Chase star Anne Hegerty has revealed her biggest fear about dating is a man invading her personal space.
The participant, who was diagnosed with autism at age 45, spoke of her struggles as she recalled a time when she turned off her phone to prevent her boyfriend from contacting her.
Speaking candidly at the Paul Strank Roofing Charity Gala at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London, she insisted they would make a terrible match.
Anne, 66, shared: ‘I really struggle with closeness and having someone else in the house.
‘I think a lot of autistic people don’t get married or settle down.’
Chase star Anne Hegerty has revealed that her biggest fear about dating is a man invading her personal space (pictured June)
She continued: “I don’t even have pets for that reason and my ability to live with other people is diminishing. I need a lot of alone time.
“I always feel like I want more space than someone can give me. If I wanted a relationship, I’d go out and find one, but honestly that’s not the case.”
Anne had previously revealed that her longest relationship only lasted four months, and reflecting on that dalliance she confessed:
‘It only worked for those months because I was in Manchester. I kind of took it to a place where it wouldn’t work.
“I eventually texted him to end the relationship. I remember crying with relief and then with guilt.”
Anne, however, had reached the end of her tether, as she explained: “Sometimes I would unplug the phone because he tried to call me every day. I just wanted to get it over with.”
‘I’d sit there waiting for the phone to ring and think, “Don’t call, don’t call, don’t call!”
‘Other times, to get over the uncertainty, I would call him on the phone and of course that would make him think I wanted to talk to him, but I think I just wanted to get it over with. I didn’t want to talk to him or anyone else!’
However, Anne has not been short of offers and joked that she has fans who seem to be drawn to her Mrs Trunchball-style governess outfit in The Chase.
However, Anne has not been short of offers and jokes that she has admirers who seem to be drawn to her Mrs Trunchball-style governess outfit.
She revealed: ‘I’m sure there are some who like the whole aspect of The Governess. I’m sure there are some who might be interested if they’ll let me.
“I know some attractive men, but it’s never going to work out. My feeling is that it’s not fair to you because I’m not going to treat you right.”
“I always feel like I want more space than I can be given. If I lost it, I would look for someone else, but I don’t.
“It’s much better not to date anyone and I’ve always thought that men make very good friends. I’m always more attracted to men than women.”
She added: “I was at a pageant in June and at the end of the day a woman I knew was leaving and she said to me, ‘Isn’t it weird that we were the only two women in the room? ’ I hadn’t even realised. I automatically started talking to my friends and they were men.”
The TV brain also admitted that it’s the same reason she never had kids, despite being great with them.
She explained: ‘I wanted to have children, but I couldn’t have tolerated it that much.
‘About 20 years ago, there was a boy and a girl living near my house and they used to come over to my house. We managed to limit it to one hour a day and they always wanted to stay longer.
‘They were absolutely fantastic kids and we’re now Facebook friends, but I couldn’t stand it for more than an hour.’
Speaking at the Paul Strank Roofing Charity Gala at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London (pictured at this month’s event), she insisted they would make a terrible match.
However, she takes her role as godmother to The Chase’s Mark ‘Beast’ Labbett’s eight-year-old son, Lawrence, very seriously.
Anne said: ‘Her birthday is at the end of November so I tend to send a birthday and Christmas present at the same time, but not the same one, because my parents had birthdays in winter and I knew they hated getting a gift for two celebrations.
“I think one was a bit inappropriate. I once gave him a toy crossbow, so it’s a weapon,” she laughs. “But lately I’ve been giving him Minecraft vouchers because he likes it so much.”
The star previously told how she has spent Christmas alone for the past 40 years and explained that’s why she’s even happier to be playing the Fairy Godmother in Scarborough pantomime Cinderella this year.
Anne, who starred in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here in 2018, joked: ‘Luckily now I’m in pantomime I can say, “Sorry, I’m in Scarborough!” and it’s my only day off.
“I consider it a great day off. There are many people who ask me to spend it with them, but I don’t want to. I don’t prepare Christmas dinner or the tree. When I was a child, I only remember needles being thrown everywhere!”
Earlier this year, Anne took on another acting role: she made a cameo as a next-door neighbor in a film called Exorcising Barry, about a man obsessed with a demon.
(L-R) Shaun Wallace, Darragh Ennis, Anne Hegerty, Paul Sinha, Jenny Ryan and Mark Labbett at Beat The Chasers in 2021
But any chance of going to Hollywood is out of the question, he said matter-of-factly.
She revealed: ‘America wouldn’t want me because I’m fat.
“I have a friend who went there for work. She looks amazing and they told her she had to lose weight. I’m fine the way I am, but they don’t like fat British actresses.”
However, he has enjoyed great success in Britain and, speaking of his recent victory in The Chase at the NTA, he said: “I’m so happy. Bradley Walsh is unbelievable. It’s been 14 years and I love him.”
‘Other kids used to sing in front of the mirror with a hairbrush. When I was younger, I used to practice so I would get interviewed when I became famous. I don’t know why, but it’s what I’ve always wanted.’