Paddy McGuinness’ heartbreak for kids

Paddy McGuinness finds it hard to see other children snubbing his children

Paddy McGuinness has revealed his heartbreak at seeing his children snubbed by other kids.

The 48-year-old TV star and his wife Christine’s three children – Felicity, six, and twins Leo and Penelope, eight – have all been diagnosed with autism and Paddy admitted he finds it hard to watch how other kids react to them.

Paddy said: “It’s upsetting as a parent when your child goes up to another child in that lovely way and introduces themselves, which is the most normal, nice thing to do ever.

“But most kids will look at that as: ‘What the hell is going on here?’ They don’t understand it. As a parent, it’s heartbreaking.”

Paddy previously revealed that while Christine, 33, who has also been diagnosed with autism, coped with their children’s condition, he struggled at first eventually started seeing a therapist to help him come to terms with it.

He said: “I got that down that I had to see a therapist and he diagnosed me with clinical depression. I used to think I was the last person in the world who would have depression because I earn a few quid.

“I didn’t instantly go, ‘oh I’m depressed’ because it was a very slow process. It chipped away at me, with all of the things you have to do, things you have to deal with as a parent of children with autism.

“It dawned on me that, that’s it, that’s it forever. There’s no ‘they’ll get better as the years go on.'”