I had trouble getting my head around why there is interest in me

WHEN Christine McGuinness split from her TV star husband Paddy, she did not think people would still be interested in her life.

- BY MITYA UNDERWOOD

But the model, who separated from Paddy in 2022, was shocked to learn that was very much not the case.

"As much as my marriage was in the public eye, it kind of wasn't," Christine says. "People knew Paddy was married and had children but we didn't do a lot of work together, or as a family.

"We did the documentaries - which I'm so proud of - but we only ever went to the odd event and weren't all over social media.

"We've been separated for three years now and it's honestly taken me that time to try and get my head around why there's interest in me."

Unique

But interest there is. Just last week, front pages carried stories that Christine, 37, had a fling with a soap actress she met at an awards bash in 2023.

Yet the fascination goes beyond her love life - there just seems to be something about Blackpool-born Christine that people are drawn to.

During the two years she spent on The Real Housewives of Cheshire from 2018, she came across as down-to-earth and quick-witted.

Later, appearances on ITV's Strictly The Real Full Monty and BBC's Pilgrimage added to her appeal.