Former 'TOWIE' star Charlie King has come out as gay during an emotional interview on 'This Morning'.
The 29-year-old said he was being honest about his sexuality to help other people in the same situation to feel more comfortable talking about it.
Charlie King
Speaking to Phillip Schofield and Amanda Holden on Thursday's ‘This Morning’, Charlie said: “Firstly I feel the time is now and it’s been a long time coming. For the last few months I’ve been sitting on the fence a little bit.
"Even though I’m nervous now talking about it, I know the time is now because anyone that might know me knows that I came off The Only Way is Essex and on that show, they followed my storyline which was very much about that subject because I never really knew where I belonged.
"I never really knew where I fitted in and it was something that I had to address and it’s taken me a good few years to get here now and be able to say ‘I’m Charlie, I’m 29 years old, I’m a gay man and I’m very comfortable with that.’”
Charlie – who had previously insisted he was straight whilst appearing on 'The Only Way Is Essex' - said he finally came to terms with his sexuality when he was in a relationship with a woman.
“I had a girlfriend, she was the first person I spoke to and told," he explained.
“It was a proper relationship but I was very aware when I was seeing her that things weren’t quite right. If something doesn’t click, it doesn’t click.
“I feel so positive about this.”
Charlie's former girlfriend and fellow 'TOWIE' star, Gemma Collins, took to Twitter following the interview to boast that she knew always knew he was gay.
“I always SEE what other people don’t and speak the TRUTH,” she tweeted.
However, Charlie's former TOWIE' co-star, Lauren Pope was a little more supportive, tweeting...
Watch the full interview with Charlie on the official 'This Morning' website.
Charlie recently stripped off to model for underwear brand Bang & Strike. The reality star showed off the results of all the hours he'd put in at the gym in the flesh-flashing photoshoot...