Anyone watching Celebrity Mastermind?

We've only just turned over so I might have to watch the early bit again.

He fronted a gardening programme last year where he and a team of gardeners who were autistic did some design projects.

The spectrum is so broad I really couldn't comment on whether or not he is really autistic. There surely must have been a diagnosis at some time?

The Autistic Gardener is a British documentary television series that first aired on Channel 4 on 8 July 2015. The series is presented by Alan Gardner, a gardener who has Asperger syndrome.

(from Wikipedia)

Presumably he isn't as anxious as some on the spectrum.

I expect he is like my GS and is acting the part of The Autistic Gardener and finding it much easier than being himself. The Bright lights and communicating are much easier if you are seeing yourself as another person. GS has never had a problem with communication or eye contact or performing on stage, there are just certain situations he can't cope with. however when he was assessed there was no doubt at all about the diagnosis.

Slightly off topic ... we watched Pointless tonight, and the question was to name a country that end in two consonants. One of the contestants, a University student, answered "Paris".

We were speechless. So was her contestant partner.

Ends ...

Not just 'slightly' off topic...

Oh so she did actually say that! I thought I must have misheard! She must have been nervous - surely.

Yes. I googled about him. Aspergers. It does seem a very wide rangeing thing, autism. Still not sure about him. Is he just using that as a way to make himself a bit different and get noticed?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyMDxNm51bw

Have a look and see what you think,bells

Ana I used the wrong word, so, sue me.

I was totally off topic.

As you were.

GS1 has ASD. He performed his part in the pantomime, singing, dancing and acting perfectly and was word perfect. Half an hour later I had to order him out from under my bed and ask him to stop making weird animal noises.

Autism comes in various forms and in varying degrees. Deedaa understands that and has explained it well. I've tried to give you an insight.

Yes, I get what you're saying Anya. Although in my experience, small boys and weird animal noises are not that unusual. But I do agree.

Watched the you tube merlot. He mentions "oddballs". And that's what's missing with him. There is nothing "oddball" about him.

BTW I would stress the word was HIS. Not mine. I wouldn't actually use it myself.

Also Btw, I got most of my knowledge of aUTISM AND ASPERGERS FROM MY YEARS OF READING THE SPECIAL NEEDS THREADS ON mUMSnet.

sorry for bad typing. got new keyboard and hate it.

He's not that small anymore bells but that's just an example of how he can 'perform' when given a role and then something goes ping!

It's not just small boys who make weird noises, small girls can make extremely weird noises too, I have just been subjected to some of them.

I digress, that is not to do with Autism or Aspergers.

Actually constant repetition (and I mean constant) of words, noises or movements is a symptom.

Aspergers is part of the Autistic spectrum it's not either or.

My son doesn't appear oddball (quote) just not very communicative but he has an official diagnosis of High Functioning Autism.

Yes, I realise that re the noises and was not trying to make light of it; DGD's little friend is autistic.

Sorry, did not mean either or, I realise that too.

I was just making the remark that small girls also can make annoyingly weird noises that go on and on and on
and on

I met Alan Gardner at Chelsea in 2015, we chatted, I assumed he was part of a tv crew. No, he was an award winning garden designer and a very pleasant man. I thought his tv series was great, it used the special talents of each person on the team and created some highly original gardens while giving them belief in themselves.
Good for him for going on to the Mastermind programme.

Why do we all have to have labels now? I learnt from Alan that I was NT, probably!

Children with ASD need 'labels' (or diagnosing as we prefer to call it) as that is the only way they can get support and the extra help they need.

Sorry if I keep going on but I feel very defensive about GS1. He's been dealt a difficult hand.

Yes. I can well understand that Anya. (Dealt a very difficult hand). Very best to him.