Men do not talk to other men the way they speak to women because they would be in deep danger of getting punched on the nose if they did. Not all men, but quite a few, save up all their anger and anxiety and unleash it on women.”

a memoir from Melanie Sykes - HarperCollins Publishers UK

The Mossley TV and radio personality, who turned 47 yesterday, celebrated her birthday by showing off her super-toned body in the naked issue of Women’s Health UK.

Sykes said she would no longer be, “tap-dancing for corporations who couldn’t give two hoots about my wellbeing”, saying that mainstream TV “just doesn’t interest me … I’m out of that game”. But having been diagnosed autistic and endured a breakdown, the former model has revealed in her autobiography that she has quit mainstream TV and the “horror story” she encountered as a woman in the industry. Sykes also recounts being deceived as an 18-year-old by a much older photographer into staying overnight with him on a shoot in Africa. She claims in the book that the man pressed himself against her in bed but she had a stomach upset so he eventually left her alone and she “buried the experience until recently”.

Melanie Sykes | Waterstones Illuminated by Melanie Sykes | Waterstones

Mother of two Mel, who says she was at her leanest when posing for the photoshoot on a rooftop in London earlier this year, shared an inspirational message with her followers.If you're coming to Coles by car, why not take advantage of the 2 hours free parking at Sainsbury's Pioneer Square - just follow the signs for Pioneer Square as you drive into Bicester and park in the multi-storey car park above the supermarket. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you. You don't need to shop in Sainsbury's to get the free parking! Where to Find Us She said she was horrified to discover when the show aired that it had been “edited it in such a way that they did not use the footage of him, only footage of me losing it … I just looked crazy”. In her TV career, Sykes struggled using the earpiece needed for producers to talk to her due to the heightened sensitivities from her undiagnosed autism and drank to try to cope. She recounts tales of press intrusion and coercive and abusive boyfriends, including one who allegedly choked her. She said she only wanted to use her profile now to help people, including by highlighting campaigns against domestic abuse and harassment on platforms such as Cheer Up Luv. Writing her story had helped her “heal”, and Sykes hopes it helps women recognise if they are in coercive relationships. Being (in some cases extremely) under or over-sensitive to sound, smells, light, taste and touch. This is called sensory sensitivity

Melanie Sykes will detail her autism diagnosis in a tell-all book Melanie Sykes will detail her autism diagnosis in a tell-all book

This is me at my leanest but as everyone knows in the fitness world your body is forever changing based on what you’re eating and what kind of training you’re doing. Her book offers a fresh perspective on the woman from Greater Manchester who rose to fame in the 1990s as the face of Boddingtons beer. She said: “Good Morning peeps. A huge thankyou for all your birthday messages yesterday you are lovely.She said women are often not diagnosed autistic as “for too long women who don’t fit a notion of normal have been deemed ‘mad’ or ‘crazy’”. Melanie Sykes attends the National Television Awards at 02 Arena in London, England. in 2021. Photograph: by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images Despite giving up alcohol, Sykes’ life in the spotlight affected her mental health and, after she was diagnosed autistic during research for her magazine Frank, she had a breakdown. She recovered from it through therapy and exercise, and decided to speak out. Her autism diagnosis in midlife has supercharged that journey - and means this isn't a story just of breakdown, but of breakthrough. Funny, furious and gloriously frank, this is a book that lifts the lid on being a woman in the media, navigating relationships, and being a neurodivergent person speaking up in a neurotypical world. Illuminated is Melanie, in her own inimitable voice. Save In conversation - Jon Alexander, Co-founder of the New Citizenship Project to your collection. Share In conversation - Jon Alexander, Co-founder of the New Citizenship Project with your friends.