HE has just announced his first stand-up comedy show in more than eight years and with new TV shows in the pipeline, is busier than ever.

But away from the cameras funnyman Paddy McGuinness hasn’t had much to smile about following a high-profile separation from wife Christine.

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Paddy McGuinness has just announced his first stand-up comedy show in more than eight yearsCredit: Getty

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Paddy hasn’t had much to smile about recently following a high-profile separation from wife ChristineCredit: Getty
Eighteen months after calling time on their relationship, the star reckons he is now getting back to his best — and still shares a family home with the mother of his three kids.

Paddy, 50, says: “I am very protective of Christine and our children.

“The fact that we can still live together, we never argue and there’s no toxicity in the house, says it all really.

“We have separate bedrooms because we respect that we aren’t together any more but, whether we work it through or we don’t, what we do have is a really, really lovely family unit at home.

“We both love each other.

“Sometimes I forget we’re separated and I suppose it must be strange for people looking at it from the outside in.

“We still hug, and we’re still messaging and phoning each other every day, we’re just not jumping into bed together any more.”

He and Christine got together in 2009, marrying two years later, and while Paddy admits to “struggling” initially with the couple’s split, he says he didn’t need therapy to help him cope with divorce.

Indeed, bar some understandable sadness, their split seems remarkably textbook.

Mirroring actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Coldplay singer Chris Martin’s famous “conscious uncoupling”, clearly there remains a lot of affection.

EXCL Christine McGuinness reveals secret struggle and ‘meltdowns’ amid divorce from husband Paddy-
He says the only time they row is when “lawyers are involved”.

This follows the model, 35, hiring so-called “pitbull” divorce expert Catherine Bedford, the woman who helped Lisa Armstrong and Game Of Thrones star Sophie Turner following their acrimonious splits from Ant McPartlin and Joe Jonas respectively.

“Just not as wealthy, and with fewer hit records and Hollywood films behind us.

“If you can do it like that, it’s the best way, there doesn’t need to be toxicity.

“There is more laughter and love in our house than arguments.

“The only time we have a slight disagreement is when lawyers are involved, when it comes to matters of divorce.

“The reality, though is that I don’t think either of us are in a rush to get a divorce.”

There is more laughter and love in our house than arguments

Paddy McGuinness
He says both parties are currently single, although Paddy still sports a C tattoo merged into a heart on his wedding ring finger.

So will he get it lasered off?

“Look, I guess if you’re divorced, and we both move on with new partners, you can’t expect him or her to be OK with that.

“But I hardly ever wear jewellery so that’s why I got the tattoo in the first place.

“Christine still wears her ring on the other hand.

“At the moment we are both single and if she is in a relationship, it’s her business. I will always respect that.

“If you see me on any dating apps feel free to chastise me fully.

“I won’t be going on Hinge or Tinder, no, I can’t think of anything worse.

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Paddy and Christine still live together with their three childrenCredit: Instagram

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Paddy still sports a C tattoo merged into a heart on his wedding ring fingerCredit: Rex
“It’s not a yearning for me, to date. I waited for 12 months and eventually thought about giving dating a try.

“I’ve had dates over the past two years, one with a celebrity, one with someone not in the public eye.

“And, as lovely as both were, I knew I wasn’t ready for that kind of commitment.

“I did it more because I was feeling like, maybe that’s what I should be doing.”

It’s clear hard-working Paddy is very much a hands-on dad who balances a busy work life — he has two new TV shows about to be announced — with looking after his family: “Doing the kids’ bedtimes, jet-washing the patio and the big weekly shop are my specialities.

“I’m the least showbizzy person ever,” he adds over a mouthful of beef-dripping potatoes at a central London restaurant.

“Help yourself,” he says, somewhat redundantly, when I’m four of his lard-soaked chips down. He really is a decent bloke.

Last year the couple were nominated for a National Television Award for their powerful BBC documentary detailing their struggles raising three autistic children — twins Penelope and Leo, nine, and Felicity, six.

It’s not a yearning for me, to date. I waited for 12 months and eventually thought about giving dating a try

Paddy McGuinness
As if that wasn’t tough enough, three years ago Christine was also diagnosed with the disorder, which leaves sufferers — to varying degrees — struggling to interact socially.

Now, if the family goes away on holiday, “we all wear sunflower lanyards around our necks”, signalling their autism. Paddy says: “I wear mine to show we are all one family unit.

“Sometimes I do feel like the odd one out,” he says with a sigh. “It’s hard looking after everyone but the rewards are worth it.”

He admits he did need therapy after the kids’ diagnoses, and credits it with pulling him out of a hole where he felt he was at the point of “burnout”.

In matters non-domestic, Paddy has also had a frenetic time of late.

After leaving school at 16, and getting a job on a building site, his big break came in 2001 alongside Peter Kay in the smash sitcom Phoenix Nights.

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Paddy and Christine detailing their struggles raising three autistic children in a BBC docCredit: BBC

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Paddy hosting Top Gear alongside Freddie FlintoffCredit: BBC
With the insatiable work ethic of a billionaire tech CEO, over the past two decades he has become one of the country’s most in-demand entertainers. And most omnipresent.

In 2010 he added another sting to his bow in becoming the host of cult dating show Take Me Out, which ran for ten years.

Since then, high profile stints on iconic BBC quiz Question Of Sport and driving show Top Gear followed.

The latter was derailed in the wake of co-star Freddie Flintoff’s horror smash in December 2022.

Paddy still loves the show and firmly believes it will one day return to screens despite being “on pause” at present.

And, contrary to reports that the former England cricketer was a “nervous driver”, Paddy insists he loved the thrill of the show’s more high-octane stunts.

“Clarkson, May and Hammond made that show what it was, it went to the next level with those three,” he explains.

It’s hard looking after everyone but the rewards are worth it

Paddy McGuinness
“I did the Clarkson bit of heavy-lifting in the studio, Chris [Harris] is definitely the best driver and Fred was always the one into doing something dangerous.

“Fred wasn’t a nervous driver. If you look at him on A League Of Their Own, he’s always the one doing something a bit tasty.

“Fred and I weren’t pro drivers, but we are better than your average driver, you have to be on that show, but there were things where we’d be, ‘Oh hold on a minute, can we get a bit more training on this’ if we were nervous.”

He adds that he hasn’t spoken to Freddie in ten months, adding: “But we were all there for him when it happened, and he got back to us all immediately after, but it’s gone quiet since then.

“Who knows what he must be going through. I still see his wife and we still chat, and we have the same barber, and it’s all lovely.

“I messaged Fred recently saying, ‘Look, I can’t begin to think what you’re going through but rather than me bombarding you with loads of messages, which can be annoying, if you can’t be a***d with that, I’m always here.

“I hope you’re well and please God, I’ll see you soon’.

“You just can’t begin to put yourself into his shoes. No one can know what’s going on in his head.”

I’m sensitive, but then again I don’t think anyone wants to see themselves slagged off

Paddy McGuinness
Last year Question Of Sport was axed by the Beeb over inflation and funding challenges.

Paddy had taken over from ex-tennis pro Sue Barker at the helm, joined by new team captains former hockey star Sam Quek and ex England rugby union player Ugo Monye.

In a world driven by social media, Paddy found himself unfairly criticised for not being a former sportsman.

Obviously, he says, the criticism hurt. “I’m sensitive, but then again I don’t think anyone wants to see themselves slagged off.”

Following Sue’s very public sacking, amid claims of ageism, the 67-year-old hit out at the corporation in the way it handled her dismissal.

She was, however, exceptionally gallant after discovering Paddy had landed the coveted gig.

“It’s difficult when you get asked to do an iconic show and Sue, Matt [Dawson] and Phil [Tufnell] were so revered, and loved, and they’d done the show for that long.

“I think they knew that the person taking over that show isn’t the one getting rid of them — that’s the powers that be.

“When I got the job, I got Sue’s number off Matt and rang her up out of respect and she was absolutely gorgeous with me.

I love performing in front of a live audience and making people laugh

Paddy McGuinness
“She talked me through everything, told me to learn everyone’s names, do this and do that.

“Whatever she felt about the BBC, that’s nothing to do with me. I’m glad she was really receptive and helped me out.

“To use a football analogy, if you’re going in straight after Sir Alex Ferguson you’re going to be up against it.

“But I was genuinely gutted though, because I loved the show so much.”

Yet for now it’s onwards and upwards. Paddy has just been forced to add new tour dates due to phenomenal demand for his new stand-up tour.

Kicking off in Blackburn in October, his long-awaited return will now see him perform 44 dates across the UK and now Ireland this year and next.

“The nature of telly is that you do some stuff, some works, some doesn’t and nothing lasts for ever.

“I love performing in front of a live audience and making people laugh.

“The rush you get, well, I guess it’s a bit like scoring a goal. I love it, and I really am excited.”

Tickets are on sale now at tix.to/Paddy

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Paddy says he and Christine still love each otherCredit: Splash

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Paddy got his big break with Peter Kay on Phoenix nights