Celebrities praised for openness about autism diagnosis

Autism campaigners and charities have said it is “brilliant that more and more people in the public eye” are talking openly about being diagnosed as adults. It comes after the TV presenter Melanie Sykes confirmed she has been diagnosed with the developmental condition at the age of 51. Christine McGuinness, 33, the wife of Top Gear star Paddy, said on Monday she has also been diagnosed as autistic. They have helped focus attention on autism, which affects around one in 100 people – some 700,000 in total – in the UK, according to the National Autistic Society.