and she's my whole world. I love her to bits.

How is your dad Johnny since he got clean from heroin?

He's doing really good. He's still on track and it's amazing to see.