Bi Weekly Special: Gays In The Spot Light

Last weekend Duncan James, member of the boy-band Blue, came out in The News of the World as bisexual. The singer and actor announced that he had relationships with men as well as women in the past. We look at some other high profile gay and bisexual men in the public spot-light.

 

Duncan James in The Bill - Talkback ThamesAt the weekend Duncan James, member of the boy-band Blue, came out in The News of the World as bisexual. The singer and actor announced that he had relationships with men as well as women in the past. We look at some other high profile gay and bisexual men in the public spot-light. This is by no means a complete list but instead a brief round-up.

 

 


 

John Barrowman

 

Actor/Singer/Presenter

 

Best known for Captain Jack Harkness in Torchwood and Doctor Who. Part of Judges Panel for Any Dream Will Do, I’ll Do Anything and How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?

 

 


EastEnders, BBC

 

John Partridge

 

Actor

 

Currently plays Christian Clarke in BBC One soap EastEnders. One of the few openly gay actors to play a gay character on television.

 

 


 Emmerdale, ITV

Matthew Bose

 

Actor

 

 

Played part-time drag queen Paul Lambert in Yorkshire soap, Emmerdale. Left the soap at the beginning of the year.

 

 

 

 


BBC
Russell Tovey

 

Actor

One of the lead actors in BBC Three series Being Human and also had roles in Doctor Who and Ashes to Ashes. Appeared in the stage and film version of The History Boys.

 

 


Channel 4 / Olga TVPaul O’Grady

 

Actor/Presenter/Comedian

 

Better known to some as Lilly Savage, Paul O’Grady has had a diverse career ranging from acting roles in Eyes Down and The Bill to presenting duties on Blankety Blank and now his own chat-show on Channel 4.

 


Coronation Street. ITVAnthony Cotton

 

Actor

 

Currently plays gay character Sean Tully in ITV soap Coronation Street – with mixed results. Some of the audience like the character and some do not. Also had roles in Queer as Folk and Absolutely Fabulous

 

 


River City, BBC

David Paisley

 

Actor

 

 

Best known for his gay roles in Tinsel Town and Holby City – in which his character romanced a regular from parent series Casualty. Now appears in BBC Scotland soap River City playing a straight character.
 

 

Coronation Street, ITV

Sir Ian McKellen

 

 

Actor

 

Television and film actor best known for his roles in Lord of the Rings, X-Men and Coronation Street. Prominent gay activist who came out when the Tory Government of Margaret Thatcher introduced the controversial Section 28 bill. 

 


 

BBCRussell T. Davies

 

Writer

 

 

Revived Doctor Who and made the series a success again and spun-off Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures from the Sci Fi. Davies also wrote Queer as Folk, The Second Coming, Bob & Rose, Dark Season, Century Falls and Children’s Ward.