AFTER a traumatic year personally, newly-single Christine McGuinness is embarking on her first solo TV project.
Following the huge success of her 2021 documentary, Our Family And Autism, alongside ex-husband Paddy, she will now front her own factual film for the BBC.
Christine McGuinness will front a documentary by herself for the BBCCredit: PA
Christine split from Top Gear host Paddy in July last yearCredit: instagram
In Christine McGuinness: Unmasking My Autism, the model — who split with the Top Gear host in July last year — will look at how the developmental condition appears to have been misunderstood in women.
This is a struggle Christine faced with her own diagnosis, aged 33.
A BBC source said: “Christine was shocked by how autism is seen as something mostly affecting men and what felt like a gender bias in diagnosis.
“The second film follows her on a journey in search of answers for the thousands of other women like herself in the UK, who are spending years undiagnosed or masking their symptoms to the detriment of their mental health.”
In Paddy And Christine: Our Family And Autism — which was nominated for a National TV Award — they opened up about their experience after nine-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and Felicity, six, were diagnosed.
In the doc, Christine, also learned she was autistic.
Discussing the diagnosis in her 2021 autobiography A Beautiful Nightmare, she said: “It all makes sense now. And as much as I’m not totally surprised, it’s still been emotional to accept, but it’s a relief as well. It was a lot to take in and I broke down in tears. I think it’s because the news conjured up a mixture of emotions. I’m just really sad for my younger self.”
Discussing her new solo documentary, a source said: “This second film is an incredibly personal journey for Christine as she investigates why it took so long for her to find her own truth and learns it’s indicative of systemic failings for other women and girls.
“It’s taken on additional weight as her first solo project.
“Away from Paddy, she’s been part of ensemble casts like The Real Housewives Of Cheshire and ITV’s The Games but this is Christine, standing alone and owning her space.”
Unmasking My Autism is set to air as in the spring.
JUDI HAS LOVE FOR WHOOPI
LOOSE Women star Judi Love meets her hero Whoopi Goldberg on today’s show.
And she wasn’t shy in letting Whoopi know exactly how much she means to her.
Judi says: “I am so honoured to be in your presence. I mean, this is a childhood dream.
“I’ve watched you on TV and I remember saying to myself, I want to be like that woman.”
Viewers of Loose Women, which airs weekdays from 12:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, will also see Judi reveal how chatting to Whoopi was a seminal moment in her career.
She added: “Even though from society I was made to feel I would never do it, I’m now sitting here interviewing you.”
MEL B proves she’s still Scary by battering a military veteran while appearing on the US version of SAS: Who Dares Wins.
The Spice Girls star took out her anger on one of the show’s Directing Staff who, luckily for him, was wearing a red-padded suit during a challenge in the opening episode.
Mel B is appearing on the US version of SAS: Who Dares Wins
Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox, who also appears on the UK version of the hit show, praised Mel for managing to channel her aggression in knocking the agent to the ground.
Mel had earlier spoken about her domestic abuse torment, plus the fact she deals with constant putdowns every day.
She said: “On a daily basis you’re being yelled at and being called horrible names
“It’s an ongoing healing process that I will always be on.”
As well as beating up a male DS, she also has to share a toilet with a male co-star, basketball player Dwight Howard, after the pair are partnered up together for a special task, meaning they couldn’t leave each other’s side.
Understandably, Mel was hardly thrilled by the prospect.
I doubt they have Glade spray to hand in the Jordanian desert.
Deb’s a drag on sugar
DRAGON’S Den star Deborah Meaden may have just ignited a war of words with Lord Sugar.
The multimillionaire entrepreneur has taken a swipe at his rival BBC1 series The Apprentice, saying it’s “no longer a business show”.
This is likely a jibe at the number of reality stars that have been born from their stint in the boardroom.
She says: “The Apprentice is not so much a business show anymore.
“I would like to think Dragon’s Den is fundamentally still a business show, well it fundamentally is.”
The new series of Dragon’s Den kicked off last night, following The Apprentice season 17 opener.
Both shows have been lumped together due to their many similarities and I’m sure both Deborah and Lord Sugar will have an eye on the ratings to see who came out on top.
Deborah’s dig towards The Apprentice during her appearance on the Possibility Club podcast, comes after her co-star Steven Bartlett told me he believed she would be the perfect replacement for Lord Sugar should he retire from the series.
I’m not sure he would back that endorsement right now.
PRUE Leith is making a candid show about assisted dying – and now The Great British Bake Off judge has shared how she wants to go.
On the Dirty Mother Pukka podcast, she said: “I want to be able to top myself when I’ve had enough of this good life. The ultimate bang. To go out with a glass of wine in my hand and a lot of my friends around me.”
Prue Leith says she wants to be able to ‘top myself when I’ve had enough’Credit: Getty
The C4 show sees Prue and her son MP Danny Kruger, who opposes assisted dying, cross the Atlantic to explore the issue.
On the podcast, she also opens up about sex – and recalls how she took a lover between her two marriages.
She said: “I was nervous but I was surprised to find it all worked and it was fantastic.”
That sounds more like the ultimate bang.