Paddy McGuinness calls for a faster diagnosis for autistic children and hopes to make other families 'not feel so alone' in new documentary
Comedian Paddy McGuinness has said one of the 'toughest' experiences for parents of autistic children is waiting for a diagnosis.
The TV presenter, who has three autistic children, said in some areas of the UK receiving a diagnosis can take not months but years.
Paddy, 48, and his model wife Christine, 33, have let cameras into their Cheshire home for a new documentary in which they discuss their family's experience of autism.
Paddy McGuinness has detailed the difficulties of having autistic children and hopes that discussing it might make other families 'not feel so alone'
Speaking in Radio Times, he said: 'One of the toughest things for parents is the wait for a diagnosis. At least then you can work out what triggers your kids.
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'I don't want to go into too much detail about my kids, but Penelope, for example, 'masks' - she does her best to fit into her environment and not draw attention to herself.
'Christine and I are constantly on watch, making sure the kids stay calm and happy as much as possible.
'But in some areas of the UK, the wait for a diagnosis doesn't take weeks or months, but years. It needs to change. People need to be seen much faster.'
It needs to be faster: The TV presenter, who has three autistic children (Leo, Penelope and Felicity) said in some areas of the UK receiving a diagnosis can take not months but years
The Top Gear presenter admitted he had not previously wanted to take part in 'such a personal documentary' until lockdown happened and he began to homeschool his children.
'Our kids regressed and it made me think about families who might be in a similar, or worse, position to us.'
He added: 'I was struggling, so I thought if we did the documentary, other families might not feel so alone or isolated.'
He said: 'One of the toughest things for parents is the wait for a diagnosis. At least then you can work out what triggers your kids' (Pictured with his wife Christine)
Paddy said that men are beginning to speak about their feelings more openly.
He said: 'I come from a single parent, working-class, Northern background and I spent years before Phoenix Nights working on a building site.
'Men have traditionally struggled to open up more. We're seen as hunter gatherers whose obligation it is never to be upset or weak. Even among our mates.
'But I still see the lads I used to work with and they actually ask each other how they are doing in a caring way. I'm talking about hairy-arsed builders. Men's men. Things are slowly changing.'
Read the full interview in Radio Times, out now.
Read the full interview in Radio Times, out now
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