Daniel Brocklebank, who plays Coronation Street vicar Billy Mayhew told Gay Times that he “hated himself and hoped it was a phase” upon first realising he was gay.

Brocklebank told the magazine that Section 28 – an ’80s governmental act which stated that schools could not “promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship” – affected him greatly.

“Back then there was no internet, very few gay people on TV or in the media, and we weren’t taught about homosexuality in school due to Section 28 – so for a while I thought I might be the only person out there who felt like that. I hated myself for it and hoped it was a phase.”

The “It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once. To feel free to say the words “I’m gay” out loud was one of the hardest yet most natural things in the world. Now I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love who I am.”

The Shakespeare in Love actor also told GT his ‘coming out’ story. “It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once,” Brocklebank said of telling his family. “To feel free to say the words “I’m gay” out loud was one of the hardest yet most natural things in the world. Now I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love who I am.”

Brocklebank’s character is currently in a relationship with perennial fan-favourite Anthony Cotton, who plays knicker-sewing barman, Sean Tully. This month’s Gay Times is available here.