BBC star was forced to come out as gay over threat of exposure

Andrew Hayden-Smith was conscionable 21 erstwhile helium was forced to travel retired arsenic gay, with his leader telling him that a paper had threatened to tally a communicative connected his sexuality

Andrew Hayden-Smith, known for his roles successful Byker Grove and Doctor Who, has been enjoying a vacation successful Sitges, Spain, with his boyfriend, posting a bid of sun-soaked snaps to Instagram. But the prima antecedently opened up astir his travel to coming retired arsenic gay. Andrew was compelled to publically denote his sexuality during his clip arsenic a CBBC presenter successful the aboriginal 2000s, owed to threats from others to uncover it connected his behalf.

Reflecting connected the acquisition successful 2018, helium shared: "I did a coming retired nonfiction successful Attitude erstwhile I was similar 21. And I was a presenter connected CBBC astatine the time. We got a telephone from a paper saying they were gonna bash a communicative connected it. And my brag was like, 'We've conscionable had this phonecall... bash you wanna conscionable bash it yourself successful Attitude and get it implicit with? " So I did it, and past thing much was said astir it. "In a speech with QX, helium further added: "Some radical were rather amazed erstwhile I came retired though.

I deliberation due to the fact that I was from Newcastle, and a small spot laddy, and connected Byker Grove. "In 2016, Andrew joined the formed of Hollyoaks for a little stint arsenic policeman DS Armstrong, but is possibly astir recognised for his relation successful Ant and Dec's teen play Byker Grove.

Last year, fans were thrilled to perceive that the amusement would beryllium making a comeback.The refreshed series, present titled Byker, volition erstwhile again beryllium filmed and produced successful the North East. Ant and Dec, who portrayed the fun-loving champion person duo PJ and Duncan successful the archetypal series, volition instrumentality connected the roles of enforcement producers and originative consultants for the reboot. Ant couldn't fell his enthusiasm arsenic helium said: "We beryllium specified a batch to Byker Grove and the North East truthful we can't hold to commencement moving with the squad to bring this iconic bid backmost to life.

Already talking characters and storylines has america each buzzing astatine the possibilities ahead. The archetypal bid was the starting constituent for a batch of North East endowment truthful we're excited to spot what the caller squad volition bring.

"Meanwhile, Dec shared his delight: "Byker Grove volition ever beryllium precise peculiar to america arsenic the amusement which gave america our break, truthful we are beyond excited to beryllium moving unneurotic connected bringing it back. We are looking guardant to bringing this caller incarnation to a full caller procreation arsenic good arsenic those who retrieve it arsenic fondly arsenic we do.

"The pair, passionate astir their roots, besides expressed: "As arrogant Geordies, we're looking guardant to assistance radiance a spotlight connected the North East and the endowment the portion has to connection some successful beforehand of the camera and down it."

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