Christine McGuinness signs up for intense new TV show as bosses hope she spills secrets on marriage breakdown
CHRISTINE McGUINNESS’ star has certainly soared since taking her first tentative steps into showbiz with Strictly: The Real Full Monty in 2021.
And now she has signed up to take many more brave steps as part of BBC Two’s Pilgrimage.
I can reveal the model will join the next group of celebrities taking an epic trek along a path that was once tread as a historic pilgrimage.
And bosses hope the voyage of self-discovery will prove enlightening for the mum of three, making great telly to boot.
A source said: “Since stepping into the spotlight, Christine has bravely let fans into her personal life, from learning she is autistic at the age of 33 and parenting her two autistic children, through to the breakdown of her marriage to Paddy McGuinness.
“Pilgrimage comes at the perfect time for her, as she’s starting to shrug off heartbreak and explore the potential of finding new love.
“Traditionally, pilgrimages were taken to explore personal growth towards a place of spiritual awakening and the BBC Two programme has shown to profoundly affect its cast.
“Not only could the experience prove to be incredibly positive for Christine’s own development, bosses hope her journey will add real heart to the programme.
“Any revelations about Paddy or her current love life would of course go down a treat, too.”
In the past, some famous faces have reacted strongly to the experience on Pilgrimage.
Boyzone singer Shane Lynch quit last year’s trip along the Fatima Ways in Portugal, triggered by his fear of candles.
And on the same trek, former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison considered turning to God.
She said: “I’ve always wanted to think that there was something bigger than me but I just didn’t know what it was.
“I still don’t know, but I have a real desire to find out.
“I think it showed me I’d really love to have faith.”
ANT & DEC have launched ITV’s mental health campaign Britain Get Talking.
The duo filmed a video to be played in school assemblies, encouraging kids to open up along with adults.
Ant said: “With this homework you don’t need a calculator and no one’s even marking it. All it involves is talking.”
DATE SET FOR THE BIG DAY
THERE are just 13 days to go until ITV’s rebooted Big Brother begins.
The launch date was yesterday confirmed as October 8.
It will air at 9pm across ITV1, ITV2 and ITVX as a “multi-channel takeover” with AJ Odudu and Will Best as the hosts.
The daily instalment will be followed each night by Big Brother: Late & Live, a new show hosted from the site of the spy house in front of a studio audience.
It will feature evictees’ first interviews alongside features such as access to the camera runs, celebrity guest debate plus nomination results.
The previous version on Channel 5 ended in 2018.
HE Office US is reportedly set for a reboot.
It was yesterday claimed that writer Greg Daniels is looking to revamp the series, which starred Steve Carell as the David Brent-style character from the British version.
Work could begin as soon as the Hollywood writers’ strike ends.