Gregg Wallace reveals that his three-year-old son has autism

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Watch: Gregg Wallace reveals that his three-year-old son has autism

Masterchef host Gregg Wallace has revealed that his three-year-old son Syd has autism and is non-verbal.

Appearing on Loose Women, Wallace opened up on the diagnosis and the impact it has had on his family.

Wallace said: “Syd has autism. He’s three, you can’t legally diagnose until they are two and half, but we knew at about a year old that we had some issues."

Read more: John Torode addresses 'tension' with 'Masterchef' co-star Gregg Wallace

He also discussed spotting some signs that his son may have the condition: “For us, He wasn’t answering to his name, he wasn’t playing peekaboo, he was running around.

Gregg Wallace, one of the judges of the contest, at the inaugural Birds Eye Fish Finger Sandwich Awards, at Tramshed in London. (Photo by Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images)
Gregg Wallace opened up about his son's autism diagnosis. (PA Images via Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 15: Anne-Marie Sterpini and Gregg Wallace attend the Caudwell Children Butterfly Ball at The Grosvenor House Hotel on May 15, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images)
Anne-Marie Sterpini and Gregg Wallace in 2014. (Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images)

"He’s got autism and something called global development delay, so he’s not speaking yet. But he is lovely and he is happy and he is cuddly and if he wants something he grabs your hand.”

Wallace also used his time on the chat show to urge parents to see a doctor if they think anything is amiss with their children: “If you think they have an issue, see someone. We can see the development, he now makes eye contact, he now interacts more, these specialists teach you to interact more.”

Syd is Wallace's third child but first with current wife Anne-Marie Sterpini who he met on Twitter. His Masterchef co-host John Torode served as his best man. Wallace's marriage to Sterpini is his fourth overall.

Programme Name: Masterchef S18 - TX: n/a - Episode: Masterchef S18 - Judge Generics (No. Judge Generics) - Picture Shows:  John Torode, Gregg Wallace - (C) Shine TV - Photographer: Production
Gregg Wallace and John Torode co-host Masterchef. (BBC)

Signs of autism in young children include not responding to their name, avoiding eye contact and also not smiling when you smile at them. They may also get very upset if they do not like a certain taste, smell or sound, and have repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or rocking their body.

Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV at 12:30pm.

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