S4 E8: Christine McGuinness on autism, celibacy and her father’s heroin addiction

Big Fish with Spencer Matthews

This episode contains discussion around suicide and eating disorders. If you are affected by anything you hear in this episode and need support, please see the suggested helpline and website links below.

Christine McGuinness is a television personality, former beauty queen and most recently, an influential advocate for autism awareness. A few years ago, her three children were all diagnosed with autism and shortly after, Christine discovered she was autistic herself - being diagnosed at 33-years-old. In this episode we talk about how Christine’s autism hugely impacted her childhood. There were times where she felt suicidal and sensory issues around food resulted in an eating disorder. She also left school before she was 14 because her school didn’t know how to support her. We also talk about her relationship with her father, who has recently beaten a 40-year long heroin addiction.

Samaritans helpline: 116 123

https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/

Beat eating disorders: 0808 801 0677

https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/