Russell Tovey has revealed his father wanted him to have ‘hormone treatment’ to ‘cure’ him of being gay.
The Years and Years actor, now 39, came out to his parents when he was 18 and it took his father, George, several years to be accepting of his son’s sexuality.
Russell told The Sunday Times magazine: ‘I don’t think either of my parents were homophobic, they just didn’t know any gay people or anyone with gay kids. They had nothing to cling to.
Interview: Russell Tovey has revealed his father wanted him to have ‘hormone treatment’ to ‘cure’ him of being gay
‘My dad thought it could be cured. He was scared about what my life would be like. To him, being gay was a road of pitfalls and unhappiness; out of love he wanted to correct this weakness, to put cotton wool around me and protect me from all that.
His mum, Carole, added: ‘George had a hard time with it. It took him about three years to come to terms with it. I think it was to do with pride, his idea of what makes you a man. He thought we’d somehow made Russell gay.
‘He said: ‘We’ll get him hormone treatment.’ He found it hard to see that Russ was happy and we had to accept it.’
Family: The Years and Years actor, now 39, came out to his parents when he was 18 and it took his father, George, several years to be accepting of his son’s sexuality (pictured together with Russell’s mum Carole in 2016)
And though she was more accepting, Carole was also ‘frightened’ about her son’s future when he came out to her.
She believed that Russell would ‘never get married or have children’ because of his sexuality.
Being Human star Russell now has a great relationship with both his parents and hopes he and fiancé Steve Brockman can have as solid and long-lasting relationship as they have – adding the pair are ‘still best mates’ after 42 years.
Russell admitted Carole was ‘worried’ when he and Steve broke up in 2018 before reconciling the following year but added the pair are in an ‘amazing place’ now.
Russell was betrothed to Steve for six months in 2018, having been together since 2016.
He said: ‘My dad thought it could be cured. He was scared about what my life would be like. To him, being gay was a road of pitfalls and unhappiness; out of love he wanted to correct this weakness’ (pictured 2020)
The couple confirmed they had reconciled in August 2019, more than a year after they broke off their engagement.
Russell told The Telegraph: ‘Well, I don’t know how it works. Because we were, then we broke up, now we’re back together.
‘Is it like Snakes and Ladders? Do you go back to the beginning of the game and have to work your way back up again?’
The TV star explained they couldn’t resume the first engagement, after he sold the ring.
Russell wrote a cheque to his brother to spend on sweets when he took his family to Disney World.
Happy couple: Being Human star Russell now has a great relationship with both his parents and hopes he and fiancé Steve Brockman can have as solid and long-lasting relationship as they have (pictured 2017)
But in August 2019 Russell posted a photo of himself shirtless in bed and surrounded by his three dogs.
He credited Steve, a personal trainer and trainee architect, as the photographer, confirming they were back together.
Steve then commented on the photo ‘My [world] with the word ‘world’ replaced with the Earth emoji.
The couple previously announced their engagement in February 2018.
At the time, Russell told MailOnline: ‘Completely unexpected but very very happy and looking forward to having a proper party to celebrate when back in London.’
Steve moved across the world to be with Russell in 2017, while he starred in New York‘s National Theatre show Angels In America, alongside Andrew Garfield.
Cute! In August 2019 Russell posted a photo of him shirtless in bed and surrounded by his three dogs and credited Steve as the photographer – confirming their reunion