Chris Hughes is ‘stepping in as a replacement for Christine McGuinness’ after she suddenly quit Celebs Go Dating over fears it was ‘too soon’ to publicly date.
The Celebrity Big Brother star, who made it to the final of the ITV series, will apparently fill the gap left by Christine after she stepped back from the show.
Christine, 37, announced that she was leaving the process because of the increased interest in her love life in an Instagram post on Thursday night.
The model finalised her divorce from ex-husband Paddy McGuinness in October 2024 but the couple still live together for the sake of their three children, who all have autism, twins Leo and Penelope, and their daughter, Felicity.
Christine had already flown to Ibiza to begin filming the series with the rest of the cast but told fans she was ‘returning home to her family’ after having a change of heart.
Chris had CBB viewers hooked due to his close friendship with co-star JoJo Siwa with many convinced they were romantically involved. They have since clarified that they are just friends.
Chris Hughes is ‘stepping in as a replacement for Christine McGuinness ‘ after she suddenly quit Celebs Go Dating over fears it was ‘too soon’ to publicly date (pictured with JoJo Siwa)
The Celebrity Big Brother star, who made it to the final of the ITV series, will apparently fill the gap left by Christine (pictured) after she stepped back from the show
During a joint This Morning appearance on Monday, fan favourites Chris and JoJo insisted that their close relationship was purely platonic.
Host Ben Shephard asked if she wanted anything more, to which JoJo said: ‘Look, he’s a great guy. It’s platonic. We have a lot of fun together. I don’t know the future, whatever life does, it will do.’
Celebs Go Dating bosses are said to have taken advantage of the current interest in Chris and scooped him up as a last minute signing for the dating show.
A TV insider told the Sun: ‘This is set to be a great coup for Celebs Go Dating.
‘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.’
The publication reported that viewers will be interested to see Chris discuss his relationship with JoJo during the therapy sessions on the show.
have contacted representatives for Chris and Celebs Go Dating.
Revealing the news on Instagram on Thursday night, Christine said: ‘I joined Celebs Go Dating with great intentions but have realised that dating on a public platform and the attention is brings is just too soon for me.’
Christine also said that she may appear in the future, adding: ‘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.’
Hours before the announcement, Christine revealed she was soaking up the sun in Ibiza as she began filming the new series.
Chris had CBB viewers hooked due to his close friendship with co-star JoJo Siwa with many convinced they were romantically involved. They have since clarified that they are just friends
Celebs Go Dating bosses are said to have taken advantage of the current interest in Chris and scooped him up as a last minute signing for the dating show
Christine, 37, announced that she was leaving the process because of the increased interest in her love life in an Instagram post on Thursday night
The model finalised her divorce from ex-husband Paddy McGuinness in October 2024 but the couple still live together for the sake of their three children, who all have autism, twins Leo and Penelope, and their daughter, Felicity (pictured in 2017)
Christine had already flown to Ibiza to begin filming the series with the rest of the cast but told fans she was ‘returning home to her family’ after having a change of heart
Taking to Instagram, Christine wowed her followers as she showcased her jaw-dropping physique in a tiny purple and neon red bikini.
The bold ensemble featured a plunging triangle top and high-cut thong bottoms, which she paired with sky-high wedge heels.
In the video, the beauty strutted across a submerged path in the pool like it was a catwalk, showing off her incredible frame.
Captioning the clip, she wrote: ‘They say Jesus is a man – God is definitely a woman. Just over here casually walking on water in my 5-inch wedges.’
When it was announced she would appear on the show, it was revealed that Christine would be up for dating both men and women on the show.
Christine was married to TV presenter Paddy for 11 years before they split for good in 2022.
After they stayed living together for the sake of their three children – twins Leo and Penelope, and daughter Felicity, who have all been diagnosed with autism – the exes finalised their divorce out of court last summer.
Christine revealed how ‘difficult’ the break-up had been for her after the pair’s marital home, a Cheshire mansion worth £6.5million, was put on the market.
The stunner wowed her followers as she showcased her jaw-dropping physique in a tiny purple and neon red bikini
In the video, the beauty strutted across a submerged path in the pool like it was a catwalk, showing off her incredible frame
Ahead of filming the E4 show, it has been revealed that Christine would be up for dating both men and women on the show (pictured April 30)
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Christine McGuinness wows in a skimpy bikini ahead of dating women on Celebs Go Dating
She said: ‘I’ve never spoken about the reasons for our divorce, and I don’t know if I ever will.
‘It was a difficult time. It wasn’t something that, you know, I just decided to do overnight, or that we chose to do.
‘We tried, and, yeah, there just, unfortunately, there was no repairing it, you know?’
Discussing her appearance on the show before deciding to quit, the TV personality has admitted that she hasn’t ‘dated much before’ so this will be a new experience for her.
She said: ‘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!
‘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.’
Christine was set to join Kerry Katona, 44, Love Island star Olivia Hawkins, 29, S Club 7 singer Jon Lee, 43, and Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett, 59, on Celebs Go Dating.
The cast of singletons jetted to the White Isle on Monday to start filming with relationship experts Paul C. Brunson and Anna Williamson, as comedian Rob Beckett returns as the show’s narrator.
A TV source told The Sun: ‘Show bosses are delighted to have snapped up Christine, they think she’ll be great on-screen and appeal to lots of other women in their thirties dating after getting a divorce.
‘Fans will see a new side to Christine too as she opens up about her personal life and films coaching sessions with the show’s dating experts.
‘Christine has been open on social media about how she found spirituality and healing in Ibiza, so she’s thrilled to be working over there.’