Chris Packham issues urgent plea to anyone with autism after he admits 'loathed myself'

Chris Packham has issued a plea to people with autism and learning disabilities to vote in the general election. The country is set to go to the polls on July 4 to cast their vote for the next Prime Minister.

The BBC Springwatch presenter, who was diagnosed with autism in his 40s, urged in a video on Instagram: "Did you know there are over 2 million people in the UK who are autistic or have a learning disability?

"Imagine if we all vote in the general election. Imagine the difference we’d make. I want to make this happen. That’s why I’m proud to support My Vote My Voice, a campaign to make voting accessible for everyone.

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"Head to myvotemyvoice.org.uk (link in bio) for Easy Read guides all about voting and your rights. So join me and vote in the upcoming General Election. And remember to bring your ID if you’re voting in person! Because it’s our vote, and it’s our voice. @dimensionsuk @unitedresponse @mencap @ambitiousaboutautism #ad #myvotemyvoice."

Earlier this year, Chris opened up about how getting an autism diagnosis “considerably changed” his life for the better. Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said: "By the time I’d got to the beginning of my teens, and certainly into the early part of my 20s, my mental health issues were quite considerable. I loathed myself, I thought that I was broken. Clearly, I was in a lesser cohort than most other people, so I blamed myself for everything that was going wrong.”

On the positive impact his Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis had on his life, he said:: “I know a few people now that I knew when I was diagnosed, and they say that it’s quite considerably changed me, I’m much more confident to talk about my needs, my incapacities, and the things that I can do better.

“I will put myself forward if there’s something which I am enabled to do by the condition. And I will be far more frank and honest about the disabling aspects of it, from my point of view.”