09 April 2023 , 18:38
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Christine McGuinness has opened up on moving on after she and her ex Paddy McGuinness announced they were calling time on their 11-year marriage.
The Top Gear presenter and model, who have continued to live together, share three autistic children, twins Penelope and Leo, 9, and Felicity, 7.
In an exclusive interview with Mirror, Christine discussed her plans to start dating again as she helped to launch Vanish's new campaign Me, My Autism & I – in partnership with the charity, Ambitious about Autism.
The model and TV star was diagnosed with autism at the late age of 33.
Christine and Paddy announced their split last year (Instagram)
Christine and Paddy, who share three children, split after 11 years of marriage (UK Press via Getty Images)She said: "I was talking about this with a friend, actual dating I can’t think of anything worse and I think for an autistic person it is so much worse because the dating scene from what I’ve heard, you have to go into a restaurant, you're meeting someone you don't know, you're in a place that you might not have been to before.
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"I don't drink so I wouldn’t go to a bar but I never really dated so going on dates for me is not something I want to do. I absolutely do not want to go on a date.
"When I met Patrick, I already knew him it was a slow burner so that just happened. I think once you're comfortable with someone, then you can do your dinner dates I need it to happen the other way round."
Christine explained a new romance in her life would need to occur in a similar fashion to her relationship with ex-Paddy.
"Ideally, I would have to know someone first before I started dating like me and Patrick were friends first and then it turns romantic.
"But now I've got zero time and anytime I've got needs to be for me, I just want to focus on work and on my children. You can never say never, but dating doesn’t appeal to me from what I’ve heard."
Christine explained she doesn't like "being around people" she doesn't know.
I don't know how I’m going to be around someone new and you’ve got to get to know them and I’m just trying to get to know myself," she added. "I would hate to have to pretend or act normal for someone new. I’m not ready for it."
To find out more about Ambitious about Autism and why Making Clothes Last Really Matters, visit https://www.vanish.co.uk/autism