The Assembly: 'I'm neurodivergent and here's why you should watch this ground-breaking TV series'

Daily Mirror

26-04-2025

Household names face an outstanding panel of neurodivergent and/or learning disabled interviewers in The Assembly. And the new ITV show is a breath of fresh air.
The Assembly is a bold new series that flips the script on celebrity interviews - this time, neurodivergent and/or learning disabled interviewers are in charge, grilling some of the UK's biggest stars with unfiltered curiosity and fearless honesty.
From EastEnders icon Danny Dyer to broadcaster Gary Lineker, Doctor Who 's David Tennant and singer Jade Thirlwall, no topic is off-limits in this four-part series.
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In this show, due to air on ITV on April 26, each celeb ditches their media polish for something much rarer: realness. What follows are some of the rawest, most emotionally revealing interviews of their careers.
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During his own chat, Danny, 47, sat with the panel for three hours, diving deep into every corner of his life – from his working-class upbringing to the complexities of fatherhood, marriage and fame.
He opens up about his dramatic exit from EastEnders, including what he really thought about his character Mick Carter's romance with Walford villainess Janine Butcher. He even reflects on his initial discomfort with his daughter Dani Dyer entering Love Island in 2018.
The show doesn't shy away from personal pain either. Danny candidly opens up about being kicked out by his now-wife Joanne Mas, long before they wed in 2016 after she proposed to him. But the exercise was worth a try as he says: 'Opening up about my feelings in front of such a beautiful, intelligent and honest group of people was really refreshing.'
As someone diagnosed with high-functioning autism and C-PTSD, after years of misdiagnosis, I know first-hand the power of autistic curiosity. We don't just ask questions to fill silence - we need to understand. That passion for truth, detail and connection drives The Assembly.
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Autism is a developmental condition that affects over 1 in 100 people in the UK. It can impact how we communicate, process emotions and interact with the world - but every autistic person is different. Some are verbal, some are not. Some rely on carers, while others are fiercely independent but quietly struggling.
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For me, it means my brain never stops. I rely on vocal stims - sometimes rapping Tupac, sometimes quoting Shrek - just to regulate my nervous system.
I wear black and white because colours overwhelm me. I can't start my day without slipping on a pair of socks. These aren't quirks - they're survival strategies.
Autism also means I have to rehearse how I say things, over and over, to make sure I don't come off 'rude,' 'aggressive,' or 'too much.' People have often called me intimidating or odd - and honestly, I've stopped caring. But I know many others haven't. They're still masking. Still trying to be palatable. Still afraid to stim, to speak or to simply be.
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That's why The Assembly matters. On this show, autistic and neurodivergent traits aren't hidden - they're celebrated. Eye contact, honesty, blunt questions, bold fashion and intense interests aren't slushed - they're front and centre.
And yet, for all its brilliance, we still need to see more of the grit of being autistic. Not just the sparkle. Emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, sensory overload - these are daily realities too. I've cried because of the pitch of a train's brakes. I've raised my voice without meaning to. I've been dismissed as dramatic - I was just in distress.
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After my diagnosis, it was suggested I might not have become verbal if I hadn't been bullied into speaking during my school years. Now I write, I interview, I share. But that doesn't make my autism less real. And many others remain unheard.
In 2025, with more high-profile figures like Christine McGuinness and Sue Devaney speaking up, neurodivergent representation is finally moving forward - but true inclusion means embracing the hard bits too.
Because autism isn't a trend. It's not just glitter eyeliner and sharp questions. It's also marked by overwhelm, confusion, deep feelings and the lifelong work of learning how to live in a world that isn't built for us.