Reports suggested CBB star Chris Hughes would be replacing Christine McGuinness on Celebs Go Dating after she decided to quit days into filming.
Christine has described it as being “too soon” following her split from ex-husband, comedian and actor Paddy McGuinness.
She was set to be in the Celebs Go Dating line-up alongside Kerry Katona, The Chase’s Mark Labbett, Love Island All Stars’ Olivia Hawkins, Too Hot To Handle’s Louis Russell and Jon Lee of S Club.
Christine and Paddy divorced in 2024
The 37-year-old announced on her Instagram Stories last night (Thursday May 1): “I joined Celebs Go Dating with great intentions but have realised that dating on a public platform and the attention it brings is just too soon for me.”
Christine, who had already flown to Ibiza to take part in the Channel 4 show, added: “They’ve said the door is always open for me, which I’m so grateful but for now I’m returning home to my family.”
Model Christine and 51-year-old Paddy announced their separation in 2022, after 11 years of marriage, and they divorced in 2024. It came a year after their documentary, Our Family and Autism, aired on BBC. They co-parent twins Penelope and Leo, 11, and Felicity, eight.
Chris Hughes is a ‘great coup’ for Celebs Go Dating
Reports suggested she would be replaced by Celebrity Big Brother finalist Chris Hughes. The former Love Islander, 32, was the subject of speculation over his close friendship with JoJo Siwa in the house, though the pair confirmed after leaving the show that their relationship is purely “platonic”.
Speaking to The Sun, a source described Chris’ inclusion as a “great coup” for the show, adding: “The agents will be eager to get to know the real truth about Chris and what he is looking for following his connection with JoJo.”
Chris has ‘decided he won’t be joining the show this year’
However, since the reports, a spokesperson for Celebs Go Dating and Chris told ED! that he won’t be taking part.
“Before entering Big Brother, Chris agreed to join the Celebs Go Dating agency and having his love life placed into the hands of the agents,” they said.
“However, after an incredible but very intense experience in Big Brother, he is taking some time to decompress. After some joint discussions on both sides, he decided he won’t be joining the show this year, but the door is open for the future.”
Celebrity Big Brother’s Chris Hughes and JoJo Siwa denied romance in the house
Though both Chris and 21-year-old singer and actor JoJo have denied any romance on their part, JoJo’s former partner Kath Ebbs claimed on social media that the Dance Moms alum ended their relationship during the Celebrity Big Brother wrap party, hours after the show ended.
However, JoJo confirmed on the Viall Files podcast earlier this week that “Chris does not have absolutely anything to do with it.”
When Chris and JoJo appeared on This Morning on Monday, April 28, JoJo explained that being in her own thoughts and away from the people she knows made her realise “things that I was okay with in my life that I should never have been okay with.”
When host Cat Deeley asked her if she was referring to her relationship, she replied: “So many things.”
Read more: The Morning slammed as show debuts CBB star Chris Hughes as new presenter: ‘This is so cringe’
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