‘I was the classic rebel without a cause!’
Christine McGuinness opens up about the challenges – and joys – of raising three autistic children…
Kim Wilde is one of the most adored female singers of the Eighties. In 1981, her debut single, KidsinAmerica, was a global hit and she went on to sell 30m records. Seen as the voice of a generation of rebellious youth, Kim’s punchy vocals hit the airwaves around the world – and she still holds the record for being the most-charted British female solo act of the Eighties. Here,
Kim opens up about 40 years in the music business – and why, at 60, she’s only just begun!
You’re celebrating 40 years in music... how does that feel?
I remember when I was 20 years old and Olivia Newton John had just turned 30 – I thought that was such an old age to be still singing! My perception of age back then was so different. Now Olivia is still singing and I’m 60! Who knew we would last this long?
You were seen as the female figurehead for a rebellious generation...
I suppose I was. I was the classic rebel without a cause. I rebelled against high fashion, about how elitist it was. I took aim at that by shopping at Oxfam, and cutting my own hair. I was a 20-year-old with attitude – making a statement without actually saying anything.
How did you cope with instant fame after Kids in America?
I grew up with a famous dad (Marty Wilde), so I knew what fame was about. Dad loved music and was always singing and playing the guitar around the house. He still does and he’s now 80 years old. I’m just the same, I love music and fame is something I can put away in a drawer. I can’t live without music, but I could live without the fame…
Social media means fame is quite different now…
Yes, that has its pluses and minuses, I’m just glad I didn’t have to deal with social media when I was 20. It was bad enough having the tabloids follow me everywhere I went! But I knew what fame was about back then. I think my message to younger people now is, if you don’t want to know what people are saying about you, don’t go on social media! Keep away.
Why do you think Eighties music’s had such a revival with the festivals, etc?
We had just come through the punk era and suddenly you had all this new technology. It was the perfect pop storm, after two immaculate decades of music. Also pop music re-emerged in 1980 with new clothes, and that’s why people still love this music. I think I was lucky to be there, right from the very beginning.
You hold the record for being the most-charted British female solo act of the decade – does that make you proud?
Of course. It’s a great honour. I have been very lucky in my career. I think I was in the right place, at the right time.
Does music keep you young?
For me personally, very much so. Gigs at 60 keep me on form! My muscle memory just clicks in, when I know I’ve got
to get back into those black jeans again. I look after myself, but I’m not obsessive about it.
You stopped drinking a couple of years ago...
Yes, it changed my world. My gardening keeps me fit. Walking the dogs and keeping the house clean keeps me fit. I’m also careful about what I eat. I’m largely vegetarian, but I still love a bacon sandwich.
You have two children in their 20s now, RoseElizabeth and Harry. What do they think about your music career?
Haha, do you mean are they proud? I’m not sure that’s the word I would use. I think they duck in and out of what I’m doing with my music.
I was the same with my dad. They are both musicians, so I can only hope they gained some inspiration from my career, and their grandfather’s career.
Can your fans expect some more music from you soon?
Yes, we are currently writing and recording tracks for the Greatest Hits album, which will be out in September. I am just hoping that everything will get better here with the coronavirus, and we can all get on with our lives!
For details for Kim Wilde’s Greatest Hits Tour in the UK, see nvite.com/ community/kimwilde
‘I’ve been lucky in my career. I was in the right place at the right time’
Christine McGuinness is brave and honest, as she talks about life with three autistic children and how her nine-year marriage to comedian and TopGear presenter, Paddy, 46, has been put under strain as a result.
The stunning 32-year-old model who last year appeared on reality show The Real Housewives of Cheshire, recently confirmed that her three-year-old daughter, Felicity, has the same developmental disorder – characterised by difficulties with social interaction, and restricted, repetitive behaviour – as her six-yearold twins, Penelope and Leo. But tough as the journey sounds, what shines through is
Christine’s love for her family – and how she’ll protect them like a tiger with her cubs…
Christine, not long ago you revealed your third child has autism, like your twins. Was it a shock?
We expected it with Felicity – we saw the signs early on. But it’s still hard when you get it confirmed. It was a mixture of emotions that day. My heart broke for her, for the difficulties I knew she was going to face. But an early diagnosis means she’ll get the support she needs.
You’ve said you’d ‘change the world’ for your kids…
I would. To me, they’re perfect. They think and see things differently, but that’s OK. The rest of the world just needs to accept that. I admire how strong they are – if they want something, they’re going to get it. If they don’t want to do something, they won’t. They might seem difficult if they refuse to do something, but you know what? If we were all more like that, we’d be a lot happier!
What was it like for you and Paddy when the twins were first diagnosed?
We weren’t expecting it – we were terrified. It felt bleak, and we couldn’t see a way out. We thought, ‘How will we cope, raising children with a condition we know nothing about? Could we keep working?’ We were out of our depth, it was suffocating. But we had one choice – educate ourselves, so that’s what we did.
What were the early signs in your kids?
The twins had every sign you could think of! They were non-verbal, they walked on tip-toes, they were oversensitive to sound. They’d cry if you put the coffee machine on, and if a stranger came to the house it’d cause a full-on meltdown. But at nursery, aged three, we noticed the other kids eating solid food, potty-trained – mine wouldn’t even wear clothes that had a seam, or sequins. At Christmas, you’d see little girls in pretty dresses. Penelope would cry her eyes out in a netted skirt
or a tutu – everything itched. When Felicity started to do the same, I just knew.
Does all this put pressure on you and Paddy as a couple?
Oh, it puts a lot of strain on your marriage – there’s no denying that. So many couples in a similar situation have split up. I can’t remember the last time we had a date night! Our time together is focused on the children. It’s rare that we sit and watch TV together and have a laugh. Birthdays, weddings, either I go or Paddy. One of us stays home. But we’ve accepted it – we’re a family, we’re united.
Have you had to put your career on the back-burner?
Yes, and it’s frustrating – for five years, I’ve been a stay-athome mum. I started doing bits of work last year, but I still turn down the majority. If Paddy’s away working I stay at home, and right now, his work is a priority and I have to be grateful for that. Thanks to his career we have a lovely home, a nice car to get us to and from the kids’ appointments.
‘Everything is a massive milestone – a cause for celebration’
Do family members help out?
They do, but we can’t leave three autistic children with one person. Mum helps, but one of us is with her. I’m hoping we get to the point where we can leave them all with one person, but for now, that’s too difficult. Paddy and I have to put so much in place, to get an hour or two together, we tend to say: ‘ let’s just stay in!’
What have your little ones taught you?
Kindness and patience. I’m grateful to have them – it took us years to get pregnant. And some autistic children grow into non-verbal adults – I’m over the moon that my children can speak now. I hear their little voices say, ‘Mummy’. Everything is a massive milestone – a cause for celebration. They remind me of what’s important. I’d just love people in general to be a bit kinder. And I’m always going to worry, I don’t know if they’ll be independent, get jobs, have relationships. But I’ll never stop fighting for them.