Melanie Sykes has said she believes she has Tourette’s syndrome after researching the condition following her autism diagnosis.
The TV presenter, 52, announced in 2021 that she had been diagnosed as autistic at the age of 51, describing the revelation as “life-affirming”.
Appearing on an episode of Alan Carr’s Life’s A Beach podcast, which was released on Monday, Sykes talked about her new book where she discusses being a woman in the media.
In the interview, Carr confirmed she was able to swear on the podcast to which she said: “Oh good, but I’ll try not to, because I’ve just discovered I have Tourette’s.”
The former model added: “I am wired a completely different way and I’m only just understanding it.
“Where I used to think ‘what’s wrong with me?’ now I know it’s everything that’s right with me because that’s what makes me me.”
Following the release of the podcast, she clarified in a tweet: “Hello there. For the record I have NOT been ‘diagnosed’ with Tourettes.
“I self identify because of my studies and understanding of the pre existing ‘conditions’ that are hand in hand in some autistic people.”
Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a neurological condition that causes you to make involuntary movements and sounds called tics, according to the NHS website.
Motor tics might include eye blinking, neck and head jerks, and arm and leg movements, while vocal tics might include throat clearing, repeating words or phrases, stuttering and grunting.
The former Today with Des and Mel host was previously diagnosed with autism in 2021, following her son Valentino’s diagnosis.
Back in April, the broadcaster spoke how her autism diagnosis made “complete sense” during an appearance on John Bishop’s podcast Three Little Words.
Hello there. For the record I have NOT been 'diagnosed' with Tourettes.
— Melanie Sykes (@MsMelanieSykes) July 17, 2023
I self identify because of my studies and understanding of the pre existing 'conditions' that are hand in hand in some autistic people. Thanks to @KieranRose7 and his insight#truestory
She shared at the time: “My youngest son has autism, and I’ve been diagnosed with it too. I’ve had to look at what it all means now, and it makes complete and utter sense.”
The podcast host asked whether if she had been diagnosed as a child, would she have felt limited in what she could do in her life in terms of forging a career in showbiz.
Sykes began: “There’s no space for autistic people in this world” before claiming there wasn’t an “ideal” profession that would suit someone on the spectrum.
She continued: “This is another thing that I’m going to change. Because there is no walks of life where it’s okay, people are still scratching their head about autistic people and what does it mean.
“These people have got so much to offer the world, I do not see it as a disorder at all. It’s just a different wiring of you.”
