Christine McGuinness - ‘I don’t want to hold back anymore - I date women! So what?’

Christine McGuinness - ‘I don’t want to hold back anymore - I date women! So what?’

Author: Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment June 4, 2025 Duration: 50:31
TW: discussions around anorexia and sexual abuse. In an incredibly powerful episode (and a How To Fail first), Christine McGuinness speaks publicly about her sexuality for the first time. She reveals she had a long-term relationship with a woman before her marriage to comedian Paddy McGuinness and that she’s now dating women again. She refuses to label her sexuality - as she puts it: ‘I want love for me’. What an honour to be part of Christine’s journey to live her truth! You will already know Christine as a TV personality, author, businesswoman and prominent autism advocate. The mother of three autistic children, she has made critically acclaimed documentaries including Our Family and Autism, with her then-husband, as well as penning a series of autism-inclusive children’s books and launching a range of sensory-positive clothing. Despite serious adversity (her father was a heroin addict, she endured bullying at school and suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a family member), Christine is a total inspiration and has achieved so much. She’s about to launch her first podcast, Situationships, in which she and her co-host Sophie Gravia delve into listeners’ dating and relationship dilemmas. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Intro 00:52 An Inspiring Journey 02:30 Challenges and Triumphs of Motherhood 05:01 Raising Neurodivergent Children 08:03 The Importance of Asking for Help 12:52 Reflecting on Childhood and Autism 20:23 The Journey of Self-Discovery 23:41 Navigating Public Attention 24:35 Discussing Divorce and Public Perception 26:07 Challenges of Sexuality in the Public Eye 28:09 Living Authentically 31:13 Reflections on Relationships 41:40 Friendship and Trust Issues 43:28 Motherhood and Personal Growth 45:47 Concluding Thoughts and Future Hopes Elizabeth and Christine answer YOUR questions in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of subscribers here: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Have something to share of your own? Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com All episodes in June are brought to you by @arlalactoFREE - all the taste, easier to digest. Listen to our bonus episode brought to by ArlaLactoFREE with Vicky Pattison here: https://link.chtbl.com/VickyPattison 🌎 Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code [howtofail] at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to https://saily.com/howtofail ⛵ Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan Mix Engineer: Matias Torres Studio Engineer: Gulliver Tickell Assistant Producer: Suhaar Ali Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot Executive Producer: Carly Maile How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring you Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's a quiet revolution happening in how we think about success, and How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is right at the heart of it. This isn't about schadenfreude or wallowing in misfortune. Instead, Elizabeth Day has created a space where the most interesting conversations begin with a simple, radical premise: our lowest moments are often our greatest teachers. Each episode, a guest-from celebrated artists and thinkers to everyday people with extraordinary stories-sits down to examine three significant failures from their own life. The magic lies in the excavation, as Elizabeth guides the discussion toward the unexpected wisdom and resilience that emerged from those setbacks. You'll hear the raw honesty in their voices, the laughter that comes with hindsight, and the profound clarity that failure can uniquely provide. This podcast, presented by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment, digs into the messy, human stuff of life that connects us all, transforming shared vulnerability into a source of collective strength. It’s a reminder that the path to any meaningful achievement is rarely a straight line, but a series of instructive detours. The show actively invites listeners to reflect on their own stories, fostering a genuine community around the idea that we can all succeed better by understanding where we've previously stumbled. Tune in for conversations that are as comforting as they are challenging, and which might just change your perspective on what it means to live a well-lived life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
Podcast Episodes
ON REJECTION… With Mel B and Nicole Scherzinger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:07
We all face rejection, no matter who we are. In this episode we revisit conversations with two extraordinary women who have faced rejection and overcome it: Spice Girl Mel B opens up about her unsuccessful audition for T…
Michelle Yeoh - On typecasting, fertility and THAT Oscars speech [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:19
Michelle Yeoh has created a legendary body of work that defies easy categorisation. You’ll know her from cult classic Kung Fu Cinema, Everything Everywhere, All At Once - the film that made her the first Asian woman to b…
ON PARENTING…with Andy Cohen and Caitlin Moran [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:34
Today, we’re chatting all about parenting on How To Fail! We’ll be revisiting some of the most meaningful moments from the archive - the ones that can bring a fresh insight, thoughtful perspective and a sense of comfort…
Kelly Brook -  I’m In My Don’t Give A Damn Era! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:55
Just a heads-up that in this episode we talk about late miscarriage. I am so grateful to Kelly for opening up about something that affects and speaks to so many of us - it’s a beautiful conversation but if you’re feeling…
ON REALITY TV… With Dorinda Medley and Captain Sandy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:13
If you know me at all, you’ll know that I am a huge advocate for reality TV. So what better reason to have a little trawl through my archives than to revisit some of my favourite interviews from reality TV stars? First,…
Malala Yousafzai - I Am Not Who You Think I Am [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:12
You might think you know about Malala. But you’d be wrong. For so many years, she stood as a symbol of resistance: the teenage girl who was shot by the Taliban for insisting on the right to go to school and who later won…
ON EMBARRASSING MOMENTS… With Dan Levy and Phoebe Waller-Bridge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:34
Welcome back to this How to Fail episode where we journey through the archive to revisit some of the best bits. This week we’re keeping it light and taking a look at some of the funniest and most entertaining embarrassin…
Jon Bon Jovi - Fame is a liar and a thief [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:18
We have a bonafide legend on How To Fail: the American singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor and philanthropist who, along with his band, sold more than 130 million albums and performed in over 50 countries for more than…
ON BODY IMAGE… With Martine Wright and Paloma Faith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:48
Body image is a common theme on How to Fail. It’s something everyone at some point has either struggled with personally, or knows someone who has. We hear from Paloma Faith on the topic - she speaks about being thrown ou…
Denise Welch - I Got Sober For Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:28
You might know Denise from Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, or as the winner of Celebrity Big Brother in 2012 and a regular panelist on ITV’s flagship panel chat show, Loose Women, or remember when she won Celebrity Big…