PADDY McGuinness looked in great spirits as he was seen for the first time after making a divorce gag amid his comedy return.
The TV presenter and comic returned to live comedy for the first time in eight years on Thursday with his Nearly There show.
And he took just 63 seconds to get in a dig at Christine, from whom he split in 2022 after 11 years of marriage and three children together.
Looking very happy with himself, the 51-year-old dad-of-three was seen beaming from ear to ear as he arrived at Radio2 in Manchester on Sunday morning after the gag.
Stylish Paddy popped on a green jacket, a white t-shirt and some beige trousers as he clutched his cap in his hand and headed to the studio for his Sunday show in Salford.
Addressing his near-sellout crowd at Blackburn’s King George’s Hall on Thursday night, Bolton-born Paddy said: “It’s all about love and respect tonight.
“Loads of love in this room. I don’t care what race you are, what religion, what your sexuality is.
“I don’t care how you identify. You can identify as a cat, for all I care.
“Put your litter tray in the corner, knock yourself out.
“Tonight, folks, we’re all here as human beings with one common goal — and that’s to help me pay for my divorce. I’ve had the pants down, me, the pants down.”
Amid howls of laughter from the audience, the BBC Radio 2 presenter — who is set to do a charity bike ride for Children In Need next month across Wales, England and Scotland — added: “I’m thinking of getting Children In Need to do a bike ride for me next year, or come round to a bedsit in Bolton filming me.”
The 90-minute show was laden with knee-slapping snipes at other celebs, including Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and his baldness, axed ITV star Phillip Schofield, disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards . . . and Prince Andrew.
A source close to Christine told the Sun on Sunday: “She was devastated yesterday and was horrified to be a laughing stock, she didn’t know Paddy was going to make her the butt of his jokes and felt shocked that he did.
“She has kept a respectful silence throughout their divorce proceedings and their marriage fallout.
“She felt very low about this.
“She is focusing on her family and work projects, which bring her joy, she’s not interested in bad-mouthing anyone.
“She was distraught at the idea that people were laughing at her.”
Earlier this year the Sun on Sunday told how Christine had lined up ‘pitbull’ lawyer Catherine Bedford, of Harbottle & Lewis, to handle her divorce from Paddy – while she remains in their £4million Cheshire home for now.
The legal hotshot helped land a reported £31million payout for Ant McPartlin’s ex-wife Lisa Armstrong.
Since the break-up Christine has spent time with 31-year-old footballer Chelcee Grimes, going on girls’ holidays and sharing a kiss at Winter Wonderland in London, and more recently with Birmingham-raised musician Roxxxan.
