The Circle’s Freddie: ‘I love being gay, I would never wanna be straight’
Freddie Bentley and Sian Owen at the PinkNews Awards 2018 (Paul Grace)
Freddie Bentley has revealed how he managed to trick contestants on The Circle into seeing him as straight.
The proudly gay 20-year-old came second on the Channel 4 show, and speaking to PinkNews on Wednesday (October 17) at the PinkNews Awards, he gave away his secrets.
“I had to adjust myself in the way I spoke,” he said. “You know—’Lads, lads, lads’—that deeper voice coming into play.”
.@freddiebbentley on playing it straight in @C4TheCircle. #PinkNewsAwards pic.twitter.com/n1HTbTlYJ4
— PinkNews (@PinkNews) October 17, 2018
Sian Owen, who attended the awards event with Freddie after finishing third on the show, said that she was “genuinely shocked” when Freddie revealed his true self—because she thought he might be the love of her life.
“We got on so well; I thought if I fancy this guy, he’s my soulmate, I’m sorted, I’m done,” she said.
“I was hoping he was going to be a little bit tall, and I’m sitting in the middle when he’s walking in and I’m like, ‘Oh my god.’
Freddie Bentley and Sian Owen present an honour at the PinkNews Awards 2018 (Paul Grace)
“I was shocked but I didn’t care, because I thought he could walk in a girl, he could walk in old, young, and sexuality’s not something that annoys me or anything like that, so I thought: ‘Fair enough.’
“And he’s come in with such a goal, and I think you’ve definitely achieved it, babe,” she added, turning to Freddie.
And he clarified: “I love being gay, I’m so proud of being gay, I would never wanna be straight, so I’m now happy I can be my true authentic self to my bestie.”
Freddie added: “Sian loves me for me, and not the fact that I’m gay.”
Freddie Bentley and Sian Owen pose at the PinkNews Awards 2018 (Paul Grace)
He said during the show’s run that if he were to win the £50,000 prize, he would like to open a clothing line because “fashion is my passion,” but for now, he and Sian said they were in discussions to host a show together.
The pair, who presented the Advertising Campaign of the Year award to Kellogg’s, also told PinkNews that in 2018, the onus was on people who don’t understand LGBT+ terms to learn those definitions.
“Not many people don’t understand terms; they don’t give it the time to actually understand what that means,” said Sian.
“I think it’s so important now to educate ourselves about it.”
Freddie spoke about how proud he was of being gay (Paul Grace)
Freddie insisted: “People need to be educated… we’re in 2018” before Sian added: “Come on baby, catch up!”
Freddie, Sian and other PinkNews Awards attendees saw honours handed out to the best advertising campaign, public and third sector organisations and politician of the year, as well as the Lifetime Achievement award given to LGBT+ charity Stonewall.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable were also present at the event, along with Celebrity Big Brother winner Shane Jenek, singer and PinkNews Broadcast Award winner Will Young and BBC broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire, among other stars.
