Christine McGuinness has announced that she’s quit the new series of Celebs Go Dating – which is set to feature the likes of Kerry Katona and Olivia Hawkins – days into filming

Reality TV star Christine McGuinness has announced that she’s quit Celebs Go Dating just days into filming of the new series. She’s issued a statement on her departure, including sharing that she made a realisation during production.

Christine, 37, had been unveiled as part of the line-up last week, with her having been set to appear in the fourteenth series of the E4 show alongside the likes of Kerry Katona. Filming was already underway for the show and the cast are understood to have jetted off to Ibiza for a trip recently

She however revealed on her Instagram Story tonight that she’s decided to walk away from the dating show during production. Christine told her followers that she had “great intentions” but feels the experience is “too soon” for her.

Christine said in her statement: “I joined Celebs Go Dating with great intentions but have realised that dating on a public platform and the attention that brings is just too soon for me. 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.”

A spokesperson for Celebs Go Dating said in a statement that those behind the show have “loved” working with Christine and “respect her feelings”. They said: “We have loved having Christine on the show and completely respect her feelings and decision to return home and have told her that the door is always open for her in the future at the agency.”

Christine McGuinness (centre) was announced as part of the line-up for Celebs Go Dating alongside the likes of Kerry Katona (left), Louis Russell (centre left), Jon Lee (centre right) and Olivia Hawkins (centre right) last week ( 
Image:
Channel 4)
Christine’s involvement with the show comes three years on from the news that she had separated from Paddy McGuinness. The former couple, who have three children together, announced that they had split up back in 2022.

The model has been romantically linked to other people since the end of her romance with TV presenter Paddy. When it was announced that she had signed up for Celebs Go Dating, Christine revealed that she hasn’t “really dated much before” but was looking forward to a “summer of fun”.

She said about having joined the reality TV show: “I’m really excited to be joining the agency, I’m going to have a summer of fun! Who knows what might happen? I’ve not really dated much before, so I feel like I’m doing a crash course!”

Christine added in a statement released last week: “I’m looking forward to getting to know the other celebs and I’m especially looking forward to the coaching side of things with the agents. I think that’s going to be good for me.”

She’s now revealed in a statement on social media that she’s quit the E4 show just days into filming ( 
Image:
Instagram/mrscmcguinness)
The line-up for the new series of Celebs Go Dating, which is said to feature a “brand-new agency,” was unveiled last week. Six celebrities were named in the announcement and it was later reported that another had signed up.

Christine was joined by the likes of Atomic Kitten member Kerry Katona, who first did the show in 2019, and Too Hot To Handle’s Louis Russell in the line-up. Love Island star Olivia Hawkins and S Club member Jon Lee are also in it.

It was previously revealed that the Chase’s Mark Labbett – known as ‘the Beast’ – will join the agency at a later date. More recently, it was reported that Made in Chelsea’s Sam Prince has joined the line-up as a “last minute” addition.