Paddy McGuinness has opened up about life with autistic children.
The Take Me Out host said he and wife Christine “can’t do normal things as a couple” because they need to be on hand to care for their five-year-old twins Penelope and Leo, who are autistic.
Speaking on John Bishop: In Conversation With…, which will air on Thursday, Paddy became emotional as he admitted “it’s a wonder” he and Christine are still together.
Read more: Christine McGuinness shares pride in twins’ wonderful achievement
Paddy said: “It’s very, very, very, very difficult, you know any parent with children with any kind of special needs is very difficult. Some days it’s a wonder how we’re still together, me and Christine, because you can’t sort of do the normal things that you would as a couple.”
He said he “can count on one hand” the amount of times he and Christine have been on a night out together.
Paddy continued: “You can’t just have a babysitter. You can’t just say ‘I’ll drop ’em off at me relatives to look after’ because it’s not like that.”
Praising his wife, Paddy said the Real Housewives of Cheshire star was “better” with the twins.
He said: “I think women with children are better than men. This is only my opinion. Might be ‘cos my Mum brought me up. I think maternally, they just take to being a parent quicker than men. And when the kids were born, I had that strange working-class mentality of these kids are here now, I’ve gotta provide for them.”
Christine and Paddy – who tied the knot in 2011 – revealed their twins’ autism diagnosis on their fourth birthday last year.
The couple are also parents to their one-year-old daughter Felicity.
Christine recently revealed she could see signs of autism in Felicity too, but a diagnosis could not be explored until she is older.
Earlier this month, Christine and Paddy celebrated their twins’ fifth birthday.
The couple, who rarely share photos of their three children, shared glimpses of Leo and Penelope on their special day.
Christine posted a sweet snap showing the twins walking over a lawn in the sunshine, sporting matching red football kits.
The proud mum captioned the pic: “Happy 5th Birthday to my gorgeous twins Leo & Penelope. You make mummy proud every day, I love you both sooo much, My Superstar Twinkles.”
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Meanwhile, doting dad Paddy shared the same photo alongside the caption: “Happy 5th birthday to my babies! Had such an amazing day with them yesterday.
“So proud of everything they do but I’m not sure about those footy kits?”
Earlier this year, thee couple organised a ball which raised more than £100k for the National Autistic Society.
More recently, Paddy revealed he’s working on launching a TV show about being a father to autistic children.
John Bishop In Conversation With… Paddy McGuinness airs Thursday at 10pm on W.
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