Christine McGuinness was in floods of tears as she revealed why she split from her husband Paddy, ending 11 years of marriage.
The media personality bravely opened up about the couple's split in her new documentary about her autism diagnosis in her 30s.
Christine and Paddy, who share three children, decided to go their separate ways in July last year after 15 years together.
Opening up on the decision, model Christine says she "doesn't like change" so stayed in the marriage longer than she should have.
Her three children are autistic and Christine was diagnosed herself during her documentary Paddy and Christine McGuinness: Our Family and Autism.
After getting her diagnosis, The Real Housewives of Cheshire star said it was her "mission" to reinvent herself as she "sheds" her old self.
"I was only 19 when I met Patrick and for the last 15 years my role has been wife and mum," she told viewers in her latest documentary, Unmasking My Autism.
"When I got diagnosed, I set out on a personal mission to figure out who I was, because I’ve played that many different roles in life and not really knowing which part of it was actually me, or who or which one was mostly me.
"So I’m clearing out because I literally had a wardrobe full of clothes to wear how I thought I was supposed to look and you’re not actually supposed to look like anything or anyone other than yourself.
"I’ve also separated with my husband in the process and I’m just, yeah, shedding I suppose, shedding my old identity, trying to figure out what my new one is."
Christine, 34, broke down in tears as she admitted being a single mum "petrifies" her.
The couple share three children, twins Leo and Penelope, eight, and Felicity, six.
She said: “I know being a single woman, being a single parent is an extremely vulnerable place to be, and it petrifies me, it absolutely petrifies me but that’s life.
"Sorry I don’t want to get upset," she added as she wiped away her tears.
“I know that I’ve stayed in a place where I was probably unhappy because it was safe and I don’t like change and ultimately I wanted to keep my family together.”
Top Gear presenter Paddy, who still lives with Christine, took to Instagram after the show aired.
" Very proud of Christine for making this new documentary highlighting Autism, particularly in women," he wrote.
"It’ll be a massive help to our daughters in years to come along with our little lad. #unmaskingmyautism #awareness #acceptence."
