Strictly The Real Full Monty fans laud Christine McGuinness for sharing autism struggles
Strictly The Real Full Monty viewers were full of praise for Christine McGuinness on Tuesday night, as she candidly spoke about her struggles with autism while preparing to strip off on the festive show.
The mother-of-three, who recently revealed she is autistic, admitted her condition meant she found it slightly tougher to pick up some of the routines, but eventually joined her co-stars taking to the stage for the empowering show.
Christine, who also detailed juggling raising her three autistic children with looking after her mother, who has cancer, was lauded by fans for ‘bravely’ appearing on the show.
Tough: Strictly The Real Full Monty viewers were full of praise for Christine McGuinness on Tuesday night, as she candidly spoke about her struggles with autism
During the emotional programme, Christine admitted she was struggling to learn the dance routine, and discussed the challenges she’s faced coming to terms with being diagnosed with autism.
The star confessed she ‘didn’t want to be the only one who isn’t OK,’ before being embraced by co-star Colin Jackson.
Christine’s decision to speak so openly about her condition was lauded by many viewers, especially when she later took to the stage with her fellow celebrities for an inspiring performance.
Candid: The mother-of-three, who recently revealed she is autistic, also detailed supporting her mother, who has been battling breast cancer
Hard: Christine admitted she was struggling to learn the dance routine, and discussed the challenges she’s faced coming to terms with being diagnosed with autism
One wrote: ‘I really hope Christine comes out and smashes it! She deserves to make herself fell proud for doing something so brave. She should be proud regardless.’
Another added: ‘Christine is such a brave inspiration I love her so much. You got this queen.’
A third added: ‘I feel seen. You’ve been seen, Christine. We see you.’
One fan praised: ‘My heart’s breaking at Christine on #StrictlyTheRealFullmonty. This is me, my life. Try so hard to get over this autism and just can’t. It hits so hard. As I go through my own diagnosis it’s so real. Will watch her doc with @PaddyMcGuinness. I’d avoided it, but I think I need to.’
A fan also praised: ‘Autism on the whole is hugely lacking representation, but to see someone who, on the surface, doesn’t typically appear autistic, speak openly about their experiences, is extremely inspiring and refreshing. Thank you Christine.’
Open: The star confessed she ‘didn’t want to be the only one who isn’t OK,’ before being embraced by co-star Colin Jackson
Proud: Christine’s decision to speak so openly about her condition was lauded by many viewers
Despite her initial fears, Christine eventually joined stars including Demi Jones, James and Ola Jordan, Coleen Nolan and Laila Morse taking to the stage for a festive dance routine, which ended with the entire lineup baring all for a live audience.
Back in April Christine revealed her mother had completed six months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Taking to Instagram and posting a snap of her cuddling her beloved parent, she penned the following note for her followers: ‘Ma. ‘Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and loved more than you know.’
Stripping off: Despite her initial fears, Christine joined stars including Demi Jones, James and Ola Jordan, Coleen Nolan and Laila Morse taking to the stage for a festive routine
‘So many of you ask about my mum, she is doing amazingly well, I’m so proud of her. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy is all done now it’s time for her to enjoy life!’
Christine had revealed in her autobiography, Christine McGuinness: A Beautiful Nightmare, that she had been diagnosed with autism.
Christine and husband Paddy have three children, eight year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and five year-old Felicity, who have all been diagnosed with autism.
Open: Christine had revealed in her autobiography, Christine McGuinness: A Beautiful Nightmare, that she had been diagnosed with autism
In an extract seen by The Mirror, Christine wrote: ‘I have been confirmed as autistic. It’s strange, but I’ve noticed there are little hints throughout my life that I’m autistic and more like my children than I ever could have imagined.
‘My issues with food, my social struggles, how hard I find it to make friends and stay focused, and my indecisiveness. The way I float through life reminds me of how my eldest daughter Penelope is.’
The model explained that she was diagnosed in August after she and Paddy, 48, were invited to meet Sir Simon Baron-Cohen who is the director of Cambridge University’s Autism Research Centre.
The couple both filled out an AQ Questionnaire which is designed to measure the expression of Autism-Spectrum traits in a person. And while an average neurotypical person would score about 15, which Paddy did, hers was 36.
