The Chase's Darragh Ennis has hit out at an "awful take" on autism while showing support for his ITV colleague Anne Hegerty.
During a discussion on the 'Happy Hour' podcast, which initially focused on vaccine scepticism, Darragh 'The Menace' Ennis took aim at those he termed "congenital idiots" who refuse vaccinations and would "rather die than be autistic".
He highlighted that fellow Chaser Anne is on the autism spectrum, stating: "That's another weird thing isn't it?. 'Oh I'd rather die than be autistic', what an awful take.
"Anne Hegerty on The Chase is autistic. If you go 'would you rather be the Governess or dead?', that's an easy choice. That's a binary choice because she's doing all right."
Before joining The Chase as a Chaser in 2021, after first appearing as a contestant in 2017, Darragh had an impressive academic career. He served as a laboratory manager and research technician in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Oxford.
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Darragh's educational background includes a BSc in biology from Maynooth University, obtained in 2003, followed by a PhD in ecology in 2008. His postdoctoral journey included a stint as a biomedical scientist at ICON and further research at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, between 2010 and 2012.
On the podcast, Darragh lauded scientists for their tireless efforts during the pandemic, working "16 hours a day, seven days a week" to save "millions of lives". The Irish-born quiz expert also lambasted those casting doubts on vaccines, branding them "willfully stupid", reports the Mirror.
He remarked: "They're embracing stupidity and feeling superior about it afterwards. And it's heartbreaking because we are having comebacks of diseases that we had kind of beaten."
"Measles is coming back, measles is a really dangerous disease. Everyone thinks you just get a few spots but it can really damage you long term. Mumps as well is coming back because people have stopped taking vaccines because of cranks."
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"If you look at old graveyards, pre-vaccines and look at the age of people who are buried, children are buried up until vaccines come along and there's a reason for that."
Anne, diagnosed with Asperger's at 45, insists she doesn't 'battle' the condition, which she sees as part of her personality. She stated: "The point I would make is that I don't battle with autism - which is simply my personality - but I battle with people who don't consider what accommodations I need."
Asperger's syndrome is a developmental disorder that can impact social interaction and behaviour in those who have the condition.
