‘She would really struggle with dating’
She’s been praised S for speaking out about her battle with Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism, and has won huge support for her bravery since entering the jungle.
Opening up to Closer, The Chase star Anne Hegerty’s close friend and agent David Hahn says her stint on I’m A Celeb! will be life-changing.
He says, “Under the harsh circumstances of the jungle, I think Anne has handled it brilliantly. When she first told me she was considering the show, we were at lunch with her co-star Mark Labbett. Both Mark and I asked her multiple times if she was sure, but she wanted to do it. She wanted to push herself out of her comfort zone. Fans are seeing the real Anne. She’s warm and friendly, and far removed from The Governess – which is just a character. I think this show will be life-changing for her.”
Anne, 60 – who has broken down in the difficult trials – was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in her mid-40s, and David explains that the unpredictability of the jungle will throw her.
He says, “Anne’s Asperger’s means she likes things planned out. She likes to know what she has in her diary minute-byminute for the next few months. If you tell her a meeting has been moved or a car is picking her up at a slightly different time, it really throws her and she gets flustered. The point of doing the jungle for Anne is to not only shine a light on Asperger’s and autism, but to push herself to new limits. I’m so proud of her.”
Despite rumours she had a secret husband, Anne is single, and David admits her autism means she finds flirting and dating tricky. He adds, “Anne doesn’t pick up on the signals. If someone winked at her or flirted with her, she wouldn’t register that because of her Asperger’s. I think she’d really struggle with dating because of that. But she has a fantastic group of friends, and I know she’ll form great friendships in the jungle.”