Christine McGuinness eyes up career U-turn with ‘lesbian character’ hopes

Christine McGuinness has an action-packed year coming up, including appearances on Celebrity Masterchef and Celebrity Hunted, but there's one career challenge she's never taken on before - playing a lesbian character. Speaking on the red carpet at the LGBT Awards in London, where she showcased her flawless figure in a latex mini dress, she revealed she'd definitely be willing to take on the role.

"I'm not an actress, but if I was given the opportunity, why not?" she exclaimed, adding that a transition from reality television to acting is "hopefully" in her future. "I don't know where I'm going with my career, I don't know what I'm going to end up doing but right now I'm focused on my babies, taking care of the children."

Christine explained that the three kids she shares with ex Paddy McGuinness - ten-year-old twins Penelope and Leo, and seven-year-old Felicity - are her "first thought" and priority. In fact, her commitment to them are a major reason why she might not be willing to "face her fears" on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! as it's difficult for her to travel far from them for too long.

However, tne TV role she was willing to take on was Pilgrimage earlier this year - a BBC show which saw her and six other celebrities explore their feelings about religion and spirituality, while trekking through stunning scenery in Northern Wales. The show would take the mixed group, including people from Christian, Muslim, Jain and atheist backgrounds, on a pilgrimage route linked by churches dedicated to Celtic saints.

"I absolutely loved the countryside in Pilgrimage - the show is one of the best things I've ever done," she revealed. "It was lovely to be close to home and still feel like you're on holiday.

"Once I got there and realised the children were only an hour away, I really enjoyed it."

Meanwhile, Christine also expressed her support and allyship towards the LGBT community, declaring: "I'll always be a supporter and advocate in any way I can, with any kind of diversity, as I do with autism and ADHD."

Christine has autism and ADHD herself, having been diagnosed in 2021, while her three kids all have it too.

However, she has experienced intolerance in the past, including at a press screening of Pilgrimage earlier this year when a man representing a Christian magazine suggested that autism was merely "a label" and that "all men" had the traits.

Express.co.uk reported on the moment she fought back, slamming the man for being "rude" and setting him straight that "it's not a label, it's a medical condition!"

Addressing the issue again this month, she declared: "I think it's just about being open-minded and minding your own business - and letting people do what they want to do."

She added that she felt extra-comfortable at the LGBT Awards as the ceremony was a place of "acceptance" and "celebration", where "nobody's judging anybody else".

Other celebrities attending on the night included Rylan Clark - who spoke up about Clive Myrie's desire to do a travel show with him - and Pixie Lott, who delivered a spectacular live performance at the show.