Chris Packham discusses being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in his 40s and having suicidal thoughts as he battled the condition

His charismatic presenting style and passion for wildlife on shows including The Really Wild Show and Springwatch has won him countless fans all over the world.

And Chris Packham has opened up about his battle with Asperger’s Syndrome which he was only diagnosed with in his 40s in a candid interview on Wednesday’s edition of Loose Women.

The 56-year-old, who appeared on the show with his beloved poodle Scratchy, was diagnosed with the development disorder in 2005, and admitted bullying and struggling to form social bonds with his peers at school had led to him having suicidal thoughts.

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Candid: Chris Packham has opened up about his battle with Asperger’s Syndrome which he was only diagnosed with in his 40s in a candid interview on Wednesday’s edition of Loose Women (pictured with dog Scratchy)

Secret battle: The 56-year-old secretly struggled with the condition during his presenting stint on The Really Wild Show between 1986-1995

He said: ‘I was always quirky and some of those quirks were directly related to the condition, I evolved a method to suppress those quirks, trying to manage yourself and make the show, sometimes the guard would go down.’

‘I wasn’t diagnosed until my 40s- When I was a child, it was very different world back then, it wasn’t too bad, but when I got to my teens, it was really really tough.’

When he was asked by one of the panellists: ‘And you had suicidal thoughts?’ he responded: ‘Yeah I did, it was extremely isolating, when you’re being picked on, you blame yourself, you expect the majority to be right, you do retreat, into your bedroom

‘My only way of dealing with the situation was to blank my peers when I started at university and not engage with these people at all through university.’

Support: The 56-year-old, was diagnosed with the development disorder in 2005, and admitted bullying and struggling to form social bonds with his peers at school had led to him having suicidal thoughts

‘For the first couple of years all I did was say 20p twice a day to the bus conductor. After that I was comfortable enough to form social bonds with a few people, three.

Asperger’s Syndrome is a lifelong developmental disorder that affects how people see the world and their social interactions.

Symptoms include problems recognising social cues, difficulty interacting with others, restricted or repetitive behaviors, limited range of interests and difficulties understanding and processing language.

The star, who presented The Really Wild Show from 1986-1995, said he realised that in order to pursue the career he loved, his behaviour needed to change.

He said: ‘By my mid 20s so just before The Really Wild Show, I realised I had to function with other humans to do the career I wanted. So I made a list every night of the things I needed to do to fulfill the job role fully.’

TV sensation: He said: ‘I was always quirky and some of those quirks were directly related to the condition, I evolved a method to suppress those quirks, trying to manage yourself and make the show, sometimes the guard would go down’

As well as his presenting and work with numerous conservation charities, Chris is dedicated to raising awareness of Asperger’s.

His documentary Chris Packham: Aspergers and Me broadcast in October 2017 received the 2018 Broadcasting Press Guild Award for the best single documentary.

He said: ‘Ultimately I’ve been very fortunate to have been given a small voice, therefore I have a duty to use that voice, it is very difficult for people with Asperger’s to articulate how they feel and the problems they have and I’m speaking up for everybody that didn’t have that voice.’

Chris also readily admitted that he finds it easier to interact with animals than humans while discussing canine companion Scratchy.

Inspirational: When he was asked by one of the panellists: ‘And you had suicidal thoughts?’ he responded: ‘Yeah I did, it was extremely isolating, when you’re being picked on, you blame yourself, you expect the majority to be right, you do retreat, into your bedroom’

Lifelong companion: Chris also readily admitted that he finds it easier to interact with animals than humans while discussing canine companion Scratchy

He said: ‘I take him everywhere. I feel much better when I’m with him,

‘I find it easier to form relationships with animals, I think its uncompromised, also he has a dependency on me, I have a duty of care to make sure he has a happy and healthy life

Relationships with humans are different, thet are not dependent on me, there isn’t that whole dependent thing. My partner as a grown woman is not fully dependent on me.

‘Scratchy never lets me down, he’s totally trustworthy.’