Ulrika Jonsson admits she ‘wasn’t stunned’ by Christine and Paddy McGuinness’s split

Ulrika Jonsson has revealed she ‘wasn’t stunned’ by Christine and Paddy McGuinness’s split and claimed many couples are ‘pretending to be happy.’

The TV personality, 55, who has been married three times herself, said that ‘many people fear change’ and chose to remain in unhappy relationships. 

She added that this teamed with Christine’s autism diagnosis would have made her decision even harder, but thinks there’s ‘lot’s of similar couples out there.’

Christine was married to Paddy for 11 years and they split last July. They have twins Penelope, and Leo, nine, and Felicity, six – all of whom have autism too. 

Reflecting on their situation, Ulrika explained how it had reminding her why she had ‘come to despise marriage.’

Over: Christine was married to Paddy for 11 years and they split last July. They have twins Penelope, and Leo, nine, and Felicity, six

Writing in her column for The Sun she explained: ‘When Christine and Paddy announced their separation last year, I wasn’t stunned because it made me wonder, yet again, if they were yet another seemingly “happy couple” where all is not as it seems.

‘I reckon there are a lot of them out there, folks. Yes, I’ve come to slightly despise marriage.

‘It’s because I feel some people are scared of losing what they have and what they want in their future. Fundamentally, people fear change. It’s uncomfortable — whether, like Christine, you are autistic or not.’

Ulrika’s comments come after Christine revealed that she stayed in her marriage with ex Paddy because it felt ‘safe’ at the time and she ‘doesn’t like change’. 

The mother of three, 34, told how abusive previous partners – and even an alleged rape – as well as her autism left her craving security which she found with Paddy.

Speaking in her new documentary on the BBC – Unmasking My Autism, which comes out next week – she said she felt safe when she met the presenter, now 49, when she was 19. 

But after her autism diagnosis two years ago she realised she had masked her feelings. 

She explained: ‘My relationships before I met Patrick were not very good. I’d say they were pretty bad experiences.’

Truth: Ulrika’s comments come after Christine revealed that she stayed in her marriage with ex Paddy because it felt ‘safe’ at the time and she ‘doesn’t like change’

Reflecting: Speaking on her new documentary on the BBC – Unmasking My Autism, which comes out next week – she said she felt safe when she met Paddy, now 49, when she was 19 

She continued: ‘Before Patrick, I had been sexually abused, I was raped. I used to pray every night that I wouldn’t wake up in the morning because it was so awful.

‘When I met my husband that was a time when I was very safe and I wonder if that’s why I stayed.’

‘I know that I’ve stayed in a place where I was probably unhappy because it was safe and I don’t like change.’

Earlier this week Christine revealed that her BBC documentary charting her diagnosis with autism will be broadcast on March 15.