Melanie Sykes, 52, reveals Tourette’s diagnosis after detailing ‘life changing’ Autism battle

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Melanie Sykes has shared that she has been diagnosed with Tourette's as she opened up about how she's "wired differently" to other people.

The TV and radio presenter, 52, opened up about her diagnosis as she appeared on her pal Alan Carr's Life's a Beach podcast.

As Alan reassured that it was okay to swear on his podcast, Melanie revealed her diagnosis, replying: "Oh good, but I'll try not to, because I've just discovered I have Tourette's."

She continued: "I describe in the book how I laugh at really inappropriate things. I am wired a completely different way and I'm only just understanding it. Where I used to think "what's wrong with me?" No I know it's everything that's right with me."

Melanie, who was diagnosed with autism back in 2021, was on the podcast to promote her new book Illuminated: Autism and all the Things I've Left Unsaid, in which she details her "life-changing" autism diagnosis.

She previously told The Mirror well cover "fame, motherhood, self-medicating and trauma" and how she recovered from a "huge breakdown" following her autism diagnosis.

She told the outlet: "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."

Melanie first shared her autism diagnosis in 2021 when she took to Instagram, telling fans: "After a series of assessments last week, a report came back to tell me that I’m autistic."

She went on to discuss her teenage son, Valentino, who was diagnosed with autism as a toddler.

"As many of you know, I have a child with autism," Melanie said, “so I understand what it’s about, but I hadn’t really run it through any of my behaviours at all.”

“It’s such a positive diagnosis for me because it makes sense of my life. I’ve had to go back through my life and sort-of unpick it and retell it because it has a completely different lens.”

Melanie said there’s a “sense of relief” that has come with her diagnosis, and described it as "life-changing" and "life-affirming."

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