Melanie Sykes will reveal in a tell-all book how she had a breakdown and how she dealt with her later-life autism diagnosis.
The star has penned a deal which will touch upon “fame, motherhood, self-medicating and trauma to her breakdown and breakthrough to become a campaigner and autism advocate”.
The TV presenter Melanie Sykes has announced she has been diagnosed as autistic at the age of 51, in 2021.
She previously said how the “life-changing” diagnosis had meant that finally things had started to “make sense”.
She says writing the book with publisher HarperNorth was like “open-heart surgery” on herself. She admits: “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.
Pegg said: “Melanie has been a familiar presence in so many of our lives since she burst onto the scene in the 1990s but beyond the Melanie we feel we know from her TV and radio career there’s a far wider, deeper story to her life.”
She said that “her story 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.”
Sykes said that she has always wanted to write a book but that her diagnosis “shone light across my entire life but took time to unpick.” She added: “This book is a result of that exploration, all with this new perspective.”
Sykes has previously spoken about her youngest son being diagnosed with autism at the age of three, and said it gave her the push she needed to leave her marriage. “I couldn’t be in a marriage that I wasn’t happy in, in order to help him,” she said.
Christine McGuinness recently revealed she had been diagnosed as autistic.
McGuinness discussed how autism had affected her life and relationships, including having to “learn how to behave”.
“I’ve always been afraid to say it out loud because I know it seems odd and it seems different,” said McGuinness, who is married to the TV presenter Paddy McGuinness. “If I go to a hotel room I will rearrange the furniture, I’ll take the pictures of the wall.”
Sykes was previously married to Jack Cockings
They wed in May 2013 before divorcing a year later.
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 her junior.
She fell for him after a ride on his gondola in Venice.
They split last year after 12 months.
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