Christine McGuinness reveals her father is a heroin addict

Christine McGuinness has revealed her father is a heroin addict who would inject himself in front of her when she was a teenager.

The model, 33, has previously kept her father Johnny’s battle with drugs out of the public eye but writes about his struggles in her book Christine McGuinness: A Beautiful Nightmare.

Johnny’s troubles started when she was young, with the model writing that her mother Joanne left him when Christine crawled across one of his used needles when she was a one-year-old baby. 

In an extract seen by The Sun, the media personality told how her dad is one of the longest living heroin addicts in the UK and said he has never met her children. 

She wrote: ‘I saw my dad inject heroin. As a teenager, I struggled with his addiction. I blamed myself. When I became a mum, I kept thinking about how he chose drugs over his own kids.

‘But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised it wasn’t as simple a choice for him. Addiction is an illness.’

Joanne moved away from Blackpool to Merseyside with Christine and sister Billie-Jo, and despite Johnny’s addiction, Christine said she had a good relationship with her father and loves him dearly.

Family: Christine told how her dad is one of the longest living heroin addicts in the UK and said he has never met her children

However, the star admitted he has never met her husband Paddy or their children Penelope, Leo, both eight, and Felicity, five, as she doesn’t feel comfortable with the thought of them being introduced to an addict. 

Christine did offer her father the chance to meet Paddy when she asked him to walk her down the aisle at their wedding in 2011.

He said yes but then backed out on the day as she was getting into her bridal gown and said he couldn’t make it, so Christine walked down the aisle by herself.

Christine said her grandparents have tried to help him and put him into rehab but she doesn’t think there’s any turning back at this point.

Partner: Christine did offer her father the chance to meet Paddy when she asked him to walk her down the aisle at their wedding in 2011 but he backed out (pictured in October 2021)

The star also revealed doctors previously thought they’d have to amputate his leg due to the damage done by using dirty needles over the years.

She has also been contacted by hospitals on several occasions to warn her that Johnny may die.

Although Christine said she still loves her father, she doesn’t think she will ever be able to respect him.

His absence during important moments in her life made Christine even closer with her mother Joanne.

She wrote: ‘My mum longed for that relationship to work. It broke her heart. I’m so grateful she did leave him and that she got [us] away.’

While Christine has a fractured relationship with her father, she has remained close to her mother. 

Last year, Joanne was diagnosed with breast cancer, but this summer, Christine assured fans her mother is ‘doing incredibly well’ having completed her breast cancer treatment.

Taking to Instagram and posting a snap of her cuddling her beloved parent, she penned the following note for her followers: ‘Ma. “Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and loved more than you know.”

‘So many of you ask about my mum, she is doing amazingly well, I’m so proud of her. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy is all done now it’s time for her to enjoy life!’ 

FRANK is a support service that offers information about drugs, plus advice for people who use drugs. Call the FRANK helpline on 0300 123 66 00. 

Two of a kind: While Christine has a fractured relationship with her father, she has remained close to her mother Joanne