Christine McGuinness has admitted she almost didn’t take part in BBC Two’s Pilgrimage as it was the longest she had ever gone without seeing her children.
The model, 36, shares three children with her ex-husband Paddy McGuinness – ten-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and Felicity, seven.
And the mother revealed she found it really difficult leaving them for a long time as she headed to North Wales to film the show.
Pilgrimage sees a group of celebrities, all with different beliefs, faiths, and backgrounds, don their hiking boots to set off on a medieval route.
Speaking to The Mirror Christine spoke about leaving her children as she admitted: ‘It was lovely knowing that I was only an hour away and that was one of the reasons that helped me say yes to it because I knew that at any minute if I needed to go back I could.
Christine McGuinness, 36, has revealed she was scared to take part in BBC show Pilgrimage as it was the longest she had ever been away from her children
The mother admitted she found it really difficult leaving them for a long time as she headed to North Wales to film the show
‘But my children are maturing and they’re getting more used to mummy and daddy going in and out to work and having some long schedules. Sometimes we’re away for a night, sometimes it’s a bit longer, they’re quite used to that.
‘That’s how it’s been for years, but this was certainly the longest time that I’ve been away. I think it shows how far they’ve come and how far I’ve come in being okay with it and doing it.’
Christine added that when she came home the children had coped fine with her being away and she made sure to FaceTime then every day while she was gone, as she confirmed she would now feel comfortable doing it again.
The star also opened up about how the experience helped her feel more confident and comfortable as she confessed she usually struggles in social situations due to her autism.
She explained: ‘For me, the biggest thing personally that has changed is being more confident and comfortable around others.
‘I always felt like I didn’t fit in and always struggled in social situations but doing this pilgrimage has made me feel like I want to do that more.
‘I want to spend time with people, I want to make friends, I want to talk more and actually I can do it and I am more able to do it than I thought I was.’
She added that the Pilgrimage made her realise ‘I am not as bad at socialising as I thought I was.
She explained: ‘This was certainly the longest time that I’ve been away. I think it shows how far they’ve come and how far I’ve come in being okay with it and doing it’
During her appearance on The One Show alongside Pilgrimage co-stars Spencer Matthews and Sonali Shah, Christine opened up about how the hike was transformative
The model shares three children with her ex-husband Paddy McGuinness – ten-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and Felicity, seven (pictured in 2021)
‘If I’m in the right company. I can thrive and be happy and I can learn a lot from others.’
During her appearance on The One Show earlier this week, alongside Pilgrimage co-stars Spencer Matthews and Sonali Shah, Christine opened up about how the hike was transformative.
‘I took away so much,’ she said. ‘For me personally, it was not being so scared of dying anymore.
‘That was something that was really keeping me awake at night, I’ve got three children.’
Christine spoke about the concerns of a parent and how she worries about not being around to look after them.
‘But for me it was really taking over my mind,’ she added.
