'The Chase' star Anne Hegerty opens up about having Asperger's syndrome

Anne Hegerty (aka The Governess from The Chase Australia) has opened up about living with Asperger's syndrome.

In an interview with UK TV show Loose Women, the 60-year-old recalled how she was diagnosed 13 years ago, at the age of 46. She began to suspect she had Asperger's two years earlier.

"I think that I saw a documentary on TV [about the syndrome] and there was just something about it that rung bells in my brain," Hegerty said. "I remember in my diary writing, 'I'm beginning to suspect again that I have Asperger's syndrome.'"

The TV personality said it helped her understand why she often has difficulty multitasking and staying tidy.

"Some people say, 'You don't seem autistic. Where do you keep your autism?' I'm like, 'It's behind my front door and you're not coming in!'" she joked.

Hegerty went on to explain her need for alone time and downtime.

"My idea of time off… is just simply to stay home and relax and just surf around on the internet," she said, revealing that she never feels the need to go on holidays. "I just need everything to go quiet, everyone to stop bothering me… I've literally never in my life felt lonely.

"I'm never lonely and rarely bored. The most boring thing would be to be with people who just wouldn't shut up."

Hegerty has been on the UK version of The Chase since 2010 and Australia's version since 2015.