Christine McGuinness breaks down in tears as she quits Celebs Go Dating as she makes vow

Christine McGuinness broke down in tears as she revealed why she had decided to quit Celebs Go Dating(Image: Channel 4)

Christine McGuinness broke down in tears as she made the decision to leave the Celebs Go Dating agency just days into filming.

The reality star, 37, signed up for the latest series of the E4 dating programme following her divorce from Paddy McGuinness, and while she was trying to look for love again, things did not go to plan when she flew off to Ibiza with the programme and couldn’t cope with being away from her children.

She told dating agent Anna Williamson and her fellow relationship expert Paul C. Brunson: “I have been thinking quite a lot while we’ve been in Ibiza, I need to date in a natural environment. It takes me a long time to sit in front of someone.” It comes after Strictly Come Dancing’s Gorka Marquez pulls out of show.

The occasional Loose Women star became emotional as she revealed why she had decided to leave the programme(Image: Channel 4)

Christine is mother to ten-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and seven-year-old Felicity with the former Take Me Out star, and insisted that the ‘only love’ she needed was the kind she has at home from her children.

She said: “I’ve found the outside attention too much and I’ve found myself finding that I’m hiding more and that’s not what I want. I’ve found the outside attention too much and I’ve found myself finding that I’m hiding more and that’s not what I want.”

Through tears, she added: “I thought ‘Just rip the Band-Aid off’ but I want to decide how much I want to share publicly. I’ve been missing the kids loads this week and all the love I need is waiting for me at home. I know I’ve only been here for a few days but I just need a cuddle from my kids.”

Things had not been looking too hopeful for Christine, as, earlier in the episode she was seen having a heart-to-heart with S Club 7 star Jon Lee. She told him: “You seem a bit more excited about having more dates whereas I’m petrified because I feel very unexperienced. The one date I’ve done, I don’t know if I was a good date or not, I’ve got no idea.”

Despite the heartbreak, Christine admitted in a confessional that the reality show has made it clear about what she wants from her love life going forward. She said: “These last few days in Ibiza have confirmed for me that I just need to take things a little bit slower.

“I am ready to date and I am excited about meeting somebody in the future but right now I need to do things in baby steps.”

Last week, the former Real Housewives star headed on a date in Ibiza with Leanne. Christine and Leanne met during the first mixer, but it seemed like the mum of three was out of her depth. Viewers saw Christine struggle to make a decision on who to take to Ibiza from the mixer, revealing that she hated letting people down.

Christine’s date didn’t hold back, getting straight into the deep questions, by asking: “How are you finding this, dating in general?”

“I haven’t dated an awful lot,” the model replied. Emotionally opening up, Christine added: “I was married for a long time. It took me a while to even think about spending time with anyone.”

Christine McGuinness left the Celebs Go Dating agency before filming had finished (Image: Channel 4)

The occasional Loose Women panellist, who has dated women since her divorce, continued: “The women that I’ve spent time with in the last couple of years, I already knew them. So I didn’t have that anxiety,” she laughed as the pair spoke about how daunting dating could be.

Leanne is also a mother of three, as she told her date that she was having “me time” away in Ibiza. Do you feel okay about it?” Christine asked, as Leanne confirmed she did. “Me too,” Christine continued. “I think I carried mum guilt for far too long. Every now and then, it creeps back in.”

As Christine’s first date at the agency came to a close, she told the camera “it went really, really well,” and gushed about how Leanne made her feel comfortable.

The feelings were mutual with Leanne, as she told the cameras she wanted to go on another date, although Christine wasn’t sure whether the connection could grow into anything deeper.

Christine McGuinness was famously married to former Take Me Out host Paddy McGuinness but they split in 2022(Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

It came after Christine opened up to celebrity dating agents Anna Williamson and Paul C Brunson about her split from ex-husband, Paddy McGuinness in 2022.

“Anyone can make mistakes but I think the trust was broken,” she explained. “I’ll always love him, he’s the father of my children and I think he’s the only man that I’ll ever love,” she said.

“A lot of people make mistakes and mess up, and when you’re in a couple who is quite well known in the industry, obviously then everyone knows your business. He was getting a really, really difficult time in the press,” she continued – although she didn’t expand on the ‘mistakes’.