Sam Strike on coming out scene: ‘It was so genuine’

Sam Strike has discussed the reaction to his acclaimed EastEnders coming out scene, saying the show’s viewers responded to how “genuine” it was.

In the scene, which aired in February, Johnny (Strike) broke down in front of his father, Mick (Danny Dyer), and told him that he is gay.

“I was proper nervous. The day it was on TV, and the day after, I didn’t want to go out. It was really nerve-wracking, but then Danny and I started getting positive feedback,” Strike recalled in an interview with Heat.

The 20-year-old actor then added: “In all fairness, I know I was coming out to Danny in that scene, but Danny had pages and pages of dialogue to say. I was crying and choked up, so I couldn’t talk. I feel that was what took people aback. It was so genuine what he was saying, like, ‘It don’t matter’. It was such a solid message.”

Asked if viewers of the show ask if he is gay in real life, Strike replied: “Not so much now, but there were lots of people asking me on Twitter. I’m not gay, just to set the record straight.”

Strike and Dyer recently posed for the cover of Attitude‘s 20th Birthday Issue – click here to find out more.