Christine McGuinness discusses her anxiety battle as she credits close friend Duncan James for helping her overcome ‘scary’ new TV challenge

Christine McGuinness has opened up about her ongoing battle with anxiety and admitted it was nerve-wracking being in the spotlight for the first time.

The model, 36, has credited close friend Duncan James, 46, with helping her overcome her fears after the pair met in 2021 while taking part in ITV’s The Real Full Monty.

Christine explained that the undressing part “didn’t scare her” during the show, which sees celebrities strip off on stage to raise awareness for cancer charities, but the performing side worried her.

She told me Daily Star Sunday: ‘When we first started, I was so nervous. It wasn’t so much the undressing that scared me, it was the act on stage.

“But then Duncan put his arm around me and said, ‘Come on, everything’s going to be okay,’ and that really helped. We did it and we had fun.”

Both Christine and Duncan have struggled with mental health, including anxiety and depression, which has made their friendship stronger.

The model, 36, has credited close friend Duncan James, 46, with helping her overcome her fears after the pair met in 2021 while taking part in ITV’s The Real Full Monty

Christine added that she’s glad she’s not the only one struggling with anxiety and that it’s comforting to have someone to “talk” to.

She continued, “Many people suffer from anxiety. It’s terrible. I really struggle when I walk the red carpet. But knowing that Duncan has been through it too really helps. I think, ‘Thank God it’s not me.’ We’ve talked about things, and that really helps.”

Duncan added: “Talking to Christine taught me a lot about myself. She’s brilliant.’

Christine, who is autistic, explained that having Duncan by her side has made things “a lot easier to deal with.”

The duo recently put their friendship to the test on Channel 4’s Celebrity Hunted, which Christine also said has helped her gain confidence.

It comes after Christine confirmed she will spend Christmas with ex-husband Paddy.

The model split from former Take Me Out presenter Paddy in 2021 after just over a decade of marriage.

But she has now revealed they will spend the holidays together for the sake of their children; twins Penelope and Leo, 11, and Felicity, eight.

She said: ‘When we first started I was so nervous. It wasn’t so much the undressing that scared me, it was the act on stage. But then Duncan put his arm around me and said, ‘Come on, everything’s going to be okay,’ and that really helped.”

Both Christine and Duncan have struggled with mental health, including anxiety and depression, which has made their friendship stronger

Christine added that she’s glad she’s not the only one struggling with anxiety and that it’s comforting to have someone to “talk” to.

Christine previously admitted the children don’t know their parents have split and has now said she doesn’t want to ‘upset’ them at Christmas.

She told me Own wife: ‘The last thing we want is to upset our kids at Christmas, so we’ll make sure we’re all together.

‘It will be a quiet one. We always try to keep it calm, because the children can get quite overwhelmed by the changes.

“So we try to keep it like a normal day, but with presents.”

Last year, Christine and Paddy reunited to celebrate the twins’ 10th birthday.

Christine could be seen having fun bouncing on a huge bouncy castle that she and Paddy had hired for the day.

The doting mom captioned the sweet post with “Celebrating my twins’ 10th birthday, double digits, double love. Leo and Penelope, you have changed my world for the better, I am so proud of you both, I am extremely grateful to be your mom and you are my babies forever

‘If there was ever a day I wanted to share a photo of them, it’s today!. But when they are old enough, they can decide for themselves. I can tell you they are getting so big, their smiles are beautiful and they have the most beautiful brown eyes I have ever seen.”

It comes after Christine confirmed she will spend Christmas with ex-husband Paddy, who she split from in 2021 after just over a decade of marriage; pictured 2019

Christine revealed that they will spend the holidays together for the sake of their children; twins Penelope and Leo, 11, and Felicity, eight

In June, the former Real Housewives star admitted that she was very hesitant to put herself out there again, especially since she had never really dated strangers before.

She told me The Sunday mirror: ‘I started dating in June, and it’s the first time in my life I’ve ever been in a relationship, which is really scary. Even when I was younger, I saw people I was already friends with.

‘So going out with people you don’t know yet is brand new to me and this is my first time in my thirties.

‘I’ve avoided it for as long as possible because I know I’m not in a position to be in a serious relationship.’