OHMYGOSSIP — Christine McGuinness struggled to make friends during her childhood. The 35-year-old TV star – who was diagnosed with autism in 2021 – has revealed in a launch video for ‘BBC Children In Need’ that she really “struggled to make friends” during her younger years. Christine – who was married to Paddy McGuinness between 2011 and 2022 – shared: “My childhood was really fun. I remember playing outside with my brother and sister, and just being at home with my mum. “When I was younger, I really struggled at school, I struggled to make friends, to socialise, and to fit in, it was at home I always felt the most comfortable … (My) mum was always the most positive mum. “And she always made me feel like I can just be, made it comfortable … and she just loves me and she made me smile every single day … thank you (mum) so much for being the most amazing (and) strongest person (and an) independent woman.” Earlier this year, meanwhile, Christine insisted that she doesn’t want autism to “hold [her] back”. The TV star revealed that she won’t allow the condition – which can lead to sensory issues and discomfort in social settings – to stop her from living her life. She told OK! Magazine: “I understand myself a lot more and feel more comfortable. “I’m not completely comfortable in my own skin yet, but I’m getting there. “If I go to a restaurant, I’m not afraid to ask for my food to be a little bit plainer, while before I used to feel awkward and difficult about it. Now I’ll just say [what I want] because I want to be able to socialise and eat with everybody – I don’t want autism to hold me back.”