Melanie Sykes says her son’s autism was ‘fuel’ to end unhappy marriage

TV presenter Melanie Sykes says she could not help her son or function as a parent if she did not leave her husband

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Melanie Sykes has revealed her son’s autism diagnosis was “fuel” for her to end an unhappy marriage.

The TV presenter said she knew she could not help her son or function as a parent if she did not leave her husband.

Her son Valentino, 17, known as Tino, was diagnosed when he was aged between two-and-a-half and three.

At the time, Melanie, 51, was wed to actor Daniel Caltagirone, 49, father of Tino and brother Roman, now 19.

She said: “That boy is the light of my life. When he was diagnosed he changed my life.

“I couldn’t be in a marriage that I wasn’t happy in, in order to help him.

“I had to sort myself out and he helped me get out of the situation that I was in – he was ­definitely the fuel for the move to do that.

“Because you and I know when you are unhappy you can’t function as a parent.”

Speaking on The Hot Mess Mums Club podcast, Melanie said: “When you are unhappy you are not displaying what a woman should be dealing with.

“With two boys, particularly, I was very mindful of what they were observing of me as a woman and what they would take into their adult lives when they were dealing with women – whether it be romantically or not because at that time I didn’t know what sexual persuasion they were going to be.

“It was just what women are and what women are capable of.

“I am their main woman so everything I do, I want them to see me as someone to look up to and to respect.

“I think that is my duty as a mother, to boys particularly.”

Melanie and Daniel were married from 2001 and split in 2009, a year after Tino’s diagnosis, saying they had “grown apart” as a couple.

Melanie co-parents successfully with him, and they have even appeared on This Morning, chatting about their struggle to find a school for Tino.

Melanie has said previously she broke down when her son was diagnosed and wanted to “run away from the house” during the initial shock, but she quickly ­realised that she needed to accept it.

In 2013, Melanie married Jack ­Cockings, who was 15 years her junior.

They later split and she has been dating 24-year-old gondolier Riccardo ­Simionato, who she met in Venice.

She has also set up The Frank ­Magazine, which explores ways to live more sustainable lives.