Paddy McGuinness and his ex-wife Christine are locked in a dispute over the family home, which has been on the market for over a year at £6.5 million without attracting any buyers. The presenter has been accused by Christine's friends of overpricing the seven-bedroom Cheshire mansion due to what they describe as his 'oversized ego', which they claim prevents him from moving out.
Property Purchase and Current Situation
The couple purchased the house for £2.1 million in 2020. Local estate agents have expressed astonishment at the asking price, labeling it 'overhyped'. They note that similar properties in the celebrity hotspot of Prestbury are selling for at least £1 million less. While other homeowners in the area have reduced their prices to facilitate quick sales, McGuinness has maintained his original price since listing the property in March last year.
Insider Insights
A source close to the couple told The Mail on Sunday: 'Christine is getting really fed up now. She wants to move on but it seems with it being priced so high, Paddy doesn't want her to. Paddy doesn't want to downsize. He wants a big house to fit with his ego. It feels like a control thing. He knows he will never get £6.5 million for it. It feels like he's playing silly games.'
McGuinness, 52, and his former wife, 38—who recently declared herself a 'five-star lesbian'—continue to live together in the house with their three children, but occupy separate rooms.
Estate Agent Critique
The property listing describes the home, situated on a private road, as a 'traditional-meets-modern, voluminous home [that] is all about the family – but in an opulent way'. However, estate agent David Votta commented: 'Many people selling their own homes feel they are expert valuers, but we've never been in such a price-driven market as now. Expertise is more important than ego. Take a short stroll down the same road and you'll find what appears to be a better-presented house for £1 million less, complete with a pool and far stronger marketing. It raises the inevitable question: is this price tag being influenced by the fact the owner is a well-known TV personality? Let's be fair, Paddy McGuinness is a household name. But this isn't Matt Damon or Elton John territory. So why the huge price tag?'
Mr Votta added: 'A house is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. It looks like buyers are not willing to pay a celebrity premium for a home that may not even be the strongest offering on its road. To sum it up – it's not voluminous, it's not opulent, it's optimistic. Overpriced, overhyped and underwhelming – this is a Paddy's Pad problem.'
Background
The couple separated in 2022 after 11 years of marriage. Last year, Christine McGuinness revealed she is bisexual, while Paddy—former Top Gear presenter and host of the upcoming BBC revival of Big Break—has been romantically linked to fellow presenter Kirsty Gallacher.
