Christine McGuinness says granny's advice saved her marriage
Christine McGuinness has made no secret of the fact that she and comedian husband Paddy are going through a rough patch - but has told how following her grandmother's stoic advice has previously saved her marriage.
The reality TV star recently opened up about the "very, very difficult time" she and Top Gear star Paddy were having, but has made it clear that they are still together and trying hard to work through their problems.
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In her recent autobiography A Beautiful Nightmare, Christine wrote about previous marriage problems that had seen her temporarily move home with family after falling out with Paddy.
She shared that her grandmother had told her: "Marriage is difficult. I’ve been through it all with Grandad, and look at us now. I wouldn’t be without him.”
Christine added in the book: "That advice has always stuck with me. People go through difficult times in marriage, family, work, life – everything… I wanted my children to have a dad at home. It didn’t matter to me if I’d forgiven him, if I was OK with it or if I trusted him. All of that didn’t count, I just wanted my children to have their father there – something I never had."
The couple are parents to three children who are all autistic, and Christine herself was recently diagnosed with autism, too.
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In a 2021 BBC documentary, the couple allowed cameras to capture the tough reality of parenting for them, as well as how much they enjoy family life.
Christine recently told The Sun: “I’m feeling really quite raw and all over the place. I can’t deny we are having a very, very difficult time."
She also said: "When you’ve been together for so long, you’re gonna have ups and downs. Everyone grows and changes and we’ve grown as a family, which is amazing.
"You know, that family bond will always be there no matter what but yeah, I was a teenager when I met him and I’m a 34-year-old woman now, so I suppose what I might have put up with in the past, I probably wouldn’t put up with now and same for him."
Watch: Christine McGuinness admits to 'ups and downs' in marriage to Paddy