MASTERCHEF’S Gregg Wallace has revealed his challenging reality of raising an autistic son.
The BBC TV star shares his 4-year-old son Sid with his fourth wife Anne-Marie Sterpini, 36, who is 22 years his junior.
Gregg Wallace shares his four-year-old son Sid with his wife Anne-Marie SterpiniCredit: Olivia West
The star opened up on the realities of raising an autistic sonCredit: Olivia West
Ahead of the next series of Celebrity Masterchef, the cookery judge has opened up on life with his family.
Gregg, 58, revealed the reality of parenting an autistic child is not easy, although he is encouraged by his child’s positive progress.
“Sid is four years old, Sid is autistic, Sid is non-verbal. He’s still in nappies. He doesn’t use cutlery,” he explained.
“His choice of foods is very limited, but he’s a beautiful boy.”
However the Masterchef star is grateful as other families experience worse symptoms of the behavioural disability.
He revealed: “Luckily we don’t have many sensory issues. He enjoys play, he enjoys cuddles.
“And we’re seeing more and more interaction, which is giving us hope. And that’s all we need.”
Gregg did reflect on the wider implications his son’s condition has on his extended family.
He said: “Well, the people who really miss out are the parents and grandparents.
“We don’t know at the moment what Sid’s feeling, because he’s unable to tell us, but for the time being all our dreams of how we wanted to interact with that child are gone.”
The former greengrocer also opened up on his relationship with his younger wife as she also struggles with thier son’s condition.
He said: “My admiration for that young woman just grows and grows.
“Sid was a miracle. Anna had a hysterectomy and part of her stomach removed after that. She wore a colostomy bag for a year. That poor girl was in her early 30s.”
“She’s learning how to coach him, not to cure or reverse his autism, but coach him to communicate, possibly speak.”
Meanwhile, Gregg also opened up on his own health journey, and he stated that he was inspired by his own subscription weight-loss website called ShowMe.Fit.
He exclaimed: “I want to go into my 60s looking like an Olympic runner, because I think that should be an inspiration to people.
“I can’t preach this stuff if my belly’s hanging over my jeans.”
The star is living a healthier lifestyle after launching his own subscription weight loss subscription serviceCredit: Olivia West
