IN the scorching heat of a sizzling Ibizan summer back in 2023, Christine McGuinness and Chelcee Grimes couldn’t have been closer as they locked lips during a girly holiday with pals.
But in a shocking turn of events, just weeks later, the former bosom buddies were barely speaking, each pressing the dreaded ‘unfollow’ on Instagram and disappearing from each other’s lives at the click of a button. What’s baffling is that the reason for the sudden end to the close pal’s friendship has never been revealed - until now.
Those with intimate knowledge of the pair’s short-lived but deep bond- which has found itself back in the spotlight this week after Christine revealed in a new podcast interview that she has always “dated men and women” - tell The Sun that the pair stopped speaking after an explosive argument over the nature of their relationship.
A source said: “Christine and Chelcee had a blazing row after a discussion about where they stood with each other.
The fallout took place in late 2023, a year after they first grew close while filming ITV’s The Games, a time when Christine turned to Chelcee for support after splitting from husband Paddy a few months earlier.
'TOO INTENSE'
“Chelcee had been a rock for Christine after her split from Paddy and they were incredibly close. But while Chelcee was a bit more full on, Christine wanted them just to have fun and thought it was becoming too intense.
“Christine had a lot on her plate with her children and her career. They ended up having an argument and in the heat of the moment unfollowed each other on social media.”
Of course, as The Sun revealed yesterday, around the same time that Christine was spending time with Chelcee, she was also seeking comfort in a growing friendship with former Towie star Dan Osborne.
The pair enjoyed a series of nights out on the town in March 2023 and bonded over the end of her marriage to Paddy, while Dan was trying to make things work with his wife Jacqueline Jossa after a rocky patch.
While we understand nothing romantic ever happened between them, it's understood they shared a 'flirty' texts where Christine would call him 'D'.
It's unclear whether Chelcee was aware of Christine's friendship with Dan, but there is no suggestion it contributed to their fallout.
Nevertheless, radio silence followed between Christine and Chelcee after the spat - a stark contrast to their kisses in the Balearic Isles, or the scene seven months prior in December 2022, when they were snapped kissing on the lips at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park.
TIME APART
The source adds: “They both needed a bit of time out to get their heads straight. It’s always sad when you’re close with someone and then heated words are exchanged, and they were both upset.”
After a cooling off period, pals say the pair made tentative steps towards repairing things, but ultimately their friendship never recovered.
They were in very different places
A friend of Christine's
“After taking some time apart they tried to work through it and get their friendship back on track. Christine meant the world to Chelcee,” a pal tells us.
“Unfortunately, things just felt different after their fallout. Christine was still going through the stress of a divorce, while living under the same roof as Paddy, so she was still in a different place to Chelcee, even after their time apart.”
Since relations soured with Chelcee, Christine grew very close with another female friend, DJ Roxxxan.
They enjoyed a sunsoaked holiday together in the summer of 2024, even sharing cheeky snaps of them ‘playing footsie’ on social media.
THE FEUD ESCALATES
While the rumour mill went into overdrive, the nature of their relationship was unclear - although reports claimed they were sharing a room during their getaway.
Chelcee, for one, didn’t seem impressed by Christine’s new gal pal.
That same summer while the blonde was enjoying her care-free break with the striking musician, Chelcee liked a comment from a fan on Instagram, which read: “Christine is fake as they come, Chelcee deserved so much better.
"Christine can keep trying to get attention and fake a new romance."
While this was the final nail in the coffin for any chance of Christine and Chelcee repairing things appeared too busy enjoying herself with her new friend to care.
And while neither Christine nor Roxxxan addressed speculation that they were romantically involved, Christine confirmed in an interview on Loose Women after the holiday that she was dating.
CHRISTINE'S CONFESSION
With a beaming smile on her face, she told panellist Coleen Nolan: "I am dating with terms and conditions that I am not cooking, that's the number one rule, I'm not doing the cooking it's not for me."
Things also appeared to have cooled between Christine and Roxxxan in recent months however.
They haven’t been seen in public together since late 2024, and although they haven’t unfollowed each other on social media, they haven’t posted any snaps on holidays or nights out.
Fast forward to today, and sources close to Christine tell us she isn’t romantically involved with anyone right now - at least not seriously.
Christine feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders
A pal tells The Sun
“She’s actually free and single and she is happy that way at the moment,” a friend of the blonde mum-of-three tells us.
And while Christine recently caused a headache for Channel 4 bosses when she pulled out of filming for Celebs Go Dating last month after deciding she wasn’t ready to date on camera, we’re told she’s in the best place she has been for years after deciding to open up about her sexuality on Elizabeth Day’s How To Fail podcast.
FINALLY FREE
“Christine feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders since she did that interview,” a pal reveals.
“The chat was always scheduled to promote her joining Celebs Go Dating, but when she pulled out of the show, she decided to go ahead with the podcast appearance anyway.
“Her sexuality has been whispered about for years and she was fed up of it. She wanted to talk about it on her terms in a space where she felt safe. Now she has, she feels liberated and more confident than ever.”
In the hour-long chat, Christine told presenter and broadcaster Elizabeth that she has dated both men and women since her teens, and revealed husband Paddy always knew she also liked girls.
She said: 'It shouldn't matter somebody's gender. It never mattered to me, which was why once me and my ex-husband were separated and I met people, I didn't properly date.
“It was more like blurred the lines of friendships for me, that was normal. It felt comfortable because I'd done that as a teenager and I, as a teenager, I dated both men and women. My ex-husband knew. My family knew. It was never a secret for me.’”
BYE BYE BOYS
Although Christine refuses to put a label on her sexuality, instead preferring to call herself a “free spirit”, sources claim she has privately told pals that she can’t ever see herself dating a man again.
“She didn’t say this publicly on the podcast, but Christine has made no secret to her nearest and dearest that she believes she will only date women in the future.
“She’s only ever had one serious relationship with a man, and that was the man she married, Paddy, but she prefers dating women because she feels more of an emotional connection with them.
“She still finds men physically attractive, but for her it goes deeper with a woman, almost on a spiritual level.
“Obviously, things can always change and you never know who will come into your life, but her friends have said they would be very surprised if Christine ever settled down with a bloke again.”
