The Assembly has a top-notch panel of interviewers for learning disabilities and/or neurodiversity. Additionally, the new ITV program is breath-taking.
The Assembly is a provocative new series that feigns the script of famous interview techniques. This time, interviewers from neurodiversity and/or learning disabilities are in charge, grilling some of the biggest stars in the UK 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.
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.
Danny, 47, spent three hours with the panel, diving in in-depth into every aspect of his life, from his working-class upbringing to the complex complexities of fatherhood, marriage, and fame, while chatting with them.
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.
My brain never stops, in my opinion. Just to regulate my nervous system, I rely on vocal stims, occasionally rapping Tupac and occasionally quoting Shrek.
Because of my overwhelming color saturation, I wear black and white. I need to put on a pair of socks to start my day. These are survival strategies rather than quirks.
Autism also requires that I repeatedly practice how I say things to make sure I don’t come off as “rude,” “aggressive,” or “too much” when I say them. I’ve stopped caring, despite being frequently called intimidating or odd. However, I am aware that many others have not. They continue to conceal. Trying to be approachable. Still hesitant to speak, speak, or simply be.
The Assembly is important because of this. Autistic and neurodivergent traits are celebrated in this program but not hidden. Not just slushed, but eye contact, honesty, blunt questions, bold fashion, and intense interests are at the forefront.
Despite its prowess, we still need to see more of the grit of autism. not just the sparkle, Emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, and sensory overload are all commonplace. The train’s brakes’ pitch caused me to cry. Without making any effort, I’ve raised my voice. I was just in distress, not dramatic, because I was.
After receiving my diagnosis, it was suggested that if I hadn’t been bullied into speaking during my school years, I might not have developed verbal skills. I interview, share, and write now. But that doesn’t negate the existence of my autism. And not a single one is heard.
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 is not a common trait. It’s not just sharp questions and glitter eyeliner. It’s also characterized by overwhelming, perplexity, deep feelings, and the pursuit of lifelong learning in a world that isn’t designed for us.
Source: Mirror
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