HOLLYOAKS and Blue hunk Duncan James stepped out for his first public appearance with his new boyfriend at the launch of a new restaurant in Camden yesterday.
The star took his new beau out for a night on the town at swanky new eatery Gabeto and the couple sipped cocktails and rubbed shoulders with stars including Lotan Carter, Sam Calahan and Jo Wood.
Duncan, 39, looked happy and relaxed as he partied with his other half and a host of celeb pals at the event – and even happily pulled poses with his other half and a pal as they joked around before entering the bar.
The couple’s first formal outing comes after the star revealed he felt like he had to hide his sexuality.
He made the revelation on Loose Women, and told the group that he feared his sexual identity would have an adverse effect on his 12-year-old daughter, Tianie-Finn.
Speaking to the panel, he said: “"To be honest it was something I didn't feel comfortable sharing with the world but I thought doing a story was the right thing to do.
“After years of hiding the secret inside me I wanted to be who I am and I wanted acceptance.
“I carried this burden on my shoulders for years, I was worried about what the fans would think, family and friends, and I was living a lie really."
He explained: "I thought people would shout at me in the streets but I just had positivity.
“We celebrated Pride this month - it's so important for people to feel comfortable with who they are. I had a wonderful response from everyone.
"We're living in 2017 it shouldn't be a problem... You know what they say, there's always a gay one in a boyband!"
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"It's normal now," he added. "But sportsmen still have trouble and there's still a stigma in certain countries around the world."
Duncan came out as bisexual in 2010, but has since said that he is in fact gay.
Speaking to OK! Magazine last year, Duncan revealed that his little girl was accepting of his sexuality, and said: “I think nowadays, living in a world that is so much more accepting of the LGBT community, especially in England, it’s great that kids are educated and know that it’s normal.”
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