Proud Paddy McGuinness shared a heartfelt message as the praise poured in for his ex Christine's brave solo documentary about her adult autism diagnosis at 33 while lifting the lid on living with the developmental disorder. Paddy, who shares three children with the model and reality star, responded to the tear-jerking BBC One programme Christine McGuinness: Unmasking My Autism.
Christine provided an eye-opening insight into her autism and met others living with the condition. Her behaviour as a child was misunderstood as 'being naughty' and she dropped out of school at 14 without qualifications and entered beauty pageants. Her titles included Miss Commonweath for England, Miss Cheshire and Miss Liverpool and it was through dressing up that she embraced the "power of pretending."
In the documentary Christine, 34, also opened up about her split from Top Gear presenter Paddy, which the couple announced in July last year, saying that after 15 years together "I don't know what it's like to date."
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There was a heartbreaking moment when the former The Real Housewives of Cheshire star told how the Bolton TV star had made her feel "safe" after she had suffered sexual abuse from the age of nine. "Before Patrick I was sexually abused and raped and I used to pray every night that I wouldn't wake up in the morning because it was so awful," she said.
Christine revealed she had also been diagnosed with the developmental disability, caused by differences in the brain that affects how people communicate and interact with the world, towards the end of 2021, after all three of her children - twins Penelope and Leo, nine, and youngest daughter, six-year-old Felicity - were given the same diagnosis.
She and Paddy previously made the BBC documentary Our Family And Autism about their children’s autism. It also followed Christine as she was diagnosed.
Paddy, 49, shared a picture on Instagram of a smiling Christine with two contributors from her documentary. He wrote: "Very proud of Christine for making this new documentary highlighting Autism, particularly in women. It’ll be a massive help to our daughters in years to come along with our little lad. #unmaskingmyautism #awareness #acceptence."
Over on her Instagram, Christine thanked people for their messages of praise as she said she was watching the documentary alone. But she didn't feel alone as she watching along with her supporters. "Watching my documentary alone but with all of you on here thank for the love and support already," she said.
@carolineparnell tweeted: "Just watched #ChristineMcGuinness documentary on autism in girls/women. Illuminating insights and hopefully it will help with wider understanding of challenges faced by those with autism." @Iffsi said: "#ChristineMcGuinness has explained her Autism beautifully, honestly and given a voice to other Autistic adults & parents - many of whom have just had to learn how to ‘cope’ with their uniqueness."
And Anna Kennedy of the charity Anna Kennedy Online which raises autism awarenes said: "Christine's documentary tonight will help grow the conversation around autistic women and girls. A possible lightbulb moment for parents of girls struggling at school etc."
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