Viewers praise Paddy and Christine McGuinness' autism documentary

Viewers praised Paddy and Christine McGuinness' autism documentary for 'raising awareness and reducing stigma' about the disorder on Wednesday night.

The Top Gear host, 48, and his model wife Christine, 33, share three kids, eight-year-old twins Leo and Penelope, and five-year-old Felicity, who have all been diagnosed with autism.  

During their BBC show Our Family and Autism, Paddy and Christine spoke to autistic children about their experiences and consulted with development experts about their brood. 

They also dispelled the dangerous myths surrounding links with autism and vaccines with leading scientists, before the show followed Christine on her own journey to discovering she too is autistic.

Fans reacted positively in their droves to the show, with one writing: 'What a beautiful, open, informative and emotive documentary currently showing on BBC discussing #autism in our children. Thank you to Paddy, family and other contributors for sharing and opening up such an important topic for conversation.'

Another commented: 'Thank you for doing this program. It has really given me a different perspective on autism.'

A third wrote: 'Paddy thank you for sharing your family and autism. We are beginning this journey with our grandson and the program helped so much.'

Someone else reacted: 'Paddy and Christine mcguinness our family and autism - an insightful and informative watch. Definitely recommend.'

A fifth reaction Tweet read: 'Watching Paddy and Christine - our Family and Autism. Absolutely fascinating, thank you for sharing your story. I hope the program helps to raise awareness so we can all recognise autism when we see it and help reduce the stigma and misunderstanding.'

Another person said: 'Paddy&christine mcguinness: our family and autism - just amazing. i think it's essential that a lot more people have an understanding about asd.'   

Elsewhere in the show Paddy went to a secondary school to speak to two children, Jack and Maggie, about their experience of higher education, after worrying about his own children making the transition.  

Paddy was then helped by speaking to former footballer Paul Scholes, whose 16-year-old son is non-verbal and autistic. 

He said: 'The biggest thing that he said that really resonated, is about not caring what people think. I don't care what people think either but obviously I do, because I get het up.

'If anybody mentioned the word autism to me I would say 'I don't want to speak about it, I don't want to think about it'. Now I'm finally talking about autism, I just wish I hadn't spent so much time trapped by the fear of it all.' 

Later in an emotional moment Paddy also revealed he spiralled into depression and threw himself into his work as he struggled to cope with his children's autism diagnosis.  

While Christine overcame her upset after learning more about the condition, Paddy battled with his emotions and struggled to express how he felt, with the star eventually ending up seeing a therapist after becoming depressed. 

Paddy said: 'I got that down that I had to see a therapist and he diagnosed me with clinical depression. I used to think I was the last person in the world who would have depression because I earn a few quid.

'I didn't instantly go, 'oh I'm depressed' because it was a very slow process. It chipped away at me, with all of the things you have to do, things you have to deal with as a parent of

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