The comedian and actor Matt Lucas has spoken publicly about his autism diagnosis for the first time.
His screen credits include appearances in Doctor Who, the film adaptation of Les Misérables and The Great British Bake Off.
More recently, Lucas has established himself as a successful author of children’s books.
During a conversation with BBC Radio 2 presenter Romesh Ranganathan, Lucas discussed how he manages the competing demands of his professional life.
The conversation marked the first time he had spoken publicly about being autistic.
Lucas explained that he experiences periods of high sociability, such as those required when performing in theatre, balanced with periods of solitude that allow him to focus on writing.
Ranganathan asked whether Lucas felt he needed to recover between these different modes of activity.
Lucas confirmed this was the case, noting that his typical schedule involves six days of theatre work each week, with his single day off devoted to rest and vocal recovery.
He added that he also uses that time to withdraw from social interaction, stating this was important for recharging.
In 2023, Lucas visited Mostly Books on Stert Street in Abingdon to meet readers and sign copies of his children’s book The Boy Who Slept Through Christmas.
Lucas became the latest comedian to move into writing stories for younger readers, following the path taken by his former Little Britain colleague David Walliams.
Before reaching the bookshop, Lucas had been scheduled to address students at Larkmead School on Faringdon Road.
Lucas is confirmed to appear in an upcoming series of Channel 4’s comedy challenge show Taskmaster.