Melanie Sykes opens up about being diagnosed with…

Melanie Sykes opens up about being diagnosed with autism at 51

Melanie Sykes is to reveal in a tell-all book how she dealt with being diagnosed with autism at the age of 51. The star will also speak about “fame, motherhood, self-medicating and trauma to her breakdown and breakthrough to become a campaigner and autism advocate”.

The TV presenter announced in 2021 how she was diagnosed with autism at the age of 51. She expressed how the diagnosis was "life-changing", reports the Mirror, and that things had finally started to "make sense."

She compared writing the book with publisher HarperNorth to "open-heart surgery" on herself. She said: "Getting a late diagnosis and having to learn about and understand my neurodivergent mind and sensitivities has indeed unlocked my happiness but it’s been an arduous road.

"Writing this book sometimes felt like I was performing open-heart surgery on myself but I knew how necessary it was. I can now put it out into the world unapologetically and confidently because sharing all the wisdom my life has given me makes it all worthwhile."

Publishing director Genevieve Pegg said she was delighted to be able to tell her story. "Melanie has been a familiar presence in so many of our lives since she burst onto the scene in the 1990s," she said.

"But beyond the Melanie we feel we know from her TV and radio career there’s a far wider, deeper story to her life."

Of her story, she said it is "one of honesty, resilience and growth in the face of challenge. By turns hard-hitting and joyful, it’s packed with surprise, hope and calls to action."

Melanie says writing her book as been like 'performing open-heart surgery on herself' (John Phillips/Getty Images)

Skyes said she had always wanted to write a book but described that the diagnosis had "shone light across my entire life but took time to unpick. This book is a result of that exploration, all with this new perspective."

Previously, Skyes had spoken about how her son had been diagnosed with autism at the age of three which she says gave her the push to leave her marriage. She said: "I couldn’t be in a marriage that I wasn’t happy in, in order to help him."

Sykes was previously married to Jack Cockings but divorced a year later after they wed in May 2013. Mel’s first marriage to actor Daniel Caltagirone ended in 2009 after eight years, during which they had two children.

She also had a fling with Italian toyboy Riccardo Simionato, who was 27 years younger. She fell for him after a ride on his gondola in Venice and they split last year after 12 months.

Former beauty queen and wife of comedian Paddy McGuiness, Christine McGuiness, also recently revealed she had been diagnosed as autistic. She told how autism had affected her life and relationships, including having to "learn how to behave".

She said: "I’ve always been afraid to say it out loud because I know it seems odd and it seems different. If I go to a hotel room I will rearrange the furniture, I’ll take the pictures of the wall."